The blending of old-school acoustic jazz and contemporary mixology is potentially so fruitful that itΓÇÖs surprising such cross-genre projects as St Germain havenΓÇÖt proliferated. This French unitΓÇöa jazz sextet conducted by cut-and-paste maestro Ludovic NavarreΓÇöprobes the terrain attractively. Even when the group is basically just laying its cooled-out style over nouveau beats, everything clicks swimmingly; trumpeter Pascal Ohse and pianist Alexandre Destrez in particular show off strong solo chops.
But when Navarre tosses some sharp samples into the blenderΓÇöas on ΓÇ£Rose Rouge,ΓÇ¥ which utilizes a sly Marlena Shaw clip, or ΓÇ£Sure Thing,ΓÇ¥ which rides vocals and guitars by John Lee Hooker lifted from the soundtrack of The Hot SpotΓÇöthings get special. Finally, ΓÇ£Montego Bay Spleen,ΓÇ¥ with Jamaican guitar ace Ernest Ranglin sitting in, may be the crowning glory of this sublimely entertaining and swingingly up-to-date album.
All recordings courtesy of Blue Note Records. All songs written by L. Navarre; courtesy of Primary Society Publishing (SACEM).
