Every now and then, a new artist appears on the jazz scene that sounds so good, it leaves us all wondering where they've been hiding. Franc O'Shea is certainly one of those artists. He is being hailed as a composer of great talent and vision. His bass playing has been described as phenomenal, with a technical ability and spirit comparable to the late great Jaco Pastorius, no small praise. With a stunning, exciting, passionate and versatile debut album like Esprit, Franc has surely secured himself a place in the jazz history books of the new millennium.

Although this is Franc's first outing as bandleader, he already has a huge list of sideman credits which give more than a hint of Franc's love of all music. From legendary ex Yes/Asia guitarist Steve Howe to Bobby Wellins. From Alex Maguire to soul sensation Lisa Moorish. Franc was also co-founder of the explosive jazz/funk/latin band Urubu and a founding member of the dynamic Brazilian dance combo Batu.

Esprit delivers surprise with every track. Franc explains: "I wanted the title of the album to reflect what it's all about, which is why I called it Esprit. I wrote the whole thing not as a collection of individual tracks, but as a modern journey through many cultures. The common thread that runs through this diverse collage of styles is that I am the sole composer and every track meets what I would call the timeless criteria for good music, which is spirit."

Esprit is out now and can be bought from all good music stores or direct from us at Alltone Records. If you would like to read more about Franc O'Shea, read the Franc O'Shea biography page. And if you need any more convincing, check out the sound bites.