Country : Québec Label : Indépendant Genres and styles : Modern Jazz Year : 2024

Jeremy Leon – Affinity

· by Varun Swarup

Affinity, the first offering from saxophonist Jeremy Leon, sees the young Montrealer staking his claim as a new voice in the world of modern jazz. From the heralding opening number, The Coronation of Prince Dennis”, Leon captivates with an esoteric and grave tone that draws parallels to legendary saxophonists like Coltrane, Brecker, and Kenny Garrett. And while his tone pays homage to the giants who paved the way, his compositions reveal a broader musical vision and a vivid knack for arrangement.

Though occasionally cryptic in their titles and challenging in their rhythmic structures, these 8 compositions possess an undeniable allure. The listener is taken on a journey through intricate musical landscapes that demand attention and engagement, and is rewarded with a satisfying sense of catharsis by the end. There is equally nice variety in the tunes Leon has put forward, and I particularly liked “Surrey”, “Isaiah”, and “To the Lighthouse”, leaning on the more plaintive and soulful side of things. 

The quintet of Emmanuelle Sloutsker on piano, Sam Lechasseur on guitar, Ben Boardman on bass, Paulo Max Riccardo on drums, under Leon’s helm, navigates through these sonic mazes with grace and finesse, always keeping the fire alive enough to guide the listener through the darkness. Certainly this album’s strength lies ultimately in the synergy, or affinity, that exists between each member. Leon has evidently put together a band where trust and communication take priority. It certainly sounds as such, and drummer Paulo Riccardo especially displays exquisite musicianship in his dynamism and responsiveness to the many twists and turns the band take. Kudos to Jeremy for putting out a record that not only already displays technical mastery but also a willingness to explore, to experiment, and to enjoy. 

Latest 360 Content

Steve Reich’s quartets at Bourgie Hall : a perfectly oiled minimalist mechanism

Steve Reich’s quartets at Bourgie Hall : a perfectly oiled minimalist mechanism

Population II – Maintenant Jamais

Population II – Maintenant Jamais

Molécule/Orchestre national de Lille; Alexandre Bloch, dir. – Symphonie no 1 ‘’quantique’’

Molécule/Orchestre national de Lille; Alexandre Bloch, dir. – Symphonie no 1 ‘’quantique’’

BBC Symphony Orchestra/Timothy Redmont, dir. – Beyond

BBC Symphony Orchestra/Timothy Redmont, dir. – Beyond

Jaeden Izik-Dzurco, Beyond Impeccable

Jaeden Izik-Dzurco, Beyond Impeccable

Kizaba: Between Ancestrality and Afro-Futurism

Kizaba: Between Ancestrality and Afro-Futurism

Caroline Savoie Succumbs to Her Guilty Pleasures

Caroline Savoie Succumbs to Her Guilty Pleasures

Louise Forestier – Vieille corneille

Louise Forestier – Vieille corneille

Sight + Sound | Fili Gibbons

Sight + Sound | Fili Gibbons

Sight + Sound | A Rain Ritual in Anticipation

Sight + Sound | A Rain Ritual in Anticipation

Opera McGill | Imeneo of Handel through the lens of Patrick Hansen

Opera McGill | Imeneo of Handel through the lens of Patrick Hansen

Mivos Quartet: three times Reich at Bourgie

Mivos Quartet: three times Reich at Bourgie

Caroline Savoie – Rom-Com 

Caroline Savoie – Rom-Com 

Éléonore Lagacé and Brûlez-moi vive: pop on fire

Éléonore Lagacé and Brûlez-moi vive: pop on fire

Gloin – All of your anger is actually shame (and I bet that makes you angry)

Gloin – All of your anger is actually shame (and I bet that makes you angry)

Pro Musica | Piano prodigy Jaeden Izik-Dzurko: “serious”, “introverted” and… extremely refined

Pro Musica | Piano prodigy Jaeden Izik-Dzurko: “serious”, “introverted” and… extremely refined

Boubé – Voyager

Boubé – Voyager

An Invitation to Travel by Boubé

An Invitation to Travel by Boubé

Ingrid Saint-Pierre – Five Upright Piano Songs

Ingrid Saint-Pierre – Five Upright Piano Songs

SAT | Le Couleur Changes Spectrum, But First…

SAT | Le Couleur Changes Spectrum, But First…

Whispering Worlds – Cosmic Cliffs

Whispering Worlds – Cosmic Cliffs

ContaQt/Yaz Lancaster/Evan Ziporyn – ConneQt IV

ContaQt/Yaz Lancaster/Evan Ziporyn – ConneQt IV

Nick Storring – Mirante

Nick Storring – Mirante

Subscribe to our newsletter