Country : Canada (Quebec) Label : Effendi Genres and styles : Contemporary Jazz / Jazz Year : 2020

Exalta Calma

· by Ralph Boncy

What? You don’t know the Augustus Quartet? Yet, this Montreal jazz band of flexible numbers has been around for 23 years! And now, this spring, they’re presenting their sixth album. From one album to the next, the only common denominator for Auguste is the unfailing presence of respected double bassist Alain Bédard – him again! – who also composes most of the material and chooses a mysterious title in Latin for almost every opus, including this one (in all contrast), Exalta Calma.

This is yet another demonstration of the sacred sense of humour that binds these artists together under the banner of Effendi records. Contrary to the label’s reputation, which too often has a too-serious, even hermetic or cerebral jazz inclination, the menu of this new volume features compositions with contemporary and resolutely elaborate structures, but all inspired by rather zany characters and places, such as “Pou Titi”, “La méli-mélo”, “Queen Ketchup”, “La chaneleone” (dedicated to a formidable seductress) or “Debout au bout du Bout-du-Banc”, which evokes the sky and sea of the Magdalen Islands.

Of particular note is the presence of drummer Michel Lambert, a veteran who has worked with Auguste before, and the joint participation of two great jazzmen who have distinguished themselves on the local scene. First, alto saxophonist and soprano Mario Allard, blowing to heart’s content, and, to freshen things up, the now indispensable Swiss pianist Félix Stüssi. These friends met again – still with Bédard as a pillar – in Jazzlab Orchestra for the excellent album Quintessence. This didn’t prevent them from simultaneously delivering projects that were close to their hearts, such as the solo album Diaporama for Allard and the Supernova 4, in which Félix plays D’Artagnan with the three musketeers Derome, Guilbeault, and Tanguay, the super trio.

Recorded last summer at Piccolo, this collection of new and open music by the venerable AQ ends with “Insomnia”, a slice of suspense worthy of a film noir that makes us want to say, “Don’t give up, guys!”

Latest 360 Content

Transforming Hiroshima mon amour into contemporary opera: Christian Lapointe and Rosa Lind tell the story

Transforming Hiroshima mon amour into contemporary opera: Christian Lapointe and Rosa Lind tell the story

Sparks – MAD!

Sparks – MAD!

“Hiroshima, mon amour”: An Evening to Remember

“Hiroshima, mon amour”: An Evening to Remember

Peter Murphy – Silver Shade

Peter Murphy – Silver Shade

Ken Pomeroy – Cruel World

Ken Pomeroy – Cruel World

Art of the Line: Klangkarussell’s Euro Vision at SAT

Art of the Line: Klangkarussell’s Euro Vision at SAT

Festival des Saveurs | Closing With Reggae

Festival des Saveurs | Closing With Reggae

Centroamérica – a powerful docu-play about truth and connection in an age of distance and denial

Centroamérica – a powerful docu-play about truth and connection in an age of distance and denial

Lido Pimienta – La Belleza

Lido Pimienta – La Belleza

Tamir Barzilay – Phosphene Journal

Tamir Barzilay – Phosphene Journal

The best ‘’Candlelight concert‘’ ever.

The best ‘’Candlelight concert‘’ ever.

Men I Trust – Equus Caballus

Men I Trust – Equus Caballus

The Halluci Nation – Path of the Baby Face

The Halluci Nation – Path of the Baby Face

A lap steel guitar choir and an angel to end the Innovations en concert 24-25 season

A lap steel guitar choir and an angel to end the Innovations en concert 24-25 season

The OSM and Abel Selaocoe: Evenings When You’d Like to Stop Time

The OSM and Abel Selaocoe: Evenings When You’d Like to Stop Time

Reaching for the sky: Francis Choinière’s challenge to end his OPCM’s 10th season

Reaching for the sky: Francis Choinière’s challenge to end his OPCM’s 10th season

Piknic 3: A Little Bit of Everything Under the Sun

Piknic 3: A Little Bit of Everything Under the Sun

Cazzu – Latinaje

Cazzu – Latinaje

Stereolab – Instant Holograms On Metal Film

Stereolab – Instant Holograms On Metal Film

SMCQ | In memoriam Jocelyn Morlock

SMCQ | In memoriam Jocelyn Morlock

Abbey Road at Festival Classica

Abbey Road at Festival Classica

Mira Choquette – Hier encore

Mira Choquette – Hier encore

Jared Dunn; Anna Gorecka – Gorecki’s World of the Piano

Jared Dunn; Anna Gorecka – Gorecki’s World of the Piano

Subscribe to our newsletter