John Hébert Trio - Floodstage (2014) Lossless

Louisiana born double bassist and composer, John Hébert, is committed to exploring deeper his own Cajun roots. If there were traces of it in his previous trio album, “Spiritual Lover”, and in his first recording as leader, "Byzantine Monkey" that identity search is now ever more present. But this highly in demand and sought after bassist didn’t make the easiest step: “Floodstage” isn’t a world jazz recording. On this latest outing the creole references come with subtlety and are mixed with the contributions of Hébert’s partners: French pianist Benoît Delbecq and drummer Gerald Cleaver, both also widely recognized virtuosos of their respective instruments.

A dreamer and an adventurer, specializing in a very unique approach that provides multi-layered grooves on prepared piano, Delbecq is either diving into the traditions of jazz, a less known side of his many skills, or adding unexpected electronic textures to it, giving a mysterious and unique vision to the compositions. Something similar can be said about Cleaver: he defines and keeps tempos with excellent mastery and wonders us with a tapestry of complex rhythms. Hébert is always there, providing the pillars of support, even when the axis moves to the side and the center of gravity is obscured. The result is challenging music, with earth, and all the sky above.