Record Label: DVL Records

Style: Contemporary Jazz

Musicians: Didier Verna (guitar), Gilles Naturel (Bass), Guillaume Naud (piano), David Georgelet (drums)

Review:

Didier Verna is in quartet mode with his new CD @-quartet. Verna steps out in front with his beautifully melodic guitar playing and leads his gang of four through nine tracks of seemingly effortless arrangements of original jazz. The difficulty lies in how to categorize his take on jazz.

In the opening track, there is definitely a bossa feel, and yet we also have that feeling of West Coast smoothness in some tracks, and then there is the jumpy-intricate improvs of be-bop.  In true quartet fashion, the players each bring their unique voice to the group and something greater than the parts arises. Guillaume Naud’s piano playing is in the right places and complimentary to Verna’s melodic direction. Their interaction is evident throughout, but especially on track four, “Song for L." Gilles Naturel’s bass walks and sings, and his time is right in the pocket.

David Georgelet definitely has that amazement factor down, not because he is fancy or intricate, but because he plays like a vocalist - he knows how to make the kit sing and follow not only the rhythmic structure, but the melody line as well. Only a part time musician (Verna’s other gig is as a computer researcher) this CD definitely has a full time sound. You’d think that these guys have been on the road for years -- their sound is that tight and complimentary. Definitely a great addition to any jazz collection.

Tracks: Corridor, Printemptation, Les Maléties, Song for L., Offset Blues, Paris-Nice, The Hunt, Mururoa, M. Scoff

Artist's Website: http://www.didierverna.com

Listen: CDBaby

Reviewed by: Didier Verna

Send this page to a friend.