This recording is exceptional. The French prodigy’s music brilliance will restore the faith of jazz violin lovers who were bored with Jean-Luc Ponty’s slickly synthesized fusion. Eddy Louiss, a true master of the organ trio format, will convince lovers. The trio, which is led by Daniel Humair as drummer, exudes an electric, raw energy. There is real improvising taking place here! The performances were held in the Cameleon, a small jazz bar in Paris. Ponty, who is only in his 20s, seems to be influenced by John Coltrane and Stuff Smith. His sound is confident, swinging and edgy. Louiss is a master at anchoring the trio. He walks rock solid basslines and improvises right-hand melodies. Eddy makes it easy to transform a “train wreck” situation into a rhythmic motif that can be used to create new improvisations. Humair’s witty drum chorus on Miles Davis “So What” is a great example. The recording’s overall quality is marked by great looseness and lots risk taking. You can choose from Gershwin’s “Summertime”, to Sonny Rollins’ “Oleo” or “Sonnymoon for Two.” Highlight of the trio’s “Carole’s Garden” romp (written by Denny Zeitlin, an American pianist) is “Carole’s Garden”. Allmusic
