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Choc Jazz Magazine
Claire Michael Quintet | Mystical Way 1 CD Blue Touch / UVM Distribution

NEW RELEASE
Wonderfully accompanied, the multi-saxophonist succeeds in developing a unique universe in her second album, going beyond jazz.

Claire Michael boasts a particularly eclectic career. Endorsed by Didier Lockwood, she has already collaborated extensively and composed numerous pieces for theater and film. Yet, she expresses herself just as fully within her own ensembles, surrounded by longtime musical companions. After the well-received Trane Steps—a tribute to the great John Coltrane, released in 2015—she now presents Mystical Way, offering a deeply personal vision of an open and free jazz, immediately captivating through its sensitivity and inventiveness.

Apart from two beautifully surprising reinterpretations (A Love Supreme and Stella By Starlight), the album is built upon refined compositions that break away from standard formats, thanks to creative writing choices that help shape a universe as unique as it is captivating. The whole project is beautifully supported by the delicate keyboards of Jean-Michel Vallet and the fretless bass mastery of Patrick Chartol, whose playing is breathtaking both in rhythmic grounding and soaring, lyrical flights.

Most importantly, it serves as a magnificent showcase for Claire Michael, who shines equally on alto, tenor, soprano saxophones, and flute—with a fluid phrasing and generous tone inherited from her masters, Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, and Pharoah Sanders—as well as in her ethereal vocalizations, which add a dreamlike and mystical dimension.

An enchanting and fascinating album, whose intensity and uniqueness should appeal to lovers of "progressive" music.

Félix Marciano

Claire Michael (as, ts, ss, fl, voc), Hermon Mehari (tp), Jean-Michel Vallet (p, elp, cla), Patrick Chartol (elb, b),
Zaza Desiderio (dm) + David Olivier Paturel (vln), Raul de Souza (tb). Recorded at Studio des Charmettes, 2021.

Jazz Magazine #749 - June 2022

Saxophonist (tenor-alto-soprano) and flutist Claire Michael proudly claims her Coltrane influence—which is common—but she does not lose herself in inaccessible spheres. She preserves his essence while building her own music. A flawless instrumentalist on all her instruments (she also sings), she delivers her notes with clear articulation and possesses a full, generous sound.

An eclectic musician who has been on the road for twenty years, she has recorded and performed with Didier Lockwood, Dave Liebman, MC Solaar, Richard Bohringer... and Raul de Souza, who plays the last notes of his life on L’Instant du Bonheur, the final track of this open and well-constructed album, which features mostly original compositions. And then there’s A Love Supreme! Taking on such a piece was a bold move, but this seven-minute version, set against an organ backdrop by pianist Jean-Michel Vallet, is a success. A unique interpretation that remains perfectly in spirit.

"Mystical Way" (CD Blue Touch BT00316L – UVM Distribution).

Jean Buzelin – May 12, 2022

« Mystical Way » by Claire Michael

Saxophonist Claire Michael continues her journey with the beautiful Mystical Way. One of her previous works, Trane Steps, was a deeply personal tribute to the art of John Coltrane—an artist whose influence, perhaps more than any other, has shaped not only the history of the saxophone but also jazz, music as a whole, and even the very way of being—whether as a woman, a man, or an artist.

Now, while Coltrane is no longer the predominant reference (though listeners will discover a sublime adaptation of A Love Supreme), Claire Michael offers, at every moment, her own music, her breath, her soul, one might say. Perhaps this is where her "mysticism" lies—unless the term is too often misinterpreted—because what she truly offers is a continuous act of giving. The very essence of enthusiasm, in its original meaning: "a state of being inhabited by a god."

This implies that from the very first measure of the opening track Graceful Sun, one is captivated until the final notes of the twelfth track, L’Instant du Bonheur, which marks the last recorded presence of the late Raul de Souza in the ensemble. In just a few months, Claire Michael will pay tribute to this great Brazilian musician in his homeland.

For this deeply moving and highly personal Mystical Way (Label Blue Touch/UVM Distribution), Claire Michael is accompanied by the outstanding Jean-Michel Vallet (piano, keyboards), Zaza Desiderio (drums, percussion), Patrick Chartol (bass, double bass), Hermon Mehari (trumpet), and David Olivier Paturel (violin on Lovely Bird), with the late Raul de Souza contributing to one track.

