Flaubert’s Dance continues the work started with the Phil Broadhurst Quartet’s 2011 al­bum Delayed Reaction. Having compiled and presented the radio programme ‘The Art of Jazz’ for more than 20 years, Broadhurst has listened to a diverse range of records which have invariably influenced his playing and composing. Flaubert’s Dance is dedicated the great players whose music has helped shape Phil’s own, some (Herbie Hancock) for decades, and some (Tomasz Stanko) more recent.

Several pieces are tributes to a specific musical influence (Flaubert’s Dance for Enrico Pieranunzi), others pay homage to a particular track. First Shot for example updates the rhythmic feel of Toys from Hancock’s 60s album Speak Like A Child. Integrity and Scoreless reflect Phil’s enthusiasm for the ECM label and the music of Manu Katche and the aforementioned Stanko. The joyful music of Eliane Elias inspired Stretched, while Loping was written and played with several favourites in mind.