Ismail Sentissi – Todo es Presente – @Sunside 01/23/26

What better way to brighten up a gray autumn day than by listening to music that is sunny from start to finish?

That’s what pianist Ismail Sentissi offers on this thoroughly exciting second album. All the compositions are his own, painting a soundscape of luminous musicality with accents that are sometimes Mediterranean, sometimes Balkan.

Performed as a duo with Maxime Berton on soprano saxophone, as a trio with bass and drums, as a quartet with saxophone, or as a sextet, these themes follow one another in a melodious and danceable journey whose beauty never ceases to delight.

And all this with a simplicity and melodic richness that leave you speechless.

The leader’s piano playing has a remarkable rhythmic foundation, a refined sense of harmony, and a phrasing of impressive cantabile fluidity.

The main soloist apart from Ismail Sentissi, Maxime Berton‘s soprano saxophone delivers melodic lines of great purity and offers inspired solos, each of which tells a story.

On the sextet themes, the trumpet and trombone enrich the sound with shimmering colors, while the bass/drums rhythm section supports the ensemble with energy and dynamism.

In short, this recording is a treat, and besides the urge to press the “Replay” button on the turntable, you feel the compelling need to share this discovery with your friends.

As for hearing these musicians in concert, this will be possible—for Parisians—on January 23, 2026, at the Sunside, Paris and soon elsewhere, we hope.

We can’t wait!