Sebastien Paindestre: Live @ Duc des Lombards

French pianist Sébastien Paindestre teams up with his longtime band mates for a blend of originals and smart cover tunes on Live @ Duc des Lombards. Recorded live at the Duc des Lombards jazz club in Paris, France in 2008, the disc documents a session of primarily instrumental music, with the exception of Brad Mehldau's "Ron's Place," featuring vocalist Michele-Anna Mimouni.

Paindestre is quick to establish himself as the dominant musical force on this set, with a solid and strong performance on the opening "Le Yourtour," navigating between Jean-Claude Oleksiak's pronounced bass work and drummer Antoine Paganotti's crashing cymbal accents. Perhaps the most spacious tune offered here, Paindestre's trio tackles Tom Harrell's standard, "Sail Away," floating away with the highlight of the album. The trio slows down the tempo a bit, playing softly on "Bess You Is My Woman Now," but only for a short while, until the pianist changes gears mid-way through the piece and goes on a delightful piano romp.

Paindestre's "Metamorphose" delivers a vibrant sound, showcasing more of the leader's appreciable chops, also featuring an exciting drum solo that concludes the album's liveliest number. For someone who began learning the piano a mere 22 years ago, Paindestre displays glimpses of brilliance—both in the quality of his compositions and the manner of his performance—on "5 Bd Serrurier" and "La Java de la Luna II," an eight-minute, crowd-pleasing exposé of improvisational grit and technical mastery.

Paindestre continues his exploration of progressive jazz with another exquisite outing on Live @ Duc des Lombards, painting a musical portrait that endures long after it's over.

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