Alto and soprano saxophonist Etienne Brunet has been a fixture in the European free jazz movement for quite a while. Influenced strongly by jazz great Steve Lacy, he plays an avant-garde jazz that is also mindful of contempory music figures such as Stockhausen and Boulez. His web site offer five albums by various groups. They all have two things in common; Brunet is featured in all groups and they offer experimental music that is challenging but intriquing.

Axolotl’s Abrasive (1981) features Brunet, Jacques Oger on tenor and baritone saxophone, and Marc Dufourd on quitar. It is a quiet album but sparse and atonal. On this recording, Oger and Brunet leans toward a percussive playing style with terse and fleeting notes and squeaks. Dubourd seems to abandon the idea of notes altogether. Brunet also plays bass clarinet on some tracks.

Postcommunism Atmosphere (1993) by Zig Rag Orchestra is much more melodic and incorporates a good deal of world music into its sound. You can get a better idea of Brunet’s virtuousity, especially on soprano sax.

Five years (1991) by Aller Simple / Paris evokes the atmosphere of a French cafe by way of Algeria. The primary musician is accordianist Gina Sbu. This is my favorite of the five albums due to the spirited interaction between Sbu and Brunet. It is also the most accessible of the albums. Check out the snappy “Crash Crack Panic”.

BouBou Smoking (1985) is a trio recording featruing Brunet, Jean-Pierre Bedoyan on percussion and electronics, and Pierre Bastien on guitar and bass. It is a nice example of avant garde jazz and rock.

3D Jazz’s Les épîtres selon synthétique (2000) is a live ensemble recording of high dosage energy. Most of the music is loud and tense but I especially like the first and last tracks which are quiet extended improvisations.

All albums are in VBR MP3.

Download:
Axolotl - Abrasive
Zig Rag Orchestra - Postcommunism Atmosphere
Aller Simple/Paris - Five Years

Download:
Brunet/Bastien/Bedoyan - Boubou Smoking
3D Jazz - Les épîtres selon synthétique