Following Introspection, his third solo effort released earlier in 2023, Moncef Genoud returns in trio formation with Small Stories, a collection of tunes of his own composition that he and bandmates Tim Verdesca (bass) and Cyril Regamey (drums) crafted at his Geneva studio. Polished and released by Rollin’ Dice Productions, his trusted Los Angeles-label of 18+ years, the result is a purposely contemporary album, with a sound that oscillates between recent works by Avishai Cohen and Robert Glasper (without the latter’s obvious hip-hop flair), notably on “Zumbador” and “Waltz for Juju,” which repeats as a bonus track in the form of a one-man band edit where Moncef channels his own poly-instrumentalist. Between Verdesca’s skillful electric bass lines, Regamey’s precise yet funky time-keeping, and the Moog synth leads infused by Genoud on select tracks, this version of his trio sounds resolutely hip. A fresh record just in time for a hot summer ahead.