French-Mauritanian conductor, pianist and composer Leïla Olivesi has released a brilliant sixth album, surrounded by the best musicians of her generation. - - ASTRAL is also her second large ensemble opus, following the 'Andaman Suite' in 2019, a 'coup de coeur' from the Académie Charles Cros. - - A recognized composer inspired by the greatest (Duke Ellington, Mary Lou Williams), Leïla demonstrates with ASTRAL her talent for creating original and harmonious music at the forefront of modernity. - - ASTRAL features instrumental works as well as two captivating songs set to poems by contemporary poet Lucie Taïeb. The arrangement of Mary Lou Williams' 'Scorpio' is particularly delightful, finely crafted around the velvety sound of Jean-Charles Richard on baritone. Soloists Baptiste Herbin, Adrien Sanchez, Quentin Ghomari, and Manu Codjia brilliantly and collaboratively embody the soaring moments of ASTRAL. - - Guest saxophonist Géraldine Laurent brings a generous and adventurous light to the 'Constellation' suite and the song 'Soustraire à la lumière'. Finally, Chloé Cailleton enchants the album's two songs with a skillful opening that recalls the most beautiful melodies of Ravel and Debussy in the French language. - - As Geoffrey Keezer says: "This is contemporary acoustic jazz of the highest caliber, with brilliant musicians interpreting and bringing her musical visions to life." And according to Xavier Prévost: "The album concludes with two very beautiful evocations (Portrait & Missing CC) of our friend Claude Carrière, a great Ellingtonian recognized by the international jazzosphere."
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