Mathieu Clement - Coming Home - Jazz Thing Next Generation Vol. 97 (2023) Hi Res

Mathieu Clement's sextet celebrates the balance between tradition and modernity with great enthusiasm. In the opening song Five Children", the wind players deliver an expressive trialogue that lives from fire and expressiveness. The gripping sound of Blikslager's double bass then introduces the song "Like a Monk Tune", which scores with its strong theme, which is based on classic modern jazz traditions. With a lot of youthful energy, this constriction is abandoned especially in the solos again and again, and saxophonist Fox especially proves to be an indefatigable free spirit. "The Sleepwalker" unfolds a mysterious atmosphere at a leisurely pace that is illuminated by the pallid wind instruments, but also by Hattori's highlighted piano playing. The title track is a fast-paced tour de force through post-bop formations, in which Clement can shine with his tempo changes. "Aphasia" is a ballad masterfully designed by Clement with brushes, on which Hattori plays an atmospheric solo and which features a guest star on the trumpet. Matthias Schriefl stood in for Jakob Bänsch, who was suffering from tonsillitis at the time of the recording, as he did for "Mad Mat" and "Last Tune in the Hochschule". "Mad Mat", supported by an uncompromising walking bass, can then probably be read as a self-portrait of the bandleader: The band shows their entire class there and combines gripping themes with furious solos that play out in front of a transparent network of rhythms. "Kyana" is only a short interlude, on which Mathieu plays a vibraphone. The album ends as it should with "Last Tune in the Hochschule". A casual sound panorama forms in front of the listener, which creates a cheerful straight ahead theme from a creeping blues.