Denis Uhalde : Aurore

Ah, time, time… if only we had a little more of it, just think of all we could do! Well, as it happened, I hadn’t had time to listen to Denis Uhalde’s CD before heading to his concert at the Jass Club in Paris, a venue I hadn’t yet had the chance to visit. So that June evening was a double discovery for me: a new, welcoming venue and music of impressive freshness—and not just because it was new to me. For Denis Uhalde’s music (he composed the entire repertoire of this album) immediately strikes the listener with its uncommon melodic candor and fervor. Is this linked to the fact that Uhalde is first and foremost a composer of music for the screen? I cannot say, but it is certain that his compositions have an eminently visual character and that, when listened to with eyes closed, they transport us to enchanting landscapes, painted by melodies that are either beautifully serene or more animated, and harmonies that are more crystalline than sophisticated.

This taste for a certain simplicity goes hand in hand with a generosity that is also evident in the choice of partners Uhalde has gathered around him: Léo Jannet, to begin with, whose flugelhorn and trumpet intone a song of constant sonic breadth and melodic beauty. It comes as no surprise to learn that he is a fan of Chet Baker.

Hugo Rivière’s double bass is both powerful and melodious, and in addition to its rhythmic and harmonic role—which it fulfills with great skill—it delivers some truly beautiful solos (in live performances). Quentin Rondreux’s drums are no slouch either, bringing an intense and rich polyrhythm to the ensemble that works wonders (again, live) during powerful solos. In short, this quartet is top-notch. But Uhalde’s generosity doesn’t stop there, as he has invited remarkable soloists to join him on a few tracks: Xavier Trombini on soprano saxophone, Boris Blanchet on tenor saxophone, and Benoît Garlanda on guitar. The quartet thus becomes a quintet or (during the concert) a sextet, where the two horn players bring an often torrential flow and a rough sound that contrasts very effectively with Léo Jannet’s lyrical touch. Denis Uhalde—whose refined piano playing magnificently supports the ensemble and rarely takes center stage in solos—thus serves as the architect of a music he has composed with love and utterly convincing artistry. And the title “Aurore” is perfectly suited to this music, which I discovered one spring evening, but which can be listened to with renewed pleasure from dawn to dusk. Beautiful!

Thierry Quénum

Musiciens:

Denis Uhalde : Piano

Léo Jannet :trumpet, flugelhorn

Hugo Rivière : Double bass

Quentin Rondreux : Drums

Xavier Trombini : soprano sax

Boris Blanchet : Tenor Sax

Benoît Garlanda : Guitar

Label : (Pousse Pousse Production)

Sortie :  2026 May