Saxophone Spotlight #1: Benjamin Dousteyssier

This week I wanted to spotlight a saxophonist who I’ve enjoyed for a while for his work with Collectif Paris Swing primarily on alto, but whose soprano playing I think deserves more attention. Umlaut Records lists his bio as follows:

“Benjamin Dousteyssier is a saxophonist and composer of jazz and improvised music based in Paris. He has been working for several years on a rereading of different jazz forms within Umlaut Big Band, Post K, Paris Swing Collectif, and co-organizing the Jazz Series, a series of concerts in the district La Goutte d’Or in Paris. He is also a part of the ONCEIM (orchestra of improvised and experimental music), as well as of various improvised encounters”

Dousteyssier can be heard often playing alto, baritone, and bass saxophones in a variety of combinations around Paris and in Europe and makes frequent appearances on Edouard Pennes’ fantastic Youtube series ‘Paris Jazz Session’. These sessions are the source for many of the publicly available recordings I’ve found of Dousteyssier’s soprano playing though he can be heard playing on some records which I’ve tried to include in the playlist as well:

Dousteyssier’s soprano playing is compelling to me in part because of its relation to various parts of the jazz saxophone tradition. The core of his tone clearly owes a debt to the early proponents of the soprano, Sidney Bechet and Johnny Hodges, yet there is a clear echo of the high modernism of Steve Lacy in his more strident and modern playing in the trio videos. He is also not afraid to utilize noise, such as multiphonics and growls, to create texture, drama, and heightened energy. I’m a big fan of the entire tradition of jazz saxophone and hearing such a gifted musician freely draw upon sonic inspiration from across jazz history in various styles is really inspiring.

I hope to hear a lot more soprano playing from Dousteyssier, but until then his various works on alto, baritone, and bass saxophone will have to augment these offerings I’ve collected here, enjoy!