Malo Mazurié – Taking The Plunge

In the course of a career rich in musical adventures, Malo Mazurié has met, in the studio or on stage, artists of the calibre of Robin McKelle, Cecil L. Recchia, Scott Hamilton, Dan Barrett, Éric Legnini, Jérôme Etcheberry, Laurent Cugny…

He has also recorded two collections with Michel Pastre’s quintet (“Charlie Christian Project” (2015), “Michel Pastre 5tet featuring Dany Doriz & Ken Peplowski – “Tribute to Lionel Hampton“, 2017) and two more with The Three Blind Mice trio (“The Three Blind Mice, vol.1” (2016), “See How They Run“, 2018).

Now comes “Taking The Plunge“, the first album released under his name, inspired by the music of Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Bix Beiderbecke and Jelly Roll Morton, which remains the source of his first musical emotions and the development of his artistic personality.

Far from indulging in a sterile evocation of the past, Malo Mazurié has given his interpretations a personal touch that ensures their contemporary character. The famous “Latin Tinge“, so dear to Jelly Roll Morton, embellishes The Pearls, as does the original rhythmic treatment of Singin’ The Blues and the seductive arrangement of Candlelights, a piano solo by Bix, here adapted to the trumpet/double bass/piano formula.

Then there are eight of his own compositions, perfectly integrated into the whole, such as The House Of Sisterhood, which bears the hallmarks of Billy Strayhorn ballads, and Before The Plunge, cleverly placed between Singin’ The Blues, featuring a masterful interpretation of Frankie Trumbauer and Bix Beiderbecke solos, and Someday You’ll Be Sorry, which harks back to Louis Armstrong.

Pianist Noé Huchard, double bassist Raphaël Dever and drummer David Grebil, his partners and accomplices, always find the right tone and show great open-mindedness, contributing greatly to the beauty of a music that embellishes tradition by nourishing it with a modern, authentic vision of jazz.

This great team will perform on Wednesday, February 14, 8 p.m. at Bal Blomet.

Taking The Plunge is a “Best of the Month” album in Selection on Couleurs Jazz Radio and Hit Couleurs Jazz.