Nicolas Ferron Trio: Multiverse

The Nicolas Ferron Trio hails from Montreal's vibrant jazz scene where guitarist Nicolas Ferron has been slinging strings alongside local heavyweights like Rémi-Jean Leblanc and Benjamin Deschamps. With Multiverse, Ferron—joined by Jonathan Cayer on B3 organ and Louis-Vincent Hamel on drums—crafts a sonic wormhole that blends psychedelic rock, a punky attitude and experimental jazz. This eight-track 47-minute journey does not merely nod to jazz tradition—it teleports it into a kaleidoscope of modern energy. Ferron's compositions paired with the trio's taut interplay make Multiverse a bold statement from a band unafraid to color outside the lines.

The title track bursts open with a swaggering groove that straddles eras. Its energy is infectious, setting a tone both retro and futuristic, with Ferron's quicksilver phrasing riding Hamel's bustling drum patterns and Cayer's sweeping B3 chords. "Complot" digs into a simmering groove marked by modern jazz motifs, linear unison choruses and a progressive rock edge. Cayer's organ roars like a psychedelic beast before settling into a soft, dawn-like calm. It is a wild ride, and the trio's hairpin dynamic shifts keep listeners buckled in.

"Mithridate" strolls like a lone cowboy in a sci-fi western, its sparse arrangement leaving ample space for Ferron's guitar to speak in gritty, deliberate tones. The shadowy harmonies give the piece an ominous undercurrent. "Muffin au son" leans hard into rock with tempo flips that hit like a caffeine surge—less about swing, more about headbang—and somehow it works without feeling forced. The closing track "Un Peu Confus" lives up to its name (A Little Confused), weaving brooding tension with skewed melodies that leave you pondering the cosmic riddle it poses. Throughout, Cayer's organ is a scene-stealer, adding dramatic weight and unexpected textures, while Hamel's technical statements are precise and full of flair.

The album is more than an impressive debut—it is a fearless exploration of what happens when jazz stops worrying about boundaries. Ferron's vision, coupled with the trio's restless creativity, yields a sound that is as dizzying as a spin through a black hole. It is jazz with a sly grin, daring you to keep pace as it jumps between dimensions.