Straight Ahead

Back to basics: Vincent Thekal is known as a composer (Origami) and sideman, but also as the leader of his trio since 2014. After brilliantly paraphrasing the music of Thelonious Monk alongside Fabian Fiorini in 2023, the saxophonist returns today with a quintet and chooses a playground as vast as it is perilous: the Hard Bop of the 1950s through the compositions of three masters of the genre: Kenny Dorham, Donald Byrd and Lee Morgan.

 

LINE UP

Vincent Thekal: tenor saxophone
Rémy Labbé: trumpet
Casimir Liberski: piano
Sal La Rocca: double bass 
Armando Luongo: drums

 

TRACKLIST

1. Tanya (Donald Byrd)

2. Short Story (Kenny Dorham)

3. Yama (Lee Morgan)

4. Gary’s Notebook (Lee Morgan)

5. Straight Ahead (Kenny Dorham)

6. La Mesha (Kenny Dorham)

7. K.D.’s Motion (Kenny Dorham)

Recorded on November 1st, 2024 at Jazz Station, Brussels.
Mixed by Jonas Verrijdt at Wall Studio (Brussels, Belgium)
Mastering by Dave Darlington at Bass Hit Studio (New York, USA)

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Monk’s Mood

Vincent Thekal and Fabian Fiorini’s passion to Thelonious Monk’s universe brought them together several years ago. By dint of playing numerous of his compositions, carefully selected, they have succeeded in extracting their own identity, which they share here on a Live album with one of the finest rythm section in Europe, recorded at Jazz Station in Brussels.

 

LINE UP

Vincent Thekal: tenor saxophone
Fabian Fiorini: piano
Nic Thys: double bass
Dré Pallemaerts: drums

 

 

TRACKLIST

1. Evidence

2. Off Minor

3. Panonnica

4. Friday The 13th

5. Monk’s Mood

6. Little Rootie Tootie

 

Recorded live June 18th 2022 at Jazz Station, Brussels.
Mixed by Jonas Verrijdt at Wall Studio (Brussels, Belgium)
Mastering by Dave Darlington at Bass Hit Studio (New York, USA)

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cover 12x12

Origami

After many musical and human experiences in Europe and the United States with many musicians, saxophonist Vincent Thekal decided to create his new trio with bassist Alex Gilson and drummer Franck Agulhon, two long-time friends and very popular sidemen on the international scene, in order to be able to offer this new music.
 »Origami » is the fruit of these experiences and influences, as well as a new page in the musical and personal life of the leader. With four new compositions written specifically for this group and four pieces from the repertoire arranged for the band, « Origami » offers something different and new in the world of contemporary jazz.

 

LINE UP

Vincent Thekal: tenor saxophone, compositions, arrangements
Alex Gilson: double bass 
Franck Agulhon: drums

 

 

 

TRACKLIST

1. Origami

2. Saint Josse

3. After The Storm

4. Misterioso (T. Monk)

5. Today’s Opinion

6. Juju (W. Shorter)

7. For All We Know (J.F. Coots, S.M. Lewis)

8. Windows (C. Corea)

 

Recorded by Jonas Verrijdt at Wallstudio (Belgium) on November 27th and 28th, 2017
Mixed & Mastered by Katsuhiko Naito at Avatar Studios (New York)
Photos by Joseph Pitois
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Climax

Thekal’s first compositions album features great musicians such as the italian drummer Armando Luongo and bassist Daniele Cappucci, but also great guests (Bo Van Der Werf & Matthieu Roffé). It was both recorded in France and Belgium and draws the lines of Vincent’s artistic universe.

 

 

 

LINE UP

Vincent Thekal: tenor saxophone, compositions, arrangements
Daniele Cappucci: double bass 
Armando Luongo: drums
Guests: 
Bo Van Der Werf: baritone saxophone on « Lausanne » and « Jungle Speed »
Matthieu Roffé: Fender Rhodes on « Notturno »

 

TRACKLIST

1. Climax

2. Lausanne (intro)

3. Lausanne

4. Song for Jeanne

5. Notturno

6. Jungle Speed

7. R5

8. Chicken for My Lady

 

All compositions by Vincent Thekal except « Notturno » by Daniele Cappucci
Recorded by Jean-Pascal Boffo at Studio Amped, Clouange (France)
Recorded by Julien Dispaux at Studio Besound, Brussels (Belgium)
Mixed & Mastered by Jean-Pascal Boffo
Cover design par Manon Brûlé
Produced by François Legrain (Ragtime production)

 

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