Emile Parisien - Sfumato Live In Marciac (CD/DVD)

Release Date: 06/29/18

'An exuberant set of playful, freewheeling music by one of Europe's pre-eminent soprano saxophonists. ' The Times (GB)

French soprano saxophonist Emile Parisien is one of the most highly regarded European jazz musicians of our time. 2017 was the year for Emile Parisien. No jazz artist received more prominent acclaim in his home country France, and beyond. Very few European jazz artists can have appeared at so many big jazz festivals and classical concert halls. Emile Parisien today is regarded the most important innovator on the soprano saxophone. Deutschlandfunk Kultur (Germany) called Parisien a 'superstar of the jazz scene in France', Fono Forum (Germany) stated: 'Emile Parisien is taking the magical sound of the soprano saxophone onwards - following in the footsteps of Sidney Bechet, Johnny Hodges, Steve Lacy, John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter and Evan Parker.' And the widely-read French magazine 'Télérama' wrote: 'Parisien's inventiveness and energy are nothing short of breathtaking.' The year of 2017 also marked a new high-point for Emile Parisien's career as a live performer. A special highlight was Parisien's residency at Jazz in Marciac, the place where Parisien's enthusiasm for jazz had been originally been awakened as a young audience-member, and where he was invited to be Artist in Residence for 2017. Parisien's 'Sfumato' concert on 8 August 2017 was unforgettable and has been captured for ever on both CD & DVD. His quintet was augmented at this concert by illustrious guests: US trumpet star Wynton Marsalis, French jazz legend Michel Portal and Parisien's alter ego and long-established duo partner Vincent Peirani. Multi-layered, innovative and experimental, 'Sfumato live in Marciac' is packed full of tension, excitement and turbulence. And yet is firmly grounded in jazz, brimming over with playfulness and adventures of improvisation; it is a testament to the intensity and to the magic of live jazz.