| Noël |
If we stick to the title, this album could have held promise. However, instead of delivering a Christmas Bop album, we are presented with something more akin to a large, harmonized brass band. The trumpet player’s variations on familiar themes fail to convince, and what we hear is a mediocre type of jazz that has been circulating since the 1950s. This album offers nothing more than a mere survival of a tradition from the last century. That said, it’s the first “Christmas” album we’ve received this season, but be aware that we are anticipating others that will be far more fun and modern.
Here, the arrangements veer into the realm of the pathetic, offering nothing original beyond a tired, unimaginative reggae twist on “Silver Bells,” a trick used countless times by artists lacking creativity. When I find myself profoundly bored by the first track of an album, in 85% of cases, the rest follows suit—and that is precisely what happens here. In 2024, such an album feels completely out of step with what one might reasonably expect. I even question the album’s title—who is this for? While Bop is still played on stations like Bayou Blue Radio, and artists like Steve Davis continue to breathe life into that tradition, this album feels a world apart.
There is undoubtedly an audience for this, so if you enjoy ultra-classic jazz with uninspired arrangements, feel free to give it a try. The rest of us, however, will be waiting for other year-end releases—ones that are fun, danceable, and, most importantly, not boring…
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, October 15th 2024
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