Sébastien Parent: Projet Seb Parent

It is remarkable that young Canadian drummer Sebastien Parent was able to record a big-band album during the depths of the Covid-19 pandemic, even more so given that each of the musicians recorded his or her part separately, at home while in isolation. As Projet Seb Parent was recorded in Montreal and environs, and many of the musicians have French surnames, the long-distance session has a clear and unmistakable accent Francais.

If there is one word that may best sum up Parent's approach to jazz, that word has to be eclectic. He grew up listening to a broad spectrum of music, and uses every aspect of it—from rock, soul, trad jazz and country to classical, trap and even bossa nova—to suit his purpose. That can be a good thing or something less, and while Parent doesn't always split the target, there is no doubt that his aim is sincere.

Projet Seb endures a shaky start, as Parent's "Grande Sainte-Marie" (he wrote or co-wrote every number) opens in a humdrum rock groove before bringing in horns and winds for a more traditional big-band feel, which yields once more to the rock influence, accentuated by electric guitar but offset to some degree by amiable solos from trumpeter Nathan Viens, pianist Cedric De Saint-Rome and tenor saxophonist Elisabeth Lajoie. Trumpeter Annie Lu is given feature billing on the airy "Nuage Industriel," which follows.

"Tome 3" uses bright unison passages, a neo-soul beat and twin saxophone solos to revisit a style that reigned about half a century ago, while the edgy "Station du College" exemplifies the excitement and anxiety of college life. Saint-Rome solos again here with trombonist Eric Dube as Parent adds an insistent ryhthmic pulse. Parent describes the limber "Echec Crucial" as "a patchwork of unreleased music from previous failed projects." Failed or not, it works quite well here, with shimmering brass and reeds backing capable solos by trombonist Morena Jacques, trumpeter Nicolas Riverin, acoustic bassist Oscar Robertson and electric bassist Henri Bouchard.

The carefree "Mont Saint-Bruno" blends country twang and Dixie jazz into a bright and pleasing melange, while "Rat Pack" bows warmly to big-band jazz of a bygone era and the herky-jerky "Bling Bling" forms, according to Parent's notes, "a bridge between the artificiality of trap and the realism of jazz." Again, some nice solos along the way by alto Louis Plouffe. trombonist Loic Turgeon-Roy aad baritone Nathan Bissonnette. Yes, Projet Parent is a mixed bag, but one whose pleasurable moments easily outnumber those that may be less welcome to some ears.

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