Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Lucien Dubuis: Le Retour

Lucien Dubuis: Le Retour

By Mark Corroto
December 4, 2007
View read count

When jazz musicians were rocks stars... Wait, when rock stars were rock stars and not contestants for the next TV talent show, the music could be dangerous. But in these days when war is the new democracy, jazz stars are the new rock stars. Playing it safe is not the object for Lucian Dubuis' trio; its music is indeed dangerous.

Le Retour is the follow-up to Tovorak (Tovorak Records, 2005), and it again rocks. Sure, Dubuis' primary instrument is bass clarinet, but like Mats Gustafsson's baritone saxophone playing with the Scandinavian group The Thing, this music carries the energy and jeopardy of the finest garage bands of any generation.

Armed with the one, two, and three minute song attack, the trio shreds the airwaves with funk, heavy metal, rock, jazz and serious mayhem. "Sensara, is both shrill and overblown. The throwback NY Downtown sound reminds you of the DIY punk-inspired jazz that was being made in the old Knitting Factory. But of course the Lucien Dubuis trio is more. They play speed changes on "Les copains monstres, a sensuous elevator minute on "Shit Pop, a Marc Ribot blues-inspired rodeo on "Shit Interlude and Ribot-sounding surf music with "Shit rock'n'roll. You have to figure Dubuis' inside 'shit' joke is a compliment to his good friend Ribot.

Strange (but it shouldn't be) that organic, real music like Le Retour can be so fresh, vital, and wickedly good for you.

Track Listing

Personnel

Lucien Dubuis

saxophone, alto

Lucien Dubuis: alto saxophone, bass clarinet, contrabass clarinet; Roman Nowka bass, guitar; Lionel Friedli: drums; Dania Rodari: vocals (9).

Album information

Title: Le Retour | Year Released: 2007 | Record Label: Unit Records

About Lucien Dubuis

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Aufgehoben: Counter-Intuition
< Previous

Kenny Drew Trio: At The Brewhouse
Next >

Become a Sustaining Member

Since 1995, All About Jazz has championed jazz as an art form and supported the musicians who create it. Over three decades, it has grown into one of the world's leading jazz resources, serving hundreds of thousands of readers, musicians, presenters and industry professionals each month.

Help Build the Future of All About Jazz

Your support helps us continue building All About Jazz for the next generation—expanding our editorial coverage, preserving jazz history, developing new community features and creating better ways to discover the music and the people behind it.

Become a sustaining member for as little as $20 per year and you'll immediately enjoy an ad-free experience along with access to subscriber features and future articles for a full year.

Together, we're not simply sustaining All About Jazz—we're building its future. Thank you for being part of the journey.