Quentin Dujardin - Saison Orange

Q

AGUA music

Belgian guitarist and composer Quentin Dujardin has been releasing albums since 2002 and is also active with film music.

For this new release he has assembled a dream band with Manu Katché, drums (known for his work with Jan Garbarek, Sting and Peter Gabriel), Nicolas Fiszman, electric bass (work with Alphonse Mouzon, Joe Zawinul, Trilok Gurtu) and regular collaborator Didier Laloy on diatonic accordion.

His new album is themed around SAISON ORANGE, the “fifth season in which nature displays itself between winter and spring; the season of the pesticide-ridden fields around his village, turned orange through man’s efforts to ensure the illusion of better survival." It's a great idea, but the music is more like Spring than Winter; rhapsodic and harmonious. Dujardin's style makes brilliant use of arpeggios and the compositions tend to grow organically rather than following a "theme-solo-theme" format; the interplay and conversations between instruments work very well.

Opening track "Epiphytes" also features Norwegian trumpet visionary Mathias Eick, and has an infectious drive from this superb rhythm section, alongside a strong melody. Although most pieces on the album are composed by Dujardin, he's quite happy to stay in the background where it serves the music.

Second track "La Croisiere" features him on expressive sliding guitar, interacting nicely with accordion on a funk driven tune. Then "Janette sur son cheval" features solo guitar, with an intimate close-miked sound which leaves no stone unturned.

The title track harnesses the full power of the four piece band, on a fine composition which showcases group improvisation.

"Douce" combines acoustic, electric and slide guitars in a spacious counterpoint, with inventive support from the other three musicians. "Argile" is a beautiful duet for two guitars in free tempo, with exploratory melodies and harmony which again merge composition and improvisation.

The punchy and riff driven "Septembre" has exciting unison playing between guitar, accordion and bass which reminded me of Chick Corea and blooms into more electronic territory for its climax. The drums are very fine indeed. "Vivace" again begins with impressionistic solo guitar; evocative shifting arpeggios gradually introduce a lead line on electric guitar. The whole thing showcases Dugardin's fine technique on fingerstyle guitar and creative approach to harmony.

The final track is a version of "L'Enfer" by Paul Van Haver/Stromae for guitar ensemble with piano. The variation between band recordings and guitar multi-tracks works well to give the album variety. This is a well thought-out album of strong material from seasoned musicians, with Quentin Dujardin shining brightly on nylon strung guitars.

© Stephen Godsall
Stephen Godsall is a composer and multi-instrumentalist based in Southern England. His music is released on the Jazz'halo label.

Musicians:
Quentin Dujardin - nylon, fretless, slide & electric guitars, bass, additional percussions
Didier Laloy - diatonic accordion
Nicolas Fiszman – bass
Manu Katché - drums

GUEST ARTIST
Mathias Eick - trumpet

Produced by Lee Townsend