Jazz Articles about Sebastien Paindestre

Atlantico: A Stovepipe Hat Made From Silk

by Mark Sullivan
August 9, 2021

This album by the European/American quartet Atlantico co-led by French jazz pianist Sebastien Paindestre and U.S. reed and woodwind player Dave Schroeder completes the band's planned triptych, following New Easter Island (La Fabrica'son, 2019). For this sequel they are joined by acoustic bassist Mike Richmond (replacing Martin Wind) and drummer John Hadfield (replacing Billy Drummond). Tenor saxophonist Billy Drewes (who had played on one track on the last outing) guests on four tracks, expanding the group to a quintet.

Sébastien Paindestre Trio: Paris

by Mark Sullivan
August 16, 2016

French pianist Sébastien Paindestre--last heard on the French/American quartet Atlantico's En Rouge (La Fabrica'son, 2016)--leads his own trio in a mostly-original program. The liner notes credit a Fender Rhodes technician, and the opener “Scottish Folk Song" (by Walt Weiskopf) shows why. After introducing the tune on acoustic piano with double bassist Jean-Claude Oleksiak and drummer Antoine Paganotti (with the pastoral sound promised by the title) the Rhodes makes a dramatic entry with a distorted, highly electronic sound. It's very distinctive, ...

Sebastien Paindestre: Live @ Duc des Lombards

by Edward Blanco
October 5, 2010

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 ...

Amnesiac Quartet: Tribute to Radiohead

by John Barron
February 15, 2010

Led by pianist Sebastien Paindestre, France's Amnesiac Quartet pays homage to the iconic British band Radiohead with Tribute to Radiohead. The disc is an endearing live set of instrumental renditions of five Radiohead songs, each with extended open space for intense improvising from Paindestre, soprano saxophonist Fabrice Theuillon, bassist Joachim Florent, and drummer Antoine Paganotti. The opening “Everything in its Right Place" settles into a soothing groove with Paindestre's enveloping Rhodes vamp and Theuillon's mellow rendering of ...

Sebastien Paindestre Trio: Parcours

by John Barron
July 15, 2008

Parcours finds French pianist Sebastien Paindestre leading a trio with longtime collaborators Antoine Paganotti (drums) and Jean-Claude Oleksiak (bass). The disc highlights the collaborative spirit of the ensemble, navigating through Paindestre's harmonically lush compositions.

The session opener, “Le Soupirail," has a modal, swinging quality reminiscent of a 1960s Wayne Shorter composition. It's the perfect introduction to Paindestre's modern approach. The pianist has a supple touch on the keyboard, maintaining an even flow with impressive technical control. With improvisational ideas that ...

Sebastien Paindestre Trio: Parcours

by Raul d'Gama Rose
July 8, 2008

Sebastien Paindestre can communicate with unbridled impressionism and also swing and bop like mad. These are what make this trio record, Parcours, such a memorable experience. The title suggests “wandering" or “wanderlust," depending on how you view the grammar of the music. You would think that it is courageous to make a trio record--piano, bass and drums--in a world inhabited by those under Bill Evans or Ahmad Jamal, or the attempts at stretching the form made by Keith Jarrett or ...

Sebastien Paindestre Trio: Ecoutez Moi

by Jim Santella
April 11, 2006

The title that pianist Sébastien Paindestre has given his debut album translates as “Listen to Me. His trio, three creative soloists who also work well as an ensemble, back that up with a superb straight-ahead session. Paindestre's original compositions burn with a spontaneous, crystal clear intensity. The delicate touch that he's developed at the piano proves graceful.

In the hands of Paindestre and his musical partners, Stella by Starlight makes plenty of room for the notes to dance ...