Tacet Trust (Digipack)

Finn Genockey is a young musician on the move. As drummer, pianist, composer, arranger and bandleader he stands out from his peers through his commitment to looking outwards, crossing boundaries of genre and reaching out across international borders at a time when our world is becoming ever more fragmented. The third generation of his family to pursue a career as a professional musician, he’s been gifted with valuable insights into the importance of maintaining genuine close relationships with his co-creators and collaborators, and avoiding the constraints of other people’s expectations. He’s already established a burgeoning reputation as a skilled, sensitive and highly versatile drummer, performing with jazz artists from Rufus Reid to Stan Sulzmann as well as pop and soundtrack sessions. Now with his debut recording Tacet Trust, he showcases his abilities as composer and bandleader at the helm of an international ensemble of forward-looking young musicians from across Europe.

Informed by his love of the music’s legacy artists as much as by his deep involvement with the contemporary scene, this is a startlingly assured set from a truly original independent creator. Rasmus Sørensen (Denmark) on piano and bassist Nico Klöffer (Germany) join Finn in the rhythm section, and Josh Short (UK) completes the finely balanced ensemble on trumpet. Each of these young players impresses with the maturity of their talent, but it is the balance and empathy of the ensemble that stands out as much as the individual voices.

The 'Yawning Sun' expands from its lyrical rubato opening into swinging post-Coltrane modal territory, while 'Tacet Trust' connects up intricate voice leading with a pulsing straight-eighths pulse. 'The Tree Atop The Hill' started life as a big band chart, with an evocation of the Devon countryside that’s at once intricate and accesibly melodic. 'Midnight 54' creates an eerie atmosphere with soaring flugelhorn suspended over hanging chords and the whole building into an anthemic climax. The lyrical waltz of 'More Than Yesterday, Less Than Tomorrow' looks to the future with a feeling of optimistic reflection, and by contrast 'Still Life' has an uplifting, upbeat accessibility that reaches towards a pop sensibility. There’s a palpable sense of swagger and attitude to 'I Was Born Yesterday, But I Stayed Up All Night' that gives a nod to the New York scene, and 'In The Bright Sleeve of The Sky' draws from Finn’s love of the folk songwriter tradition to create a shamelessly ear-pleasing tune led by Nico Klöffer’s bass. Finally, 'Avellino' was written for Finn’s grandfather Raffaelle, namechecking his Neapolitan hometown and celebrating his life in a eulogy and a celebration.

Finn says “Throughout a lot of this record I’m trying to follow my ear - to make music that people can connect up with feelings and stories, like they might do with a film soundtrack. I’m so happy with how the tunes ended up. There was so much spontaneity in the session, and the people involved are as important as the music itself.”

—Eddie Myer, NewGenJazz

Tracklist

Album details

Press reviews

★ ★ ★ ★ Marlbank

"He may have only played a relatively small roll on El Roi although the harmonising with Soweto Kinch on key passages is highly stimulating. But trumpeter, flugel player Josh Short has more of a role here on this recently issued album of drummer Finn Genockey‘s.

Mournful, plaintive – yes. But communicative and honest too. It’s a quartet studio album recorded in Brighton back in the spring of last year. The musical term “tacet” from the latin translates as silent. In other words when an instrument or voice does not sound – like when there’s a rest. It’s like a hymn to the silence.

The tacit – pun intended – but you don’t need me to tell you – factor here is flow. The whole thing runs like a river. I think of a Yeats poem and the line “All that’s beautiful drifts away.” Personnel is completed by double bassist Nico Klöffer and pianist Rasmus Sørensen. Tunes are Genockey’s.

Finn debuts here. He reminds me of Seb Rochford circa Dim Lit. A live in Kentish Town version of ‘The Yawning Sun,’ a piece of drummer composer Finn Genockey’s that opens the very more-ish Tacet Trust. With him on trumpet are Sultan swinger trumpeter Josh Short, pianist Rasmus Sørensen and, from the land of the Rhine, bassist Nico Klöffer.

Short is the main “voice” and everybody plays to him without ego or agenda. I’m not familiar with German bassist Nico Klöffer. ‘Still Life’ is the best thing here but all the tunes are really strong and paint a picture – the melody a little Kenny Wheeler-like perhaps.

