| Jazz |
Remedy: The Zela Margossian Quintet’s Most Personal Statement Yet
Three albums into her career as a bandleader, pianist and composer Zela Margossian has delivered the record that finally feels like a full reckoning with everything that has shaped her: the Armenian heritage carried from a childhood in Beirut, the classical rigor absorbed in Yerevan, the jazz language sharpened over in Australia, and, most movingly, the upheavals and joys of the last few years, including the birth of her son.
With Remedy, pianist and composer Zela Margossian delivers what may well be the most personal and emotionally compelling album of her career. Margossian has created a work that speaks of resilience, compassion, reflection, and hope. The result is a collection of ten beautifully crafted compositions that combine sophisticated musicianship with genuine emotional depth.
At the heart of the album is the outstanding Quintet. Zela Margossian leads from the piano with authority and elegance, blending lyrical melodies with rhythmic inventiveness and a rich harmonic language rooted in both jazz and Armenian musical traditions.
Alongside her is alto saxophonist Stuart Vandegraaff, whose expressive and deeply nuanced playing brings warmth, colour, and narrative power to the music. His solos are never merely displays of technique; they become essential chapters in the stories these compositions tell.
Jacques Emery provides the group’s solid yet highly melodic foundation on double bass. His sound is rich and resonant, and his ability to support and converse with the other musicians is one of the album’s defining strengths.
The rhythmic architecture of the ensemble is completed by Alexander Inman-Hislop on drums and Adem Yilmaz on percussion. Together they create a rhythmic landscape that is remarkably flexible, moving effortlessly between subtle textures, folkloric influences, and dynamic jazz grooves. Their partnership gives the music both drive and sophistication.
The album also benefits from the presence of four distinguished special guest artists. Trumpeter Phil Slater appears on “Indifferent World,” contributing a powerful and emotionally charged trumpet voice. Jenny Eriksson plays electric viola da gamba on “What If,” adding a unique timbral dimension rarely encountered in modern jazz. Vocalist Virna Sanzone appears on “How I Wish,” bringing a delicate human presence to one of the album’s most intimate moments. Finally, fantastic guitarist Damian Wright contributes flamenco guitar on “Kintsugi,” creating one of the album’s most fascinating cross-cultural dialogues.
The album opens with “In Flight,” a track that immediately establishes the quintet’s remarkable cohesion. The music unfolds gracefully, with Margossian’s piano introducing themes that are developed collectively by the ensemble. Vandegraaff’s alto saxophone soars above the rhythm section while the bass, drums and percussion provide an elegant sense of movement and momentum.
The second track, “Indifferent World”, welcomes guest trumpeter Phil Slater. His haunting trumpet lines bring an additional emotional dimension to the composition, expressing a sense of urgency and reflection. The interaction between trumpet and saxophone creates some of the album’s most memorable moments, while the rhythm section maintains a restrained but deeply expressive pulse.
The fourth track, “What If”, welcomes another great special guest, Jenny Eriksson’s and his electric viola da gamba. Her distinctive sound blends beautifully with the piano and saxophone, adding a chamber-like quality to the music. The result is a fascinating fusion of jazz improvisation, classical sonorities, and Armenian-inspired lyricism.
It’s on “How I Wish”, the sixth track, that vocalist Virna Sanzone adds an entirely new dimension to the album. Rather than dominating the composition, her voice becomes another instrument within the ensemble, blending seamlessly with the quintet’s established sound world.
One of the album’s undeniable highlights is “Kintsugi”. Inspired by the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold, the piece explores themes of healing and transformation. Rather than hiding cracks or discarding shattered vessels, this Japanese technique highlights fractures, turning a broken object into a unique, celebrated piece of art. Like that composition on which Damian Wright’s flamenco guitar introduces a rich Mediterranean flavour. The combination of Armenian influences, jazz and flamenco guitar is simply mesmerizing. One of the most beautiful tracks of this jazz year 2026!
With “Repentance” the quintet returns to a more introspective mood. The composition showcases the ensemble’s ability to create emotional intensity through subtle means. Vandegraaff’s saxophone is especially moving, while Emery’s bass anchors the music with quiet authority, demonstrating the maturity and mutual trust that characterize the quintet’s performances throughout the album.
The closing track, “Remedy – A Song of Joy,” provides a brief but uplifting conclusion. It gathers together many of the album’s recurring themes, healing, hope, vulnerability, and renewal, and transforms them into a joyful final statement.
What makes Remedy truly exceptional is the complementarity of its musicians. Zela Margossian’s compositional vision provides the framework, but it is the collective artistry of Stuart Vandegraaff, Jacques Emery, Adem Yilmaz, and Alexander Inman-Hislop that brings these compositions fully to life. Each musician contributes a distinct voice while remaining entirely committed to the ensemble sound.
The four special guests enrich this Remedy project without ever disrupting its coherence. Instead, they expand the album’s sonic palette, each appearing at precisely the right moment and serving the music rather than drawing attention to themselves.
With Remedy, the Zela Margossian Quintet has created an album that is intellectually rewarding, emotionally resonant, and consistently beautiful. It is a recording that celebrates cultural heritage, artistic openness, and the healing power of music. Rich in melody, imagination, and collective interplay, Remedy stands as one of the most accomplished and memorable jazz releases of the year.
Remedy sounds like exactly what its title promises: hard-won, carefully assembled, and ultimately healing.
Frankie Pfeiffer
Editor in chief – PARIS-MOVE
PARIS-MOVE, June 17th, 2026
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Musicians:
Zela Margossian Quintet:
Zela Margossian – piano
Stuart Vandegraaff – alto saxophone
Adem Yilmaz – percussion
Jacques Emery – double bass
Alexander Inman-Hislop – drums
Special guests:
Phil Slater – trumpet on “Indifferent World”
Jenny Eriksson – electric viola da gamba on “What If”
Virna Sanzone – vocals on “How I Wish”
Damian Wright – flamenco guitar on “Kintsugi”
Tracklisting:
In Flight 07:56
Indifferent World 04:00
Waves Unveiled 04:09
What If 06:15
Free Kicks – for Ruben 04:04
How I Wish 04:21
Kintsugi 08:03
Repentance 04:51
Clarity 03:23
Remedy – A Song of Joy 01:44 (Bonus Track)
All songs composed by Zela Margossian
Produced by Zela Margossian
Recorded and mixed by Richard Belkner at Rancom St Studios in Sydney, Australia
Mastered by Michael Lynch