French double-bass master Henri Texier has partnered some of the greatest of jazz legends over the decades, but in mid-life he developed his own evocative, north African-influenced world-jazz, often with his fine reeds-playing son, Sébastien. This set joins Texier Jr’s flighty alto sax and clarinet variations to baritone saxophonist François Corneloup’s more rustic low-register ones, on a programme prompted by Native American culture. Henri’s pounding bass-walk strides beneath them, and drummer Louis Moutin furnishes provocative swing and the odd climactic fireworks display. The material isn’t as atmospheric as on 2000’s Remparts D’Argile or 2007’s Water Alert, and the indigenous ritual rhythms are occasionally a little hokey, but the Cool Jazz throwback of breezy upper-reeds sounds duetting with Corneloup’s Gerry Mulligan-like baritone is a nostalgic pleasure, the processions of solos uniformly good, and the live audience plainly thrilled. The November 2015 Paris attacks had just happened, so an onstage interview with Texier (in English) gently touching on themes of hope and musical empathy isn’t there by coincidence.
