One has the feeling that if
Francois Houle played saxophone he might be a household name. Alas, it is his destiny to play the disfavored clarinet, but
Houle performs with such consistent creativity that his improvisations have to be numbered among the supreme joys of modern jazz. Here, he leads an all-star quintet through the compositions of John Carter with splendid results. Carter was a clarinetist and writer of enormous depth, a true iconoclast; an original who followed his own path, merging sophisticated folk and jazz harmonies.
Houle is joined by eclectic trumpeter
Dave Douglas, new music cellist
Peggy Lee, bassist
Mark Dresser, and drummer
Dylan van der Schyff in reinterpreting Carter's works. With that kind of talent, and with the extraordinary arranging skills of the leader, it should not be surprising that this one is as good as it is. ~ Steven Loewy