JazzLab Orchestra

LOGUSLABUSMUZIKUS

Effendi, 2021

8/10

Listen to LOGUSLABUSMUZIKUS

The Montreal ensemble JazzLab Orchestra have been plugging away for nearly 20 years now, and their improvisational skills have rarely sat in one place for very long.

These 9 new pieces penned by the bassist and composer Auguste Le Prez are certainly rooted in modern jazz, and showcases the immense talent of all 8 members.

“La Grande Sauve Majeur” starts the listen with Felix Stussi’s mesmerizing piano alongside well layered brass, where the 10+ minutes weaves in and out of playful jazz ideas, and “Humor de la Seconda Noche…” follows with Jacques Kuba Séguin’s bright trumpet amid Michel Lambert’s precise drums in the cautious yet adventurous landscape.

In the middle, “Bluesy del Lunedi” flows with a very lively energy, as Alain Bédard’s meticulously plucked bass keeps up with the swift sax thanks to Samuel Blais, while “Criucm” is a much calmer offering that radiates tremendous skill from Stussi’s finger acrobatics and the sublime clarinet.

Approaching the end, “Lunes & Marées” emits a very melodic and lush quality, where winds, brass, drums, keys and bass all interact with agility and precision, and “Compte-rendu II” finishes the album with some intimate moments alongside the busy interplay that’s quite fascinating.

In addition to the above mentioned, Benjamin Deschamps brings flute as well as tenor & soprano sax, Thomas Morelli-Bernard’s trombone is present and Mario Allard plays both soprano & also sax as well as clarinet. Colletively, JazzLab Orchestra play some enticing contemporary jazz, where there’s no predictability or mundanity present, as each track here radiates in its own light and is exciting as the ones before and after it.

Travels well with: The Heavyweights Brass Band- Stir Crazy; Avataar- Worldview