Barcelona-born saxophonist Edaie Cid is based in Paris and this is a musical snapshot of Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, in the north of the city. A largely unprepossessing suburb with modern housing blocks, it has a few enclaves of interest, notably the flea market and the area around the mairie, but lacks the character of neighbouring Clichy and to the south, Montmartre.
However, it has history, and this is what Cid’s music reflects. He evidently takes an interest in its heritage, referencing cross-cultural elements such as Molière, whose family lived here, Machiavelli, and the Marquis de Sade. The race course, now long disappeared, is represented in Chevauchée Fantôme, although its busy urgency could still apply to the Rue Dhalenne of the present. René refers to a local character familiar for borrowing cash, hence the subtitle “I’ll pay you back on Tuesday.”
Cid’s alto leads, with its slightly West Coast inflections and occasional bebop quotes, bringing to mind the incisiveness of Parker and Konitz, but it’s the full-bodied baritone of Benjamin Dousteyssier that made me sit up and take note, whether at speed, on Chevauchée, or on the slower Et Comme Fait Une Coquette, inspired by a poem by Auguste de Chatillon.
There is a different feel to each of the pieces which not only embodies the diversity of the sources of inspiration but also that of contemporary life in that area. The absence of piano gives the players more individual room, space to engage in the narrative, whilst the imaginative arrangements allow for bass and drum solos, completely in keeping with the compositional context and atmosphere created.
Clarinet and soprano are heard on Rue Charles Garnier and on the walking-paced blues, La Bibliotheque Du Marquis, with a rich, plush tone from both horns.
It’s an impressive album by Cid, whom Mark Gardner (of Jazz Journal) accurately complimented for his “first-rate musicianship and tasteful stylistic amalgam”. An informative booklet written by Gustave Debainson gives an insight into the background to the music.
Discography
Cressé Mambo; La Bibliothèque Du Marquis; L’Abbé Machiavelli; Boigues Le Dépeceur; Chevauchée Fantôme À Rue Dhalenne; …Et Comme Fait Une Coquette…; Rue Charles Garnier; Le Bain De Dadon; René (Je Te Rembourse Mardi) (38.45)
Cid (as, cl); Benjamin Dousteyssier (bs, ss); Alex Gilson (b); Paul Morvan (d). Draveil, France, June 2022.
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