Leon Phal - Stress Killer (Edition deluxe) (2024)

Over the past year since the release of Stress Killer, Franco-Swiss saxophonist Léon Phal has expanded his audience through performances across France and global tours. His music, rooted in classical jazz, transcends tradition by blending elements of hip-hop, electronic music, and contemporary styles. This journey is captured in the newly expanded edition of his album.

A graduate of the Conservatory and the Haute École de Musique in Lausanne, Léon reimagines jazz with innovative arrangements, such as his bold reinterpretation of Coltrane's Naïma. His approach combines classical foundations with modern influences, drawing inspiration from artists like El Michels Affair, The Roots, and Ahmad Jamal. Composing solo, he refines his ideas, which are then enriched by his quintet featuring Arthur Alard (drums), Rémi Bouyssière (double bass), Gauthier Toux (keys), and Zacharie Ksyk (trumpet).

Phal crafts intricate yet accessible jazz that merges tradition with club music and rap, transforming classical elements into contemporary orchestrations. This 14-track album showcases his ambition not only to honor the genre’s pioneers but to carve out his own place among them.

Tracklist:
1-1. Leon Phal - Vibing in Ay (04:08)
1-2. Leon Phal - Fuck Yeah (05:16)
1-3. Leon Phal - Idylla (03:46)
1-4. Leon Phal - Balanced Action (04:48)
1-5. Leon Phal - Something Inside (03:12)
1-6. Leon Phal - Stress Killer (03:43)
1-7. Leon Phal - Bongo 113 (04:24)
1-8. Leon Phal - Naima (04:07)
1-9. Leon Phal - Same Human (04:04)
1-10. Leon Phal - Clarity (03:02)
1-11. Leon Phal - La loi du Love (02:56)
1-12. Leon Phal - Nuova Padova (04:34)
1-13. Leon Phal - Sacred Conversations (04:13)
1-14. Leon Phal - Disciplined Games (04:22)