Simon Moullier

“Simon Moullier is the unchallenged new star of jazz vibraphone […] The playing is out of this world…” — DownBeat

Original compositions and a seasoned quartet rapport with Lex Korten (piano), Rick Rosato (bass), Jongkuk Kim (drums) Releasing April 24, 2026 worldwide on Streaming, CD, LP & Bandcamp

Ceiba is vibraphonist and composer Simon Moullier’s sixth album as a leader and the third release with his bandstand-honed quartet featuring Lex Korten on piano, Rick Rosato on bass and Jongkuk Kim on drums. The album also includes guest percussionist Keita Ogawa on two tracks.

Comprised entirely of original compositions, Ceiba reflects a continued deepening of the quartet’s collective language — shaped by trust and a shared sense of direction. It’s also another timely reminder of Moullier’s jaw-dropping proficiency and maturity as an instrumentalist, composer and soloist, well beyond his years.

“Keita and I have been collaborating for some time now,” says Moullier of his accomplished guest. “He brings an incredible range of sounds and textures and approaches the music like a true orchestrator, which really enhances the storytelling within each piece. Since the quartet is already rhythmically centered — with vibraphone, drums, and piano (all percussion instruments) — Keita was a perfect fit, adding depth, color and dynamic energy to the arrangements.”

Moullier grew up by the sea in Nantes, in the Northwest of France, and is now based in New York City. His writing draws inspiration from nature, place and lineage, as is made clear in the album title, Ceiba — inspired by the ceiba tree, also known as the kapok tree.

“Across many cultures,” says Moullier, “the ceiba tree has carried a sense of depth and continuity — not just as a symbol, but as a living presence that connects time, place and people. In many cultures, it was seen as a central axis, linking what’s below, what’s here, and what reaches upward. That idea of connection, vertical and horizontal at the same time, has always resonated with me.

“Over the past few years, I kept encountering these beings in different parts of the world. In Senegal, seeing ceibas alongside baobabs left a strong impression. Later, in Mexico’s Yucatán region, I encountered ceibas embedded in the Mayan landscape. And in Brazil, the figueira centenária in Florianópolis carried that same sense of scale, power and quiet wisdom. What strikes me is not just their age, but the feeling that they have simply stood witness to centuries of weather, movement and human life.”

The tracks unfold across a sequence of moods that move from spacious, reflective textures to rhythmically grounded pieces. Clarity and balance remain central, allowing the vibraphone’s resonance to interact organically with the quartet’s cohesive, song-centered approach. Together, the pieces extend beyond any single source of influence, shaped by the interplay and the energy that arises from the band when ideas take root and unfold.

“A piece like ‘Fuji’ or ‘Lotus Pt. 2,’” Moullier elaborates, “comes from the same sense of timeless peace and serenity as ‘Ancient Ones,’ which refers to ceiba trees. In the same way, ‘Mr. Hutcherson,’ along with ‘Low Blues’ and ‘Iron Giant,’ grow from lineage and roots.”

“Lotus Pt. 2,” meanwhile, is a companion and follow-up to “Lotus” from Moullier’s 2024 Candid release Elements of Light (feat. Marquis Hill, trumpet/percussion). “Part 2 grew out of playing the first part live a bunch,” Moullier recalls. “I wrote the second section to take the music to another dynamic level halfway through, representing the life cycle of the flower. It’s one of the most challenging pieces to perform, because the final vamp relies entirely on organic interaction from the band.”

“Mr. Hutcherson” is of course named in honor of the late vibraphone master and composer Bobby Hutcherson (1941-2016) “and the sound world he helped shape,” Moullier explains. “The influence behind this piece was his composition ‘Herzog,’ which I’ve played multiple times on different gigs as a sideman. The color palette created by the chord changes was something I really connected with.”

ABOUT SIMON MOULLIER

An award-winning vibraphonist, composer, arranger and producer recognized as one of the leading voices of his generation, Simon Moullier is a graduate of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, mentored by Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Jimmy Heath. He has collaborated with artists including Gerald Clayton, Terri Lyne Carrington, Ben Wendel and the SFJAZZ Collective.

Moullier has released five albums. He contributed as an arranger to Terri Lyne Carrington’s GRAMMY® Award–winning New Standards Vol. 1 and received further GRAMMY® recognition for his work on Laufey’s Bewitched. His honors include Rising Star Vibraphonist of the Year in DownBeat’s Critics Poll and “25 for the Future” in DownBeat’s 90th Anniversary Issue.

An active international touring artist, Moullier has performed at major venues and festivals worldwide and is also an educator who has taught and presented masterclasses at leading institutions across the U.S. and Europe.