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Drummer Lionel Beuvens Touches The Sky With His Latest Album '49 Steps To Heaven'

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Courtesy Ma?l G. Lagadec

Source: Nina Feri
December 9, 2022
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After years of touring and recording as a sideman, which saw him play on forty records, and also release two of his own very contemporary sounding albums, Trinit�� and Earthsong,

Lionel Beuvens

drums
b.1981

" data-original-title="" title="">Lionel Beuvens presents this ambitious new project under the Hypnote Records label. Reuniting the talented

Alexi Tuomarila

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Alexi Tuomarila (piano),

Brice Soniano

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Brice Soniano (double bass) and

Jorma Kalevi Louhivuori

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Jorma Kalevi Louhivuori (trumpet), joined at times by

Ewout Pierreux

keyboards

" data-original-title="" title="">Ewout Pierreux (rhodes) and

" data-original-title="" title="">Frank Vagan��e (alto saxophone). This offering confirms the richness of his repertoire, nourished by jazz as well as classical and latin music. The influences of his compositions range from African music to Bach via Radiohead,

Steve Coleman

saxophone, alto
b.1956

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Coleman,

Count Basie

piano
1904 - 1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Count Basie and

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane.

Strong, contrasting and complementary personalities, accurately describe the exceptional musician that is Lionel Beuvens. The new album 49 Steps To Heaven is rich and contrasting, comprising a range of masterfully written contemporary jazz pieces, bordering on the experimental but imprinted with sober and powerful lyricism. The composer��s multiple inspirations can be heard (funk, Latin music), served with accuracy and emotion. Lionel Beuvens' carefully fashioned writing gives the musicians plenty of space to unleash their improvisational talents and reveals tremendous group complicity.

Imbued with an almost spiritual quality, as it oscillates between dense, wild, sometimes festive tensions, and a contemplative, calming retreat, this album can be listened to on repeat throughout the day and will definitely be one that stays with us.

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