Alto saxophonist Darius Jones is an exceptional musician, but since he’s not one to show off or try to impress with acrobatic feats, you have to listen carefully to realize it. The material on the album Legend of E’Boi (The Hypervigilant Eye) had already hinted at this, and the resulting album was magnificent.
On this first evening of the 42nd FIMAV, one quickly realized the depth of his playing – both in terms of his compositions, with their deep roots, and in terms of his articulation – which, simply through his different ways of making his instrument resonate, carries within it the entire history of jazz, from Sidney Bechet to Albert Ayler. But the most beautiful thing is that this heritage brings him to life without ever resorting to excess, exaggeration, or caricature.
Darius doesn’t need to lay his soul bare to communicate his feelings; he always maintains a certain restraint, a sense of introspection. He presents himself as sensitive and vulnerable, yet retains his composure as a man facing existential and emotional turmoil. Connecting with his world is also soothing, so direct and authentic is his playing, and so frank and heartfelt his music, stripped of any artifice or gimmick.
His musicians, drummer Gerald Cleaver and bassist Chris Lightcap, demonstrate the same restraint, but also great agility which they put at the service of the pieces according to what they exactly need, a propulsive charge here, a hushed atmosphere there… to give them their full meaning and charge.
