The remit of French jazz outfit Florian Pellissier Quintet is to connect Paris to New York; to link the classical to the modern. This ambitious task is fully realized on Bijou Voyou Caillou, a relaxing record of chilled arrangements, smooth horn work and a hell of a lot of cool vibes. Don’t let the barbed title of opening track “Fuck With The Police” fool you – this is a silky piece of midnight jazz that places you right in a dapper 1960s Manhattan club as the sax and trumpet ease into the song’s soft hooks without a care in the universe.
Elsewhere, “Coup de foudre à Thessalonique” and “Colosse de Rhodes” feature peppier percussion but are still as light as scrambled eggs, while singer Arthur H’s weathered vocals on the slow, romantic title track sounds like two lovers whispering sweet nothings in the Parisian moonlight. This one is for listeners who like their jazz served on a velvet cushion.
Florian Pellissier Quintet, Bijou Voyou Caillou (Heavenly Sweetness, 2018)
