Tevet Sela is a Montreal saxophonist of Israeli origin, established in the metropolis since 2010. Sweet Tears is his 8th album.
The various influences mentioned by the artist (klezmer, Arab music) are largely integrated, even diluted, in a fairly classic discourse. But the communicative energy that emerges from Sela’s music, and above all the beauty of his instrumental timbre, are remarkable. The Montrealer by adoption deploys vibrant, luminous lines, enveloped in an often sumptuous, radiant halo. Sela occasionally climbs towards some atmospheric, icy twirl, but doesn’t linger there.
His compositions are based on straightforward, well-defined melodies, from which he and his friends explore a solidly mastered and well delineated art of improvisation. The balanced exchanges are the result of undeniable experience in jazz discourse, at once refined, studied and imbued with natural intuition. A few blues incursions add a pleasant earthy counterpoint to the whole. Sweet Tears is a perfect summer jazz offering, from which emerges a strong sense of optimism. It’s serious but very smiling.
The line-up of this quartet, which has been up and running for just a few years, is top-notch: John Roney (piano), Mike Downes (double bass) and Mark Kelso (drums) embrace de Sela’s artistic approach with complicity.
Beautiful and very good jazz, perhaps without many surprises, but always fully stimulating. Sela will be at the Jazz Fest here on July 6 at 6pm. It’s free, so there’s no reason to miss it. But if you do, or if you just can’t get enough, know that Tevet Sela is a regular at Modavie Bistro in Old Montreal.
