In the early '90s,
Henri Texier went on to form a new quartet (Azur) around a new rhythm section featuring pianist
Bojan Zulfikarpasic and drummer Tony Rabeson. At the time, the combo was rounded out by the very much underrated
Glenn Ferris on trombone.
An Indian's Week documents the first steps of this quartet and, on a couple of tracks, also showcases two pillars of French jazz --
Michel Portal on bandoneon and
Louis Sclavis on clarinets and soprano saxophone. The album can easily be remembered as the birth of one of France's best and tightest rhythm sections. It is also a great opportunity to hear at full length
Glenn Ferris, a versatile and sensitive musician, exploring all the different aspects of his instrument. The program is composed of compositions penned by all bandmembers, plus a colorful and breakneck rendition of
Sonny Rollins' "The Bridge." Despite this variety, this is an extremely cohesive set because of the original sound the quartet have already developed. The highlight is
Texier's own "Indians/Desaparecido," a slow and dark piece in which
Ferris' wah-wah style works surprisingly well when pitted against
Sclavis' glistening clarinet. The overall mood oscillates between playful and mournful moments, with pieces that reflect
Texier's political and social concerns.
An Indian's Week marks a turn in
Henri Texier's career and is a first step in the right direction. ~ Alain Drouot