Return Of The New Thing

All Music Guide:
The "New Thing" refers, of course, to the avant-garde jazz scene of the early '60s, when free jazz was, in fact, a "new thing." The fact that at the end of the 20th century the style epitomized by the "New Thing" continues to flourish is a testimony to the rich and deep resources of the music and the individual musicians. The manifestation of the "New Thing" (or its "Return") found on this recording is produced entirely by a French-based quartet whose individual members, though clearly accomplished, are largely unknown in the world of new music (at least on this side of the Atlantic). No matter. What they have produced is a highly creative document of some very exciting, even thrilling, improvisations that combine sophisticated compositional skills with excellent free jazz that weaves in and out of rivers and hills. The conventional instrumentation of alto sax, piano, bass, and percussion is misleading, as the members of the quartet create a unique collective sound. While they are capable of energizing fury, they are also adept at producing challenging collages of soft sounds. - [Steven Loewy]