David Chevallier, Sebastien Boisseau & Christophe Lavergne - Second Life (2017)

David Chevalier presents ten original compositions. This second album, in which he is again assisted by Sebastian Boisseau on double bass and Christophe Lavergne on drums, offers a diverse acoustic repertoire. The rich, light atmosphere generates complex but memorable melodic lines.
The precision of the writing, accuracy, but at the same time the absence of excessive obsession, combined with careful attention to detail in the arrangements (countermelodies of bass or guitar, clear rhythm, subtle looping fragments) make this combination an exciting landmark. The trio easily masters it and even enriches it, showing tangible joy from playing, especially during improvisational sections, which give flexibility to structures, opening up ever wider spaces.
Since the release of the Standards & Avatars album (dedicated to rethinking several jazz standards) three years ago, this band has really enriched itself and is now developing a rich and dynamic overall sound. The balanced distribution of voices allows musicians with their inherent intelligence to cope with the spectacular moments that abound on the album (for example, in the compositions "Dodici" by Boisseau or "Slide" by Lavergne).
However, David Chevalier stands out in particular. Thanks to his skillful choice of instruments (six- or twelve-string guitars, banjos), he demonstrates a sense of rhythm that enhances compositions and gives them a special flavor. "Naïf" has a lightness reminiscent of Monk's style, "Patience" has a more serious tone, and "Choro" has deliberate irony. With natural ease, this versatile guitarist synthesizes a wide stylistic palette into his own unique melting pot.