| Jazz |
Obradovic-Tixier Duo – TOLD: Ten Years of Inventive Contemporary Jazz Celebrated in a Brilliant Anniversary Collection
Reaching a ten-year milestone is an achievement in itself. Reaching it while constantly redefining the possibilities of the piano-and-drums duo is something far rarer. With TOLD, Croatian drummer Lada Obradovic and French pianist David Tixier do not simply release another “Best of” compilation, they offer a carefully curated portrait of an artistic adventure that has become one of the most original partnerships in contemporary European jazz.
The title itself tells the story. TOLD is both a word suggesting stories shared and experiences transmitted, and a clever acronym built from the musicians’ names: T for Tixier, O for Obradovic, L for Lada and D for David. It perfectly encapsulates what this anniversary album represents: ten years of dialogue between two exceptional musicians who have gradually forged a language that belongs entirely to them.
The duo has selected two representative compositions from each of their previous releases, fourteen pieces that retrace the evolution of their musical identity from 2016 to the present. The result feels less like a retrospective than a continuous journey. Listening from beginning to end, one is struck by the remarkable coherence of their artistic vision despite the constant evolution of their sound.
From the very beginning, the Obradovic-Tixier Duo chose to reject the traditional roles usually assigned to piano and drums. David Tixier is far more than a pianist. Moving effortlessly between acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes, synthesizers, Moog and digital sound processing, he creates rich harmonic landscapes that constantly shift between jazz, ambient music, contemporary classical textures and subtle electronic experimentation. His writing possesses both architectural precision and emotional warmth.
Opposite him, Lada Obradovic is one of the most imaginative drummers to emerge on the European jazz scene during the past decade. Awarded Best Instrumentalist at the prestigious La Défense Jazz Festival in 2019, she treats percussion as an orchestra in itself. Her drum kit constantly expands through glockenspiel, kalimba, samples and an assortment of small percussive instruments that enrich the music. Her rhythmic language is astonishingly fluid: capable of explosive energy one moment and almost weightless delicacy the next.
What makes this duo so fascinating is that electronics never replace acoustic playing but extend its possibilities. This balance is beautifully illustrated throughout TOLD. Pieces such as “Last Flight Over Horizon” immediately showcase the duo’s cinematic sense of space, where lyrical themes unfold above intricate rhythmic designs. “Broken Watch” plays elegantly with fractured time and asymmetrical grooves, while “Professor Seek & Mister Hide” reveals the playful imagination that often underlies their sophisticated writing. Beneath the rhythmic complexity lies a deeply human music built on sensitivity and storytelling. Even the most abstract moments retain an emotional centre. Compositions such as the sublime “Forty Breaths” and the fantastic “A Golden cage in a Cold Winter” (both on CD1) demonstrate their remarkable gift for atmosphere. Fans of Krautrock and Wallenstein, in particular, will love this latest track.
David Tixier’s harmonic imagination deserves particular praise. His piano writing combines classical elegance with modern jazz sophistication, while his use of keyboards and electronic processing never feels like an aesthetic gimmick. Instead, electronics become another expressive instrument within the duo’s palette, subtly colouring rather than overwhelming the acoustic sound.
Lada Obradovic, meanwhile, continues to redefine what a jazz drummer can be. Her performances are never about virtuosity for its own sake. Every rhythmic gesture serves the music. Her ability to move seamlessly between driving grooves, delicate textures and almost ritualistic rhythmic patterns gives the duo much of its distinctive character.
This anniversary edition is further enriched by Manuel Šumberac’s striking artwork, whose distinctive visual universe mirrors the duo’s blend of imagination, elegance and subtle surrealism. Equally valuable is the beautifully conceived booklet featuring Croatian writer Nastja Kulović, whose poetic reflections, presented in both English and French, offer thoughtful insight into the creative process behind the duo’s decade-long collaboration. Rather than functioning as simple liner notes, her text becomes an artistic companion to the music itself.
Over the past ten years, the Obradovic-Tixier Duo has accumulated awards, international recognition and an increasingly devoted audience. Yet perhaps their greatest achievement has been to build a musical universe that feels entirely personal. Their music belongs equally to contemporary jazz, chamber music, electronic experimentation and modern composition, while remaining accessible through its lyrical beauty and emotional honesty.
Beautifully performed, imaginatively composed and constantly surprising, TOLD is far more than an anniversary album, it is the portrait of an artistic partnership that has quietly become one of the defining voices of contemporary European jazz. A magnificent celebration of ten years of fearless musical exploration! A must have!
Frankie Pfeiffer
Editor in chief – PARIS-MOVE
PARIS-MOVE, July 28th, 2026
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Checkpoint Charlie & TOLD – Pre-order 2026 pack:
2 CDs: TOLD (14 tracks)
1 CD: Checkpoint Charlie (9 tracks)
3 options of pre-oders:
I°: Pre-order Checkpoint Charlie – delivery from November 6th 2026
II°: Pre-order TOLD – delivery from September 11th 2026
III°: Pre-order the Bundle 2026 – Checkpoint Charlie + TOLD – Available for delivery from November 6th 2026
SOMEWHERE BEYOND RECORDS online Shop
Musicians :
David Tixier – piano, keyboards, DSP, compositions
Lada Obradovic – drums, voice, toys, glockenspiel, compositions
Tracklisting:
- Last Flight Over Horizon
- Broken Watch
- Professor Seek & Mister Hide
- Forty Breaths
- Dear You
- Us Belongs To Us
- A Golden Cage in a Cold Winter
- 12:19
- The Only Thing That Matters
- Untied Laces
- Delhi’s Dream 07:17
- Watch Your Step
- Checkpoint Charlie (single) 04:33 vidéo
- Smiley (single)
Parisian release party for TOLD on September 25th 2026 at the Duc Des Lombards, Paris.