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Eric Dubois Quartet — Eric Dubois Quartet
(Circum-Disc microcidi026, 2022, CD / DL)

by Peter Thelen, Published 2022-04-29

Eric Dubois Quartet Cover art

This is Dubois’ first appearance on record as a composer and guitarist, with nine moody jazz pieces occasionally straying into near-rock territory, capably executed by his quartet, featuring Éric Navet (drums and vibraphone), Benoit Baud (saxophones), and Mathieu Millet (double bass), seeming to be far more than a group of players and arrangers on their first time out. In fact Baud played in an early incarnation of The Rongetz Foundation, a contemporary jazz ensemble; Navet has appeared on a number of different recordings, most recently the 2004 release Vieille Machine by Taraf Dékalé, a gypsy jazz / klezmer big-band; and Millet has appeared on many of the Circum-Disc label releases we have previewed in these pages, including the groups More Soma and _Unk. Dubois has pulled these masterful players together to help him execute his musical vision, built on clever and often mysterious compositions. Drop the needle anywhere on this album and the listener is surely in for a treat, from the catchy rhythms of “Final 2” to the dreamy intro of the powerful “Un Oiseau sur l'Épaule” or the angular opener “Le Sept et le Vide,” the group acquits themselves with finesse and refinement; every player gets a chance to shine bright, both in accompaniment and soloing. “Danse de Plus” and the closer “Terres Grasses” are the closest they veer toward a jazz-rock sound, and Dubois’ solos therein are uniformly remarkable, powerful and gritty, while “Memoires” represents the dreamier side with vibraphone and guitar supporting a beautiful lead melody by Baud. Eric Dubois Quartet is an outstanding debut that will invite the listener back for many repeat plays.

Filed under: New releases, 2022 releases

Related artist(s): Eric Dubois Quartet

More info
http://circum-disc.bandcamp.com/album/eric-dubois-quartet

 

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