Louis Sclavis – India – Couleurs JAZZ

Louis Sclavis’ new quintet is absolutely thrilling. It has been a long time since the clarinetist led a group that included a trumpet alongside his clarinets, and the choice of Olivier Laisney for this role proves to be an excellent one, as this musician possesses a radiantly luminous tone.

In this context, Sclavis offers compositions—all but one of which he wrote himself—that are eminently melodic, allowing his magnificent tone to unfold in all its splendor. He has been familiar with the rest of the group for several years, and the leader’s loyalty to these musicians shows how much he has found the formula that best suits the current phase of a career that has seen him lead various groups over the years.

Benjamin Moussay—whose resplendent piano playing is central here—is a privileged partner, and Sclavisrecently recorded a beautiful duo album with him (see review on this site).

Sarah Murcia‘s double bass asserts itself, from album to album, as increasingly essential, both for the power of her solos and the relevance of her accompaniment.

As for Christophe Lavergne, he brings a subtle and abundant drumming style to the ensemble. On a short track, co-composed with the leader, Dominique Pifarely adds the lyricism of his violin to the ensemble.

The album’s title, India, is a reference to Sclavis‘ first opus, Chine, and thus marks the leader’s desire to return to a kind of “imaginary folklore” by bringing to the forefront melodies and rhythms tinged with joyful exoticism, as evidenced by tracks such as Mousson, Madras Song and Gange.

All in all, this is an album that can be listened to with renewed pleasure from track to track and which reveals an inspired Sclavis who, having just turned 70, continues to surprise us with his ability to reinvent himself while remaining at the top of his game.