Label: Sunset Hill Music, 2024
Personnel - Benjamin Deschamps: alto saxophone; Frank Lozano: tenor saxophone; Sébastian Pellerin: bass; Louis-Vincent Hamel: drums.
Montreal-based alto saxophonist and composer Benjamin Deschamps, with a background in classical music, fronts his No Codes jazz quartet in an exhilarating sophomore album titled Usual Suspects. The group’s uncluttered yet inventive arrangements are propelled by bold rhythmic interplay from bassist Sébastian Pellerin and drummer Louis-Vincent Hamel, supporting Deschamps and tenor saxophonist Frank Lozano. The horn players share a flexible, eloquent vocabulary that lends the album consistency of mood as well as thematic cohesion.
“The Quest” opens with some ambiguity in the theme before transitioning into a forceful swing, riling up the horns into flying solos. Deschamps and Lozano are adept of energetic exchanges, and their assertive articulation and fluid phrasing are also mirrored on the title track, “Usual Suspects”, where a muscular bass groove and driving drums bring evoke the alternative rock band Morphine. The track’s progressive take on jazz, with staccato horn accents creating palpable tension, leaves a lasting impression.
In “Dog Days” the frontline saxes navigate sweet melancholy melodies over a palpable harmonic progression, briefly interrupted by a thoughtful bass solo from Pellerin, with Hamel maintaining the time and groove. The bassist introduces “Sokushinbutsu” with airy pizzicato and hammer-ons, allowing space to breathe before shifting into a ternary rhythm. The track culminates with a final vamp that sets the stage for Deschamps’ intricate solo.
“Hyperstitions” and “Emit Time Item” are standout moments. The former charges by in a giddy delight, with sharp staccato strikes, angular deflections, and an extravagant rhythm giving it avant-garde coloration, while the latter is a wild, vertiginous track delivered with the fiery energy of Ornette Coleman. Here, you can feel not only the force of the drums and overall dynamics, but also moments of quietude craving saxophone multiphonics and moaning howls. In opposition, “Fiend Zone” shifts direction, with funk undertones and danceable modern jazz vibes, eventually dipping into Latin territory. Here, bassist and drummer lay down muscular bass nods and a jaunty pulse complemented by bustling drum spurts, respectively.
Usual Suspects is a consistently engaging and adventurous album, blending tradition and modern elements with passion. Hence, it’s not surprising that the quartet's acoustic riches come with personality, dedication, and creativity.
Favorite Tracks:
02 - Usual Suspects ► 04 - Hyperstitions ► 06 - Emit Time Item