BenArt Ensemble featuring Baptiste Herbin

I’m familiar with only half of the musicians in this octet, but on the face of it, it’s a stellar lineup.

And even before I put the CD on the turntable, I’m already salivating at the thought of hearing Baptiste Herbin, Amina Mezaache, Céline Bonacina, and Antoine Banville together with four musicians (unknown to me) but who can’t be in such fine company by chance.

In fact, listening to the album—from the very first bars of the opening track—confirms this impression and fulfills these expectations. `

As they say: “This is heavy stuff!”

But there’s nothing heavy about this rich, fluid ensemble sound, carried by infectious, swaying rhythms, thanks in part to a drum/percussion duo of formidable effectiveness. The thirteen collective compositions—with eight musicians, this is unusual—possess a stylistic cohesion that oscillates between funk, refined world music, and spirited jazz, all driven by an exhilarating groove.

The shimmering sounds skillfully blend the acoustic tones of the wind instruments with the electric tones of the guitar, the leader’s (Benoît Artuphel) electric bass—who lends his name to the group—and the Fender Rhodes, all carried by inventive arrangements that are both crystal-clear and sophisticated in their melodies and harmonies. As for the solos that the protagonists of this groundbreaking project take in turn, they’re brimming with joyful creativity, never showy, and a joy to listen to.

In short, this is an exciting debut album from a group we can’t wait to hear live on stage. Indeed this incredible studio session—which is sure to captivate anyone with open ears and hands and feet to tap along—has us eagerly anticipating future performances where we can experience firsthand this wonderful group’s vitality, their joy of playing, and their sense of togetherness.