Stéphane Spira is a self-taught musician. He pursued an engineering degree, spent some time as an
engineer in Saudi Arabia, then headed back to his hometown of Paris to pursue music full-time. Quite an
interesting background!
A traditionalist, Spira’s music and playing are both very centrist in style, but great fun to listen to. He is
not, however, so much a swing or hard bop player as sort of a ‘60s cool-school sort of guy, and his
compositions employ several of the traits one hears in a lot of modern jazz nowadays, i.e., somewhat
modal construction and amorphous melodic lines, but lyricism and swinging are prominent features of
both his writing and his playing.
Indeed, Spira’s tone is one of his finest features. I’ve heard a great many soprano saxists in recent years,
but none who play the instrument with the liquid richness that Spira draws from his instrument. Just
listen to him in the Gold Ring Variations, for instance, and you’ll be struck by the richness of his sound,
almost like an alto sax. And on this track he is particularly inventive. In addition, the relaxation of his
playing rubs off on his bandmates; only pianist Richman gets really busy in his solos, although not so
much that he spoils the delicate balance that is set up.
Indeed, as one listens to this CD, one is not so much aware of individual compositions so much as what
seems like a continuous flow of music that is interrelated, like a suite, and it is this conception that
imbues all of the music, although Underground Ritual and New Playground have their own sort of funky
jazz vibe that I liked very much. Solid Wood, the most uptempo number on the CD, makes a fine finish.
A very nice album, perfect for summertime jazz listening.
—© 2018 Lynn René Bayley
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