Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
There's a lot happening on Ex Machina, a collaboration between American alto saxophonist and composer Steve Lehman and the Orchestra National de Jazz, a large, French ensemble led by Frédéric Maurin. The album features compositions by Lehman and Maurin that incorporate the strange, often eerie sonorities of the late-twentieth century classical music movement known as spectralism, and also utilize electronics courtesy of IRCAM (Institute for Research and Coordination in Acoustics and Music), the Paris-based center of electro-acoustic innovation. Additionally, AI comes into play, as does microtonality.
The result is certainly heady stuff, but it's also visceral. The Lehman-penned "Los Angeles Imaginary" is a case in point. Drummer Rafaël Koerner plays a jumpy pattern as slower moving instrumental forces are added to the dense arrangement; Sarah Murcia's bass line contributes to the off-kilter sense of forward motion. Tenor saxophonist Julien Soro, trumpeter Jonathan Finlayson, and Lehman (on alto) engage in tag team soloing that plays off the arrangement—and each other—with great finesse.
Lehman's "Alchimie," Ex Machina's shortest piece, thrills with its contrasting timbres and rhythms. The composition, which is influenced by the work of spectral composer Tristan Murail, hums with mystery and tension. Clattering drums, syncopated bass, pinging vibraphone, and other elements are part of a sonic swirl that seems to rush and move slowly at the same time.
The two-part "Le Seuil," written by Maurin, is also influenced by Murail. Its first section features deft integration of big band and spectral moves, as well as the work of melodic-percussionists Stéphan Caracci and Chris Dingman. Trombonist Daniel Zimmermann solos in the second section, which includes darting winds, woozy vibraphone, and glassy, string-like tones. Everything is undergirded by crisp drums; Koerner's playing shines throughout this compelling album. © Fred Cisterna/Qobuz
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From 12.49€/month
Steve Lehman, MainArtist, AltoSaxophone - Orchestre National de Jazz, Orchestra, MainArtist - Frédéric Maurin, Composer - Philipp Heck, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer, SoundEngineer
2023 ONJ Records 2023 ONJ Records
Steve Lehman, Composer, MainArtist, AltoSaxophone - Orchestre National de Jazz, Orchestra, MainArtist - Philipp Heck, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer, SoundEngineer
2023 ONJ Records 2023 ONJ Records
Steve Lehman, Composer, MainArtist, AltoSaxophone - Orchestre National de Jazz, Orchestra, MainArtist - Philipp Heck, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer, SoundEngineer
2023 ONJ Records 2023 ONJ Records
Steve Lehman, Composer, MainArtist, AltoSaxophone - Orchestre National de Jazz, Orchestra, MainArtist - Philipp Heck, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer, SoundEngineer
2023 ONJ Records 2023 ONJ Records
Steve Lehman, Composer, MainArtist, AltoSaxophone - Orchestre National de Jazz, Orchestra, MainArtist - Philipp Heck, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer, SoundEngineer
2023 ONJ Records 2023 ONJ Records
Steve Lehman, Composer, MainArtist, AltoSaxophone - Orchestre National de Jazz, Orchestra, MainArtist - Philipp Heck, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer, SoundEngineer
2023 ONJ Records 2023 ONJ Records
Steve Lehman, Composer, MainArtist, AltoSaxophone - Orchestre National de Jazz, Orchestra, MainArtist - Philipp Heck, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer, SoundEngineer
2023 ONJ Records 2023 ONJ Records
Steve Lehman, MainArtist, AltoSaxophone - Orchestre National de Jazz, Orchestra, MainArtist - Frédéric Maurin, Composer - Philipp Heck, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer, SoundEngineer
2023 ONJ Records 2023 ONJ Records
Steve Lehman, MainArtist, AltoSaxophone - Orchestre National de Jazz, Orchestra, MainArtist - Frédéric Maurin, Composer - Philipp Heck, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer, SoundEngineer
2023 ONJ Records 2023 ONJ Records
Steve Lehman, MainArtist, AltoSaxophone - Orchestre National de Jazz, Orchestra, MainArtist - Frédéric Maurin, Composer - Philipp Heck, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer, SoundEngineer
2023 ONJ Records 2023 ONJ Records
Steve Lehman, MainArtist, AltoSaxophone - Orchestre National de Jazz, Orchestra, MainArtist - Frédéric Maurin, Composer - Philipp Heck, MasteringEngineer, MixingEngineer, SoundEngineer
2023 ONJ Records 2023 ONJ Records
Album review
There's a lot happening on Ex Machina, a collaboration between American alto saxophonist and composer Steve Lehman and the Orchestra National de Jazz, a large, French ensemble led by Frédéric Maurin. The album features compositions by Lehman and Maurin that incorporate the strange, often eerie sonorities of the late-twentieth century classical music movement known as spectralism, and also utilize electronics courtesy of IRCAM (Institute for Research and Coordination in Acoustics and Music), the Paris-based center of electro-acoustic innovation. Additionally, AI comes into play, as does microtonality.
The result is certainly heady stuff, but it's also visceral. The Lehman-penned "Los Angeles Imaginary" is a case in point. Drummer Rafaël Koerner plays a jumpy pattern as slower moving instrumental forces are added to the dense arrangement; Sarah Murcia's bass line contributes to the off-kilter sense of forward motion. Tenor saxophonist Julien Soro, trumpeter Jonathan Finlayson, and Lehman (on alto) engage in tag team soloing that plays off the arrangement—and each other—with great finesse.
Lehman's "Alchimie," Ex Machina's shortest piece, thrills with its contrasting timbres and rhythms. The composition, which is influenced by the work of spectral composer Tristan Murail, hums with mystery and tension. Clattering drums, syncopated bass, pinging vibraphone, and other elements are part of a sonic swirl that seems to rush and move slowly at the same time.
The two-part "Le Seuil," written by Maurin, is also influenced by Murail. Its first section features deft integration of big band and spectral moves, as well as the work of melodic-percussionists Stéphan Caracci and Chris Dingman. Trombonist Daniel Zimmermann solos in the second section, which includes darting winds, woozy vibraphone, and glassy, string-like tones. Everything is undergirded by crisp drums; Koerner's playing shines throughout this compelling album. © Fred Cisterna/Qobuz
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 11 track(s)
- Total length: 01:10:55
- Main artists: Steve Lehman Orchestre National De Jazz
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: ONJ Records
- Genre: Jazz Contemporary Jazz
2023 ONJ Records 2023 ONJ Records
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.