Jérôme Sabbagh – Heart

French saxophonist Jérôme Sabbagh has been living in the USA for many years, and has had many opportunities to rub shoulders with musicians from the New York scene.

He also returns regularly to France, where Daniel Humair frequently accompanies him on tour.

But it was with another legendary drummer that Sabbagh dreamed of playing: none other than the immense Al Foster – now in his eighties – whom he had heard live in trio, more than thirty years earlier, with the late Joe Henderson. And it is indeed the late saxophonist’s trio that serves as Sabbagh‘s model on this recording, rather than those of Sonny Rollins or Sam Rivers. Indeed, Sabbagh‘s tenor playing is characterized by a great gentleness, a totally assumed velvetiness, even a tenderness on the ballads, and never seeks virtuoso feats.

©Photo Sherbvin Lainez

Apart from two spontaneously improvised themes without score, where the complicity between the three musicians is obvious, the saxophonist has devoted himself essentially to a repertoire of standards (“Prelude to a Kiss” by Duke Ellington, “E.S.P.” by Wayne Shorter and even “Body and Soul”, which remains a must for tenor saxophonists) and personal compositions such as the piece that gives the album its title.

He is thus part of a line of blowers who are both modern and respectful of tradition. His limpid tone and relaxed phrasing are a perfect match for Foster‘s drumming, with its emphasis on cymbals, on which he displays an impressive variety of timbres and rhythmic finesse. As for Joe Martin, a familiar face with Sabbagh, he supports his two partners with a deep, supple pulse that is truly remarkable.

This is a recording made under live conditions on a new label created by the saxophonist, which strives to restore the acoustic sound with great fidelity.