Originally from Valais, Switzerland, Métrailler relocated to Brooklyn in 2019 to study at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music. Over the following six years, he became an active presence on the New York scene, developing his sound as both a bandleader and sideman while refining the musical language that now defines Heights Prospection. 

Musically, the record draws on both American and European jazz idioms, reflecting Métrailler’s transatlantic perspective. Rich, modern, balladic harmony, expressive melodies and deep-pocket, blues-inflected grooves dissolve into uninhibited improvisation, balancing structure with volatility. Across the record, moments of delicacy – including unaccompanied or sparsely framed saxophone passages – sit alongside high-octane quartet playing, with a strong focus on collective interplay and boundary-pushing exploration. A featured appearance from Grégoire Maret on harmonica on track five adds a striking textural shift, briefly extending the core ensemble’s sonic palette.

The album features seven original compositions alongside a single standard, each piece marking a stage in Métrailler’s artistic development. Rather than functioning simply as vehicles for chord changes, the compositions are shaped around specific harmonic, rhythmic, and emotional ideas, allowing the music to unfold organically through improvisation. 

Métrailler is joined by an exceptional ensemble drawn from the contemporary New York scene, including Elias Stemeseder, Eric McPherson, Chris Tordini, and Grégoire Maret. The group had performed the music extensively prior to recording, giving the material time to mature before being captured in a single, focused studio session. The result is a recording that feels direct, cohesive, and alive in the moment.

In 2018, Métrailler was awarded the Langnau Jazz Nights Award, personally selected by Adam Nussbaum, and has since been mentored by Ohad Talmor, Reggie Workman, Dave Douglas, Chris Cheek, and Mark Turner. Now back in Switzerland, he remains a sought-after sideman while continuing to collaborate internationally.

With Heights Prospection, Alain Métrailler presents a debut that is both assured and exploratory – a document of artistic growth, collective trust, and a musician fully inhabiting the language of jazz.