Country : Québec Label : Effendi Genres and styles : Contemporary Jazz / Modern Jazz Year : 2024

Félix Stüssi/Supernova 4 – Unicum

· by Frédéric Cardin

Four stellar musicians from the Montreal scene, whose resumes read like a cosmogony of local jazz, come together in the Supernova 4 quartet: Félix Stüssi on piano, Jean Derome on flute, bass flute, alto and baritone saxophones, Normand Guilbeault on double bass and Pierre Tanguay on drums. Unicum is the ensemble’s second opus. The first was hailed by the critics, and this one is sure to be no less so.

The musical galaxy proposed by these four gravitational forces is vast, but all the same, it is organized and structured in a classic and well-informed way by a modern jazz orbiting around the Hard and Post Bop axis inherited from the 60s, updated and nationalized (Le Reel du Pendu, a Quebec folk-tune in unleashed bop, is very energizing!). The melodies are sparing in length but straightforward and clear, leaving plenty of room for the explorations of each member of this elite band. Add blues references here, bossa elsewhere, and a mutually informed rhetorical dialogue between the rhythm section and the melodic-improvisatory space. Finally, a few ‘free’ effervescences, reasonably framed within a well-centred chromatic palette, round off an extensive set of charges. This is Jazz at its best and rooted, but not limited, in a Grand Tradition. It all sounds very learned, written like that, but it’s easy to listen to, and the general landscape suggested by the quartet is sunny, positive and fun.

Recommended.


Supernova 4’s album Unicum will be released on all platforms on Friday 2 February 2024. The launch will take place with 2 concert nights, Thursday 1st and Friday 2nd February at the Dièse Onze jazz club.

Latest 360 Content

Classical Spree 2025 | Obiora Ensemble : A concert-feast for the eyes and ears of the whole family!

Classical Spree 2025 | Obiora Ensemble : A concert-feast for the eyes and ears of the whole family!

Tommy Crane/David Binney – The Isle

Tommy Crane/David Binney – The Isle

Orford 2025 | Stick&Bow, a tribute to transgressors

Orford 2025 | Stick&Bow, a tribute to transgressors

Curtis Nowosad – I Am Doing My Best

Curtis Nowosad – I Am Doing My Best

George Crotty Trio – Heart Music

George Crotty Trio – Heart Music

Quatuor Bozzini – Owen Underhill : Songs and Quartets

Quatuor Bozzini – Owen Underhill : Songs and Quartets

Tina Leon – Push & Pull

Tina Leon – Push & Pull

Sean Clarke – A Flower for my Daughter

Sean Clarke – A Flower for my Daughter

English National Opera Orchestra/Martyn Brabbins – Havergal Brian : Agamemnon; Sinfonia tragica; Symphony no 12

English National Opera Orchestra/Martyn Brabbins – Havergal Brian : Agamemnon; Sinfonia tragica; Symphony no 12

The Curious Bards – Sublimation: Songs and dances from 18th-century Scandinavia

The Curious Bards – Sublimation: Songs and dances from 18th-century Scandinavia

Ensemble Masques/Olivier Fortin – Bach, Telemann & Albinoni: Concerti

Ensemble Masques/Olivier Fortin – Bach, Telemann & Albinoni: Concerti

François Leleux/Lisa Batiashvili/Frankfurt Radio Symphony – Future Horizons

François Leleux/Lisa Batiashvili/Frankfurt Radio Symphony – Future Horizons

Nate Mercereau · Josh Johnson · Carlos Niño – Openness Trio

Nate Mercereau · Josh Johnson · Carlos Niño – Openness Trio

Theon Cross – Affirmations: Live At Blue Note New York

Theon Cross – Affirmations: Live At Blue Note New York

Fabia Mantwill Orchestra – In.Sight

Fabia Mantwill Orchestra – In.Sight

Hior Chronik – Apofanie

Hior Chronik – Apofanie

Kent Nagano/Rebekka Hartmann – Hartmann/Ravel/Sadikova

Kent Nagano/Rebekka Hartmann – Hartmann/Ravel/Sadikova

Frédéric Lambert; Chloé Dumoulin – Nouveau lyrisme

Frédéric Lambert; Chloé Dumoulin – Nouveau lyrisme

Sara Curruchich in concert : great songstress of mayan roots and feminist intensity

Sara Curruchich in concert : great songstress of mayan roots and feminist intensity

Steve Reich – Traveler’s Prayer

Steve Reich – Traveler’s Prayer

London Philharmonic Orchestra – Tania Leon : Horizons; Raices (Origins); Stride; Paisajes

London Philharmonic Orchestra – Tania Leon : Horizons; Raices (Origins); Stride; Paisajes

Andrew Staniland – The Laws of Nature

Andrew Staniland – The Laws of Nature

Cyrille Dubois, etc. – Geroges Bizet: Les Mélodies

Cyrille Dubois, etc. – Geroges Bizet: Les Mélodies

Subscribe to our newsletter