BE JAZZ FOR JAZZ

Description

In 2014, at the Bulgarian festival of Stara Zagora, Lionel Martin met saxophonist George Garzone. This encounter with the maestro – still active with his band The Fringe, who has played alongside Michael Brecker, Dave Liebman, Danilo Perez, Joe Lovano…, and who notably trained Joshua Redman and James Carter – was decisive for Lionel Martin. At the time, exhausted by the rock scene, he was considering hanging up his saxophone. George Garzone, praising his energy and the originality of his style, dissuaded him and advised him to dedicate himself to meditation and working on his instrument. From this encounter, the Madness Tenors project was born. Surrounding the two saxophonists are two of Lionel Martin's long-time companions, Mario Stantchev on piano and Benoit Keller on double bass, and the choice for the drummer naturally fell on Ramon Lopez. A sculptor, unparalleled colorist, and also a percussionist, Ramon Lopez is equally at home in free jazz and world music. The album, recorded after a concert given as part of the A Vaulx Jazz festival in March 2014, is titled Be Jazz For Jazz, echoing the superb Jazz Before Jazz, a duo by Lionel Martin and Mario Stantchev dedicated to the music of jazz pioneer Louis Moreau Gottschalk (Cristal Records 2016).