| Jazz |
If you are drawn to artists like Dexter Gordon, this album will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of your year. It embodies the essence of classic, warmly textured jazz—a sound both reassuring and effortlessly inviting. Indeed, composer and pianist Stefan Sirbu, a native of Moldova, infuses this musical tradition with melodies that bear the unmistakable imprint of Eastern European composers, their cultural roots deeply intertwined with their place of origin. For Sirbu, that birthplace is Moldova, though he now resides in Germany—a shift that has undoubtedly shaped his musical sensibility and approach to composition.
Following the success of his debut album, Autumn Whispers (2021), Sirbu continues his tradition of international collaboration, surrounding himself with a quartet of world-renowned New York musicians, including tenor saxophonist Julieta Eugenio, bassist Clovis Nicolas, and drummer Anthony Pinciotti. For my part, it is a true delight to hear Clovis Nicolas here, outside the context of his own projects. His presence is both tangible and profound, and there is no denying that these musicians, deeply connected to the New York jazz tradition, offer both contrast and elevation to Sirbu’s work with remarkable elegance. One senses a perfect synergy among them, an instinctive ability to bridge past and present, making this album a small gem to be savored, track after track.
As always, I must confess a particular fondness for acoustic ensembles, which ensure the timelessness of a work. Recorded at the legendary Tedesco Studios in New York, this album highlights Sirbu’s delicate touch, his contemplative writing, and the quartet’s profound chemistry, where virtuosity and spontaneity intertwine with rare finesse. In the end, this album possesses both an urban intellectual allure and an invitation to contemplate nature or a work of art. It can be experienced in two ways: through deep, attentive listening, where one can fully appreciate both the compositions and the arrangements, or as an ambient backdrop—though inevitably, a melody will catch your ear, offering a moment of pure auditory pleasure. This, too, is the art of crafting a truly remarkable album.
Conceived as an accompaniment to the fleeting beauty of twilight bus rides, serene city strolls, and introspective moments, Reverie offers an immersive interlude. Its seven pieces invite the listener to surrender to a dreamlike state, only to emerge into a resonant silence as the final note fades.
Tragically, drummer Anthony Pinciotti passed away on December 30, 2024, just months after his poignant contribution to this recording.
Such is life, and for this reason, the album carries an even deeper significance. I must admit, I have fallen into the trap of listening to it on repeat, without a hint of fatigue. Albums like this are a rare joy—a gift to any jazz journalist with keen ears and a sense of history.
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, February 19th 2025
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