No Codes round up a roster of stone-cold killers on their arresting new album Usual Suspects — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
The sophomore full-length from this Montreal instrumental jazz collective blurs the boundaries of their genre into the stuff that dreams are made of. Delivered with conviction, inspiration, spontaneity, propulsion and no shortage of coolness, these sharp-edged cuts move smoothly between sonic worlds. Contemporary jazz, bop, free jazz and more are all in the mix here, with elements of noir, punk, metal, world music and more sprinkled throughout to clue you in to their nefarious sound.
Usual Suspects follows the success of their critically acclaimed, self-titled 2018 debut. In keeping with their name, No Codes’ core artistic philosophy is no mystery: They are driven to explore and challenge the expected norms and conventions of jazz. Since their beginning, the quartet’s players have jointly evolved towards a more collective approach, bending the line between composition and improvisation.
The album marks an exciting new chapter for No Codes, cementing their presence in the contemporary jazz landscape. The musical experience of this album combines bursts of explosive energy with contemplative and meditative moments, enhanced by the artistry and interplay of the players.
Bandleader Benjamin Deschamps is a saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist and composer who has established himself as a staple of the Canadian jazz scene. The other half of the horn section, Frank Lozano is one of the most sought-after saxophonists on the Montreal scene, bringing freshness and sincerity to all his projects, as much through his modern and unique playing as through his powerful and passionate tone.
Bassist Sebastien Pellerin has firmly established himself on the Quebec scene. A recipient of a scholarship from the Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec, he honed his craft alongside New York bassists Larry Grenadier and Omer Avital, and attended the Banff Jazz Workshop, studying with masters such as Scott Colley, Donny McCaslin and Dave Douglas. Louis-Vincent Hamel is originally from Quebec City and has been playing drums for nearly 20 years. After four years of private lessons, including with Raynald Drouin, he entered the Conservatoire de musique de Québec and studied classical percussion.
Listen to Usual Suspects below and follow No Codes on their website, Facebook and Instagram.
