Ping Machine - Easy Listening (2016) [Hi-Res]

After 3 albums honoured by the jazz experts, the 15 musicians from Ping Machine have not run out of ideas and comes back from the Bauer Studios Ludwigsburg/Germany not with one but two discs in the hands.

If UBIK, a long labyrinthine and fascinating suite, which borrows from contemporary and electronic music, should be considered as the centrepiece of this new repertoire, it cannot exist without its counterpart EASY LISTENING which gathers shorter compositions and makes room for lyrical passages, strong and brilliant melodies.

Agitation and Contemplation. Two ways are possible to enter into Frédéric Maurin’s universe, whose composition’s singularity asserts itself once again with EASY LISTENING and UBIK, commissioned by the French State. The orchestral material builds a powerful architecture, with in the heart the willingness of sharing emotions. The collective adventure lived by Ping Machine for 10 years over the albums is strong and impressive, and does not let the listener uninterested.

Bastien Ballaz, trombone
Stephan Caracci, marimba, vibraphone, glockenspiel & other percussion
Guillaume Christophel, baritone saxophone & bass clarinet
Jean-Michel Couchet, alto & soprano saxophones
Andrew Crocker, trumpet, flugelhorn
Fabien Debellefontaine, alto saxophone, clarinet & flute
Florent Dupuit, tenor saxophone, flute, alto flute & piccolo
Quentin Ghomari, trumpet, flugelhorn
Didier Havet, bass trombone & tuba
Rafaël Koerner, drums & percussions
Paul Lay, piano, synthesizers
Frédéric Maurin, electric guitar, Max 7, composition & direction
Fabien Norbert, trumpet, piccolo trumpet & flugelhorn
Raphaël Schwab, double bass
Julien Soro, tenor saxophone & clarinet