Martin Salemi – Daylight

The first track on this beautiful record might sound like it was written by Horace Silver or one of his colleagues on the Blue Note label in the good (old?) days of flourishing hardbop.

Yet this quintet, made up of young Belgians, is in no way nostalgic or redundant. On the contrary, the leader, pianist/keyboardist and composer of the entire repertoire is simply (sic!) a lover of swaying melody and generous groove, which, as far as we know, are ageless.

In the company of acolytes totally devoted to his cause and producing a pulpy, refined band sound, Martin Salemi offers a perfectly convincing aesthetic that should delight the ears of any self-respecting jazz lover.

The individual timbres of the five members are remarkable, whether it’s the velvety or speedy tenor (with a clear Lee Konitz/Warne Marsh influence in places) of Sylvain Debaisieux – one of the European saxes currently and rightfully on the rise – the limpid, fluid guitar of Lorenzo Di Maio (another musician to keep an eye on) or the leader’s inventive, melodious piano and keyboards. As for the rhythmic pair Boris Schmidt/Daniel Jonkers, they provide impeccable support for the ensemble, sometimes with their colorful, refined playing, sometimes with their first-rate punch.

In other words, we don’t know what to praise most in this superlative quintet, which doesn’t worry about “sounding modern”, but plots its course with beauty and vigor, enchanting us track after track.

Decidedly, Belgian jazz does not cease to amaze us with its diversity, its musicality, its ability to tackle different styles with staggering conviction.

Don’t miss Daylight, which – as its title suggests – is illuminated by the caressing, dazzling light of day, and gives off a heady perfume that would have pleased Charles Baudelaire, who – if he were still alive – would have had the opportunity to revise his judgement of our Belgian neighbors in his infamous Pauvre Belgique, one of his most mediocre and pitiful opuses.

No, Belgium is far from poor when it comes to jazz. On the contrary, its richness is expressed with serenity and beauty.