Arthur Donnot unveils his latest album, Apertura. Featuring seven tracks, it possesses a strong identity and includes a beautiful work of sound textures and atmospheres. The compositions are rich, dark, yet still keep a luminous touch. They are interpreted by a quartet of new-generation musicians active on the international jazz scene. Erwan Valazza’s aerial sound on the guitar is full of texture and resonance; Nathan Vandenbulcke shows his delicate and sensitive power on the drums; Jules Martinet has a deep anchored groove on the bass that’s always on point. Finally, Arthur Donnot’s quiet breath on the saxophone displays a warm sound that reminds one of inventive and organic singing. The whole is sublimated by the fine-tuned ear of Valentin Liechti, who realized the recording and mix of the album.
One can feel this musical entente through the remarkable coherence of the entire opus, where character differences between the pieces never alter the homogeneity of the whole. The album has a cloudy brilliance, a quiet spleen, and multiple influences: jazz tinged with indie- folk, as well as a constant anchoring to Arthur Donnot’s hip hop influences. Blake Mills and Mac Demarco sounds can also be heard in a few tracks, as well as some Gainsbourg tunes when the saxophonist grabs the microphone to sing on the last track – a beautiful and warm song reminiscent of a sweet summer evening. One would never want to reach the end of these powerful yet intimate seven stories. With Apertura, Arthur Donnot delivers inventive music of great finesse; it is an album of seven colors in which one must dive in eyes closed...
Words by Flora Ageron, translated from french by Lorraine Van Nijen.
credits
released June 27, 2022
Arthur Donnot - tenor sax, synth, vocals
Erwan Valazza - electric & folk guitar
Jules Martinet - upright and electric bass
Nathan Vandenbulcke - drums, percussions
Produced by Arthur Donnot
All tracks and lyrics are written by Arthur Donnot.
All tracks are arranged by Arthur Donnot.
Recorded by Valentin Liechti in october 2021, Crémines, Switzerland.
Mix by Valentin Liechti and mastering by Manuel Egger at Suburban Studio, Winterthur.
Artwork by Timothée Boubay.
Liner notes by Flora Ageron, trad by Lorraine Van Nijen.
Love and affection to La Maison Matrice, Erwan, Jules, Nathan, Valentin, Manu, Timothée, Flora, Thieus and all my people.
This album is dedicated to my mum, my love, and my doucette.
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