Recommended: Leaf – “Leaf”

 

There’s an appealing moodiness to this alt-contemporary jazz album from the quartet Leaf.  The music’s contemplative nature provides an essential balance for those passages where the shine of the jazz-rock fusion threatens to get a bit too bright.  There’s nothing fussy about the melodies; nicely crafted and rolled out simply, they’re easy to embrace even when a soloist takes it for a ride.  Of this, the quartet displays a nice patience in developing them into something more, and that preference of the soloists to stay within the fold is what allows them to go wandering far and wide and never let their melodic starting point fall out of view.

There’s nothing particularly groundbreaking about this album.  No new territory is struck.  But it’s plenty enjoyable, and for those of you who prefer the modern contemporary jazz sound, this is a nice option.  Besides, for a debut album, Leaf is a promising start.

Totally obscure reference: Anyone who is familiar with (and likes) Azure’s When She Smiles should give this one a listen.  Absent the Nordic jazz influence, it falls within the same family.

Your album personnel: Eric Kappauf (piano), Olivier Grenier Bédard (guitar), Jonathan Arseneau (double bass) and Dave Croteau (drums).

This album is Self-Produced.

Listen to more of the album at the artist’s Bandcamp page.

Music from Montreal, Québec.

Available at:  Bandcamp