| Jazz |
The art of composition is a solitary and little-known art to the general public. It is like being an author of a novel, sitting in front of a blank page, ideas come and need to be organized. Unlike a novel author, there is a phase of perfecting musical writing called arrangements, which often, but not always, are done in collaboration with the group. David Larsen, besides composing, also plays the lowest saxophone, the baritone, thus enhancing the interest of this album. Until now, the only baritone saxophonist we presented to you was our friend Céline Bonacina, in a completely different style. We are not in the colorful universe of our friend Céline Bonacina, who is one of the best European saxophonists and composers; here, the style is decidedly more classical, yet exciting, with remarkable playing. Let’s enter David Larsen’s universe.
David Larsen says, “The idea of Cohesion was born when I met these musicians while they were on tour in the Northwest. I really loved the sound they produced and their group dynamics. After discussing it a bit, I decided to invite them as guests for the SFCC Jazz Workshop. During their stay, we did some concerts and went to the studio to record this album. I wanted to capture some of the good vibes of this group with my new compositions. These styles were somewhat unfamiliar to me, but I love challenges, so I fully embraced it.” He successfully embraced the challenge because at no moment does this album seem to lose its way; on the contrary, we witness the implementation of 8 perfectly crafted tracks that even make this album seem a bit short. David Larsen, like a painter, draws the melodic lines and takes us into a universe that, despite being particularly complex in terms of composition, remains perfectly accessible. That’s what we call great art!
The spirit of Coltrane or Wayne Shorter seems to linger over each track; we get carried away by this welcome boldness, especially since David Larsen is of that caliber, with a classic form like Coltrane and the audacity of Wayne Shorter. What more could one ask for? In his biography, it is mentioned that David Larsen is the Director of Instrumental Studies at Spokane Falls Community College. He holds a doctorate from Washington State University as well as degrees from the University of the Pacific, the University of Oregon, and Western Oregon University. David has been a lecturer and performer for the Jazz Education Network, the North American Saxophone Alliance, and several other conferences and festivals. This shows the level of international class of this artist, who offers us an exciting album for many jazz enthusiasts, making it essential or indispensable depending on your tastes.
This album will be available for listening on Bayou Blue Radio starting from March 1st, 2024.
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, February 8th 2024
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