John Patitucci, Dennis Chambers, Thierry Maillard - Paris - New York (2022)

French jazz composer and pianist Thierry Maillard’s classic debut album, Paris/New York, is being released for the first time in the United States. His acoustic trio set also features bassist John Patitucci and drummer Dennis Chambers.
The brilliant and consistently inventive composer and pianist Thierry Maillard has had a very productive career, leading at least 21 albums so far. But until now, his 1998 debut, Paris/New York, has only been available in Europe. Now finally, 24 years later, the Ghost Note label is making it easy for American listeners to appreciate how talented Maillard was at the beginning of his solo career.
This enjoyable set of creative straight ahead jazz features Thierry Maillard, John Patitucci and Dennis Chambers performing ten of the pianist’s originals. Patitucci was already world famous by 1998, having been a major part of Chick Corea’s Elektric Band and Akoustic Trio since the mid-1980s and a bandleader for a decade when he was not performing with all-star groups. While masterful on both acoustic and electric basses, he sticks to the former on this trio set. Always a powerful and versatile drummer, Dennis Chambers is equally skilled at jazz, funk, fusion and r&b. By the time of this recording, he had had extensive experience working with Parliament/Funkadelic, John Scofield, and John McLaughlin among many others.
“Live In New York” begins the program with a modern jazz swinger. The focus is entirely on the pianist who displays impressive technique and a vivid imagination, capturing the spirit of the acoustic New York jazz scene of the era. “Tea or Drive,” which is even more passionate, has a blazing piano solo a little reminiscent of Chick Corea, and is highlighted by a colorful and witty tradeoff between Maillard and Chambers. The mood becomes a bit calmer with the ballad “Jamais fini” which begins and ends with Patitucci’s melodic bass.
Although it has some rapid lines in its melody, “Maya” settles into a medium tempo groove during a performance that makes creative use of dynamics and mood changes. “Monument Valley” is a lyrical piece that serves as a contrast to the strong forward momentum of “Max 2.” Chambers’ drum breaks add power and color to “Bora Bora,” the picturesque “L’echiquier” has some beautiful bowed bass by Patitucci and some out-of-tempo musings from the pianist, and “New Trio” includes a particularly catchy theme. As a closing bonus track, the uptempo “Memories Of LA” gives one an additional opportunity to experience the tight yet spontaneous trio interacting with each other.
Thierry Maillard started playing music on the accordion when he was eight, switching permanently to piano at 14. He attended the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris, studying classical music and earning a teaching diploma when he was 17. However Maillard was much more interested in becoming a jazz pianist and he soon formed a trio. He toured France and abroad with violinist Débora Sefer’s quartet during 1992-97 and then visited New York in 1998 where he recorded Paris/New York.
Since that time, Maillard has been involved in many different projects such as leading a septet that included a string quartet, heading a boppish combo, performing duos with Seffer, organizing other trios, touring Asia with a string orchestra, recording a big band tribute to Frank Zappa, and composing music for films. He is currently working on a new trio that utilizes synthesizers plus a solo piano album.
But, as Paris/New York shows, Thierry Maillard was a jazz giant from the beginning.