Notes de Jazz – Michel Arcens, June 9, 2022

« A great group, thank you for the music »
Chan Parker

"I was very excited listening to the phonographic recording by Claire Michael. Without a doubt, this is one of the best French groups."
— Maurice Cullaz

"Claire Michael, a saxophonist in the vein of Wayne Shorter, distills a delightful elixir—a blend of spontaneous jazz and an intelligent use of modern technology."
— Jean-Michel Proust

“It’s amazingly listenable to, I promise you. And the more you listen, the more you fall in love. It is a music which is accessible, exciting, original and perfectly in tune with today. It gives us late nights, dirty cigarettes and the smell of alcohol. It gives us the future, a glimpe of the way ahead, a sense of the universe. Its beautiful and smart and hypnotic. Just everything that jazz should be. The musicianship is outstanding and Claire Michael has a beautiful haunting voice, recalling the young Brigitte Fontaine in its sumblime, haunting melodic simplicity.”
Michael Radford

"Claire Michael, The Moment of Happiness"

With Trane Steps, one might think that saxophonist Claire Michael is perfectly in tune with herself. And throughout this recording, that is precisely what we hear. Because what we hear, above all, is the musician—what she feels, what she experiences, what life evokes in her.

Rather than offering yet another Tribute to John Coltrane—a homage that could have been entirely successful (one can easily imagine it, it’s not so difficult to conceive)—with themes like Giant Steps or Naima, even more than with her own compositions (which is another feat in itself), Claire Michael lets us experience her own music. Not just Coltrane’s, but perhaps in the very way he would have liked: her music, her voice.

Claire Michael may not play so far from what Coltrane once did, yet what we hear is entirely her—her own emotions, her own feelings, played and shared with the listener. One would have to be deaf not to be moved by the saxophonist’s voice when she puts down her instrument to sing, choosing another way to express her true self. There is so much vitality in this music that, by the end, one feels as though they have gained a piece of happiness.

Trane Steps is a Blue Touch recording (distributed by Rue Stendhal) featuring Claire Michael, Michel Vallet (piano, keyboards), Patrick Chartol (bass), and Thierry Le Gall (drums).

— Michel Arcens

"Trane Steps, an album ranked as Indispensable by Jazz Hot. If I dared, I would say that the musical soul of John Coltrane has found a new home in the saxophones of Claire Michael."
— Serge Baudott

"Trane Steps, Coltrane’s footsteps. A Coltrane dream. Claire Michael blends her own compositions with those of Trane to sketch the blurred contours of a music that could belong to our time. She has chosen her pieces wisely—not only Giant Steps, which in 1959 marked the end of an era in jazz, but also the poignant Lonnie’s Lament, which opens the album. She plays tenor and soprano saxophones, as well as flute, to restore the full meaning of this music. One of those albums that stays with us forever."
— Nicolas Benies
"Claire Michael plays tenor, alto, and soprano saxophones, flute, and sings with spontaneity and feeling—something truly remarkable."
— Pierre de Chocqueuse

Claire Michael links

Claire Michael Quartet – Live at New Morning 2016 (Produced by David Séchan)
Jazz in Langourla Festival – August 2019
Studio recording of the album Mystical Way, 2021
Claire Michael Quartet Website

With the album Mystical Way, Claire Michael continues to forge her own path. It is her inner voice that guides her, leading her beyond the beaten track, driven by her love for music and freedom.

After the success of her album Trane Steps, a tribute to John Coltrane, the saxophonist now presents a new music—original, accessible, and deeply inspired.

A luminous sound that relies on intensity, meticulous composition, and once again, that unique atmosphere shaped by Claire Michael’s instantly recognizable tone and playing.

Deeply influenced by John Coltrane’s music, she engages in conversation with him once again through a magnificent rendition of A Love Supreme.

The album is supported by the talented Zaza Desiderio on drums and Patrick Chartol on double bass and bass, delivering refined and inspired solos.

Jean-Michel Vallet takes the piano and keyboards, while Hermon Mehari on trumpet integrates seamlessly and creatively into Claire’s musical world.

The legendary trombonist Raul de Souza offers a stunning solo on the track L’Instant du Bonheur, which beautifully concludes the album.

With Mystical Way, Claire Michael takes us on a journey into imagination, kindness, and freedom.

Author of the book "John Coltrane, Music Without Reason"

Claire Michael, The Instant of Happiness

She could have, she could have?… But what could she have done?
No doubt, she has asked herself this question countless times.
No doubt, she has found the answer many times over.
Yet