Michel Meis

Gilles Grethen Quartet & Strings: State of Mind

by Jerome Wilson
January 1, 2023

The concept of a jazz group backed by a string ensemble is nothing new. However, this set from the pan-European Gilles Grethen quartet is a particularly lovely example of the combination. Guitarist Grethen, from Luxembourg, leads a group which features trumpet, bass, and drums, and is accompanied on this album by an eleven-piece string ensemble. The music he wrote for the project seamlessly integrates the quartet and string elements, contrasting moods of serenity and subtle tension. “Change" moves ...