Louise

Émile Parisien with Theo Croker, Roberto Negro, Manu Codjia, Joe Martin & Nasheet Waits

Released on 28-01-2022 by ACT Music
Main artists: Emile Parisien Quartet
Genre: Jazz

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Mentored early in his career by Clark Terry, Bobby Hutcherson, Oscar Peterson and Wynton Marsalis, French soprano saxophonist Émile Parisien has an affinity for the American jazz scene. It's no surprise then that in an effort to broaden the conversations on Louise, his seventh album as a leader, Parisien added Americans Theo Croker (trumpet), Joe Martin (bass) and Nasheet Waits (drums) to his longtime associates Roberto Negro (piano) and Manu Codjia (guitar). The jazz constant of shuffling players in hopes of sparking fresh originality and inspired playing is an imperfect art. But here the successful results add further weight to Parisien's quest to make soprano saxophone a respected lead instrument rather than an occasional diversion best known from John Coltrane's My Favorite Things. Louise is named for French-American artist Louise Bourgeois, who while best known for her spider-like sculptures, also employed weaving in her work, which Parisien uses as a major theme as well. In the title track opener, Croker and Parisien establish an immediate connection. Parisien enters with the slow, unfolding drama of a sunrise over quiet low chords on the piano. He's soon joined by Croker, the grandson of trumpeter and contemporary of Louis Armstrong, Doc Cheatham, and the pair double lines with Codjia adding accents. The emotion here is cool and misty. The dialogue between Croker and Parisien deepens in the album's only cover, Joe Zawinul's "Madagascar" where a steady though not frantic rhythm drives the pace, while both horns find plenty of solo space. Pianist Negro also makes good use of his moments. Parisien's three-part composition "Memento" is at the heart of this album. A showcase for the thoughtful, plaintive tones and introspective writing that he prefers. "Pt. 1" features him and Croker playing legato horn lines while Codjia steps out on a screaming fusion-esque solo. "Part II" begins with a sprightly exercise of Negro's piano before insistent, metallic rhythms lead into "Part III" where Croker stretches his improvisational legs against a galloping bet. Later, Parisien nods towards bop's fast horn anthems of the past (think: Charlie Parker). Louise closes with Parisien's tender, layered global wish, "Prayer 4 Peace" where reverb on the horns add a resonant quality. This is a wonderful gathering of voices and ideas from a sextet whose obvious musical connections make for leader Parisien's most accomplished and substantial set so far, one that should give him further prominence in the jazz universe. © Robert Baird/Qobuz

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Louise

Emile Parisien Quartet

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Louise

00:05:47

Klaus Scheuermann, Mastering Engineer - Nasheet Waits, Drums, MainArtist, with - Joe Martin, Bass, MainArtist, with - MANU CODJIA, Electric Guitar, MainArtist, with - Emile Parisien, Composer, Producer, Soprano Saxophone, Artist, MainArtist - Roberto Negro, Piano, MainArtist, with - Theo Croker, Trumpet, MainArtist, with - Edition ACT Publishing, MusicPublisher - Mathieu Pion, Mixer, Sound Engineer