Manela is an ensemble from the Cordâme family. Indeed, we find two founding members: Marie Neige Lavigne on the violin and Jean Félix Mailloux on the double bass. Two heavyweights of jazz and contemporary improvisation are added here, Bernard Falaise on guitar and Pierre Tanguay on drums. A quartet whose expressive space is partly imbued with a prog soul, a bit of Space Rock, the Canterbury scene, and even a touch of Bowie. That said, like tendrils caught by the wind, Manela summons them in an almost intangible way, like echoes rather than direct references. You can also hear traditional and world influences, sonic traits that connect the quartet to the Cordâme nebula mentioned earlier.
It is Marie Neige Lavigne who leads the dance and, as a result, imprints her personal touch, acoustic and vaguely classical, if not folk, on the final product. Jazz is also integrated in a more diffuse rather than explicit manner, through well-crafted, relatively polished improvisations.
It is easy to listen to, without extravagant demands, but with sincere pleasure.
THE ALBUM IS OUT ON MAY 1, 2026
Marie Neige Lavigne: violin
Bernard Falaise: guitar
Jean Félix Mailloux: double bass
Pierre Tanguay: drums
Manela will be in concert on May 2 in Châteauguay, at the Jean-Pierre Houde Hall, and on October 21, 2026, at La Toscadura, Montreal.
