HENRI TEXIER QUARTET & JOE LOVANO - Paris Batignolles (1986)

Bassist Henri Texier leads an all-star quintet bolstered by the presence of special guest Joe Lovano on tenor sax in this live 1986 recording. While Texier either wrote or co-wrote many of the selections, he amply features his musicians while not taking much of the solo spotlight for himself. The leader's energetic post-bop cooker "Zentral Motiv is a potent opener, highlighted by strong solos from Lovano and Louis Sclavis on soprano sax. The eerie "Baton Rouge" is a slow-to-develop group improvisation, with guitarist Philippe Deschepper prominent in the mix and explosive bursts bySclavis on bass clarinet. The four-part suite "Grillage" blends several different contributions by the quintet's members. "Paris Batignolles" is a joyous celebration, with the blend of reeds almost suggesting an accordion. This fun-filled concert is warmly recommended.  -  Ken Dryden


Tracks
1. Zentral Motive (Henri Texier)
2. Baton Rouge (Deschepper/Lovano/Sclavis/Texier)
3. La Louisiane (Joe Lovano)
4. Grillagel Seul Contre Tous/Jall/Grillage/Cavale (Mahieux/Sclavis/Texier)
5. Paris Batignolles (Henri Texier)
6. Noises (Henri Texier)

JACQUES MAHIEUX  drums
JOE LOVANO  tenor saxophone
HENRI TEXIER  doublé bass, cymbals, chinese gong, bendir
PHILIPPE DESCHEPPER  guitar, piccolo-guitar
LOUIS SCLAVIS  bass clarinet, soprano saxophone, baritone saxophone

Recorded live May 21, 1986 at “LE TEMPS DU JAZZ” International Jazz festival of Amiens in le Grande Théâtre de la Maison de la Culture.
LABEL BLEU – LBLC  6506   France