Lionel Belmondo - Clair Obscur (2021) Hi-Res

After more than a decade leading his ensemble, and following on from several projects including his trilogy 'Hymne au Soleil' (the title of his debut album in 2004, awarded three Victoires du Jazz in 2006; 2005's 'Influence' awarded best French album at the Victoires du Jazz 2006 awards; and 'Clairières dans le Ciel' in 2011 with the Latvian National Choir), Lionel Belmondo takes pieces drawn from the European music repertoire and revisits them as ‘standards’, like American jazz musicians did in the past. 'European Standards' is a crystal-clear album from a man influenced by his forefathers and peers alike, shedding light on their complexity, revealing links between generations and making sense of it all.