Jazzlab Orchestra – Glissement du Temps

Time passes—sometimes too quickly, sometimes with a contemplative slowness. For Alain Bédard, founder of the Quebec-based label Effendi Records, it seems to flow with serene constancy, echoing the Latin adage tempus fugit.

Glissement du Temps, the new album by the JazzLab Orchestra, fully embraces this reflection and elegantly celebrates the twentieth anniversary of the ensemble founded by the Montreal bassist. For this special occasion, Bédard once again brings together the crème de la crème of Montreal’s jazz scene, reaffirming the vitality and richness of this ever-evolving collective.

Varying in size from five to nine musicians depending on the piece, the ensemble offers a remarkably diverse sonic palette. The members share compositional duties, with the exception of one piece borrowed from the repertoire of French pianist Pierre de Bethmann, creating artistic cohesion while allowing individual voices to shine. This plurality of approaches results in a rich musical universe where the balance between composition and improvisation is particularly successful.

While the horn section naturally occupies a prominent place, the music of the JazzLab Orchestra is far from relying solely on it. The outstanding trumpeter Jacques Kuba-Séguin, a key figure on the Quebec jazz scene, injects just the right amount of energy to sustain the groove, which undoubtedly serves as the album’s guiding thread. Far from excessive intellectualisation, the music emphasizes emotion and accessibility, offering listeners a fluid and deeply engaging experience.

The album is further distinguished by its poignant emotional dimension through the two pieces featuring the late saxophonist Mario Allard. Having passed away in tragic circumstances, his presence lends the recording a profound sense of depth and intensity, transforming these moments into a moving and memorable tribute.

At the heart of the ensemble, Alain Bédard’s august double bass acts as a true anchor, ensuring the cohesion and stability of this sonic architecture. With playing that is both solid and sensitive, he guides the group with understated elegance, making this anniversary recording a work to be savoured and shared—much like a fine wine enjoyed over time and in good company.