Record Reviews

GUILLAUME BARRAUD QUARTET ~ ARCANA: THE INDO-JAZZ SESSIONS RIVERBOAT 1105 (Barcode: 605633010527) ~ FRANCE ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2015 Released: 2017 This is an album by French guitarist / flautist Guillaume BarraudFind albums by this artist and his quartet, which includes British (resident in France) guitarist Tam de VilliersFind albums by this artist, French bass guitarist Johann BerbyFind albums by this artist and drummer Xavier RogeFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, all composed by Barraud, with arrangements by him and the quartet members. Barraud, originally a guitarist, encountered Indian music and studied with the Indian Master flautist Hariprasad ChaurasiaFind albums by this artist for five years, before changing to the Indian bamboo flute (bansuri) as his main instrument. The music on this album was initially composed on guitar and only later arranged for the flute led quartet. The music is every bit as delightful as one might expect, combining the familiar Indian tinge and modern Jazz improvisation, at its best. Both the leader’s flute parts and the electric guitar performances by de Villiers are superbly executed, and supported amicably by the imaginative rhythm section, the result offers an invigorating experience of first class Jazz-World music. Overall, although completely unknown to me earlier on, this is a highly surprising pleasant discovery, which I wholeheartedly recommend to everybody who can find a copy of this album. I’ll certainly try to find more about Barraud and his cohorts.

Updated: 07/09/2026Posted: 07/09/2026

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