Fantastic, I can’t get enough of listening to it. The debut album, Confluences, by French accordionist Jean-Louis Matinier. Fast-moving melodic lines and ostinato figures, shining melodies, brilliant ensemble work and some very nice improvising. You can listen to a bit of it here.

Held together by a lacework of body-moving rhythms and made creative by real compositions which work with the rhythms but change and grow. Dancing back and forth between various feels. If any genre that I have at hand, I would call this chamber-jazz. Although that term is imperfect. It has most to do with composition and improvisation and I feel a particularly baroque sensibility, like much of jazz composition.

The orchestration is superb, many times sounding like more than the four pieces which are present.

In particular I am enamoured by the work of the flutist Bobby Rangell. These flute melodies could not have been played better. The playing on this record is really world class. Bravo Jean-Louis! You are an inspiration and an artist.

Jean-Louis Matinier

Confluences

Enja Label

Personnel:

Accordion/Composition: Jean-Louis Matinier

Flute: Bobby Rangell

Guitar: Nelson Veras

Bass: Renaud Garcia-Fons