April 2008

Géraldine Laurent
Time Out Trio
Dreyfus Records

By Forrest Dylan Bryant

The debut release from French saxophonist Géraldine Laurent shines with inventive arrangements and a take-no-prisoners attitude. Laurent has an arresting, vigorous alto sax sound that blends lithe melodicism with swaggering toughness—the latter trait enhanced brilliantly by her relentlessly swinging bandmates. Drummer Laurent Bataille and bassist Yoni Zelnik keep up the pressure as the leader drives and spins through wonderfully fresh interpretations of old standards like “Skylark” and daring rhythmic shifts on modern-jazz classics. It’s a fine introduction.