Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Serendip: The Tale

Serendip: The Tale

By Dan McClenaghan
December 17, 2018
View read count

The group Serendip has a common jazz ensemble format: saxophone/guitar/bass/drums. But the music they make is anything but common. With The Tale—music that takes its inspiration from the ancient Persian story The Three Princes of Serendip—Belgian-born and now London-based tenor saxophonist

Arnaud Guichard

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Arnaud Guichard has sculpted a compelling spiritual narrative for his quartet.

The disc begins with a trio of tunes entitled "Prince One," "Prince Two" and "Prince Three." The sounds begin with a roaming, placid atmosphere featuring minimalist and egalitarian instrumental input. Guichard's sax bursts forth with robust blowing as a loose groove establishes itself. "Prince Two" brings in a tighter groove laid down by drummer

Jake Long

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Jake Long and bassist

Michele Montolli

" data-original-title="" title="">Michele Montolli , a distinctive and implacable momentum underpinning subtle and beautiful chords from guitarist

James Kitchman

guitar, electric
b.1989

" data-original-title="" title="">James Kitchman. "Prince Three" holds the groove mode, with Arnaud warbling before he breaks out in full-throated blowing.

Those three Princes set up a sort of mystic jazz mood, but it is "The Pregnant Lady" that proves the loveliest most mysterious offering on the set, via the judicious addition of electronic effects to the intricate group sound.

"The Camel Owner" takes the music into near straight-ahead jazz territory, with a Middle Eastern tinge. And "Lonesome"—again, with some terrific electronics added—unrolls like a surreal dream, with Guichard sounding a bit like saxophonist

Ben Webster

saxophone, tenor
1909 - 1973

" data-original-title="" title="">Ben Webster immersed in a mild and relaxing hallucinogenic experience.

The Tale, the debut by Arnuad Guichard's Serendip, pushes the standard jazz quartet sound into fresh territory on a fine and engrossing debut.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Prince One; Prince Two; Prince Three; The Pregnant Lady; The Camel Owner; Lonesome; The King; Serendipity.

Personnel

Arnaud Guichard

saxophone, tenor

Arnaud Guichard: tenor saxophone; James Kitchman: guitar; Michele Montolli: bass; Jake Long: drums.

Album information

Title: The Tale | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: Impeka

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Arturo Sandoval: Scoring Clint Eastw...
< Previous

Down a Rabbit Hole
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.