| Jazz |
The pitch: While contemporary jazz often seeks to modernize the genre by leaving tradition in the past, Swiss saxophonist Christoph Grab aims to prove that creative music can be rooted in history while remaining fresh and vibrant. His new album, titled “Oneness,” will be released on January 26th on Lamento Records.
Once that’s said, we dive into this record, which will make you smile from the first notes and inevitably have you dancing to the track “We See.” Once caught in this melodic trap, you won’t escape it – the delightful retro touch, with a hint of modernity, clever arrangements, brass instruments that play roles, converse, exhibit, and swirl in the air like little elves eager to please you create a sense of déjà vu, a feeling of knowing it all, an album where you feel at home!
Musicians who clearly enjoyed recording this album include Christoph Grab on saxophones, Lukas Thoeni on trumpet, Andreas Tschopp on trombone, Bänz Oester on bass, and Pius Baschnagel on drums. It’s a true pleasure to hear them play, delighting us with their excellent notes and making us dream of a jazz past that undoubtedly has its roots from the post-war era to the sixties.
The title of Reflections’ new album reflects a sense of closeness and cohesion that Grab and his group discovered after long periods of live performances. Speaking of the title, Grab states, “Unity with the world, the ability to embrace the new and the foreign: empathy – in this era of bitter trench warfare, both on the internet and in the real world, these are important qualities.”
For Grab, his inspiration clearly comes from Monk, and who could blame him? Monk is a significant historical figure in the world of jazz. Whether adapting to today’s world or staying true to its origins, Thelonious Monk is one of the most prolific composers mastering all the intricacies of the genre. This is what makes Grab’s jazz vision anything but outdated. The live conditions in the studio for this recording add to making this album particularly lively. Recorded live in a single day!
Take the time to listen to this album in depth, replay it; you’ll discover new things each time. It’s an album for enthusiasts, captivating, a pleasure-filled, joyful album – something much needed in these troubled times. Perhaps these are the reasons why the editorial teams at Bayou Blue Radio and Paris-Move have classified this album as essential.
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, December 18th 2023
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