Benjamin Sanz - The Escape (2020) Hi Res

Drummer Benjamin Sanz released his second album as a leader on the young label MiRR, surrounded by his acolytes, emeritus musicians of the new jazz scene in France. With a musical journey characterized by eclecticism, Benjamin wished through this new opus to return to the essence of his instrument to pay tribute to black American music and jazz.

Following a first record released on the label of giant Archie Shepp (Mutation Majeure / Archieball / Harmonia Mundi), Benjamin Sanz once again asserts himself as lead drummer with "The Escape" and his new quintet, "Directions".

After having worked in recent years in improvised, African and contemporary music (notably within the MiRR Collective), Benjamin offers a new repertoire for acoustic quintet, a training which allows him to freely express his creativity and to synthesize several influences. "The Escape" reflects an intention to move towards several cultures and modes of play.

Benjamin Sanz "Directions" brings together musicians from the new scene in Paris: Hermon Mehari (trumpet) from Kansas City who signs a title and artistically co-produced the album with Benjamin, Ricardo Izquierdo (tenor saxophone) native of Cuba, Rob Clearfield (piano) from the Chicago scene and Luca Fattorini (double bass) from Rome. These accomplices play a free jazz, imbued with tradition and the multiple influences that cross them.

What strikes us about listening to the quintet is the great overall cohesion and the strong identity of this group. The keenness of listening to each other and the spirit of emulation and sharing of the instrumentalists allows music to be taken where it is not expected.