| Jazz |
I believe I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing this remarkable French jazz group since their very first album. For some strange reason, their sound occasionally reminds me of MFSB. And yet, the two ensembles couldn’t be further apart. Perhaps the connection lies in the energy the radiant momentum that carries their music forward. Beyond that, what we have here is a kind of jazz that, to my ears, feels closer to certain Canadian productions than to what typically emerges from the French scene. It’s a music that balances vast sonic horizons with poetic form, grounded in an obsessive attention to sound quality.
I’m clearly not the only one drawn to this band. Back in 2017, Meajam was among the three winners of the International Songwriting Competition, judged by a prestigious panel that included Danilo Pérez, Mike Stern, Vijay Iyer, and Tom Waits, no less. Like many major European jazz groups, their roots lie in classical music a legacy they embrace and transform, writing new chapters with each album.
This time, their sound draws even closer to the realm of film music, weaving lush melodies with elegant arrangements that elevate both the harmonic and rhythmic dimensions of the work. Beyond the sheer beauty of their compositions, what continues to fascinate is the group’s cohesion. Everything they attempt seems to succeed. Meajam thinks big. Meajam sees far. France may simply be too small a stage for music that yearns for a broader audience.
This is also a band with a strong identity one that, like the Yellowjackets, casts a spell through storytelling and rhythm. But the comparison stops there: musically, Meajam writes in a completely different language. Of course, age and cultural background play a role. Still, if you return to their debut album Dans l’Herbe, their ambition to deliver a high-caliber project was already unmistakable. It was an acoustic effort then, and listening to it now, it hasn’t aged a day.
Their elegance in composition has never gone unnoticed by the critics. It’s hard to miss this defining trait: the melodies are inviting, yes, but each track is intricately crafted. The writing is complex, layered with images that arise naturally as the music unfolds.
This latest project comes wrapped in a modest sleeve, belying the brilliance within. As always, their music follows a narrative arc often led by the piano and Meajam strikes me as an international jazz ensemble more than a French one, both in sound and in spirit. In that sense, they remind me though in a different stylistic universe of E.S.T., the legendary Swedish trio that ceased to exist with the passing of their pianist. What binds them is not the style, but the shared quality of being made up of exceptional musicians.
It’s time for Meajam to cross borders. With an album of this caliber, everything is in place. Two special guests lend their voices and visions: the extraordinary composer and flutist Ludivine Issambourg, and singer Clémence Lagier each contributing a touch of magic to a record that already sparkles on its own.
Thierry De Clemensat
Member at Jazz Journalists Association
USA correspondent for Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor for All About Jazz
Editor in chief – Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, April 20th 2025
Follow PARIS-MOVE on X
::::::::::::::::::::::
Xavier Faro : piano et compositions
Alain Angeli : saxophones ténor et soprano
Fabrice Camboulive : contrebasse
Laurent Meyer : batterie
Featuring : Ludivine Issambourg flûte traversière, Clémence Lagier Voix
Enregistrement et Mixage : Vincent Barcelo au Studio Alhambra de Rochefort
Mastering : Nicolas Baillard
Illustration et visuel cover : Lisa Faro
Crédit Photos : Lionel Pesqué
Tracklist: Petits Cowboys, Utopia, Château De Cartes, Le Souffle, Le Ruisseau, Transmission, La Source, Le Chêne
53 minutes