According to Turin Brakes bassist Eddie Myer who has written the notes: “‘The Tree Atop The Hill’ started life as a big band chart, with an evocation of the Devon countryside that’s at once intricate and accesibly melodic.” Myers says that ‘Avellino’ was written for Finn’s grandfather Raffaelle, namechecking his Neapolitan hometown.” That’s amore. It’s all more-ish."

August 6, 2025
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"Finn Genockey is a young drummer (and also a pianist, arranger and band leader and someone who is always making good things happen). He is also the grandson of Liam Genockey who was at the drums in folk-rock pioneers Steeleye Span. I became aware of him when the great Stan Sulzmann started employing him in his big band, at a time when Finn was still a student at Guildhall. Could there be a stronger signal of his quality than that? I don't know of one. His classy quartet on this album has Josh Short (trumpet & flugelhorn), Rasmus Sørensen (piano) and Nico Klöffer (double bass). Great compositions - "More Than Yesterday, Less Than Tomorrow" has amazing melodic ease with complexity going on underneath. Our reviewer, UK music writing legend Chris Welch, writes about " a brave new world of beautiful music, as uplifting as the dawn of a bright new day."

—Sebastian Scotney (August, 2025)
https://www.europejazz.net/
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"As delicate piano notes usher us into ‘The Yawning Sun’ joined by deep toned double bass, sensitive percussion and a mellifluous horn rubbing sleep from their eyes, we find ourselves entering a brave new world of beautiful music, as uplifting as the dawn of a bright new day.

What we are experiencing is the creativity of four young and gifted musicians who have unleashed a debut album that will surely be hailed as a classic and a milestone in the ongoing development of contemporary jazz.

We should explain ‘The Yawning Sun’ is the first of a series of nine compositions unveiled on Tacet Trust by the multi-talented Finn Genockey, who not only plays drums but is also a pianist, arranger and band leader. His unerring ability to interact with fellow musicians is a vital component in the success of this brave venture.

Finn’s secret is underscored in the Latin word ‘Tacet’ which the dictionary defines as meaning those circumstances when an instrument is required NOT to play during a movement. ‘Trust’ is of course the relationship between Finn’s friends, who include Josh Short (trumpet & flugelhorn), Rasmus Sørensen (piano) and Nico Klöffer (double bass).

All four enter our world on the opening track with a delicacy that can be deceiving. As the sun rises above the horizon Finn’s snare drum rolls Art Blakey-style into hard bop mode, increasing the tempo and temperature. Josh’s shining trumpet climbs into the ascendancy before pianist Rasmus trinkle twinkles into speedy keyboard exploration ’ere the sky darkens. Clouds gather and ‘The Yawning Sun Sets’ once more with a sad farewell from the trumpeter’s reflective last post.

Title track ‘Tacet Trust’ is a cocktail of changing moods and tempos stirred by Nico’s ever responsive double bass. Then ‘The Tree Atop The Hill’ cues more reflective brass perfection from Josh matched by Rasmus, whose own joyful solos spring rabbit-like over the hill before Finn’s arrangement calls for a burst of urgent Latin rhythms. Inspired by the Devonshire countryside, this arrangement celebrates life and nature. As Finn says he is: ‘Trying to make music that people can connect with feelings and stories.’

There is so much more to enjoy like ‘Midnight 54’ with the piano heralding a melancholy melody before the quartet becomes a virtual orchestra and Finn marches his snare drum into the distance.

‘More Than Yesterday, Less Than Tomorrow’ waltzes every which way and ‘Still Life’ is a bossa nova with unabashed pop song appeal. Nico’s bouncing solo is as innovative today as was Jimmy Blanton’s bass playing with Duke Ellington in 1940.

Big city excitement uplifts the busy ‘I Was Born Yesterday, But I Stayed Up All Night’, imagining life in New York. His drums kick off with rim shots and rolls galore and he repeats his percussive power on the dancing ‘In The Bright Sleeve Of The Sky’ that also underscores his love of folk music.

The final piece ‘Avellino’ is a tribute to the Italian home town of Finn’s grandfather Raffaelle. Josh Short’s trumpet sings rather than blows as he and Rasmus bring this remarkable album to a contemplative conclusion.

In retrospect, Finn the composer confesses his work is rather like a film soundtrack. Trust us, it could well become one, given the right script and director. Meanwhile, let us sit back and enjoy the music."

—Chris Welch (July 24, 2025)
https://ukjazznews.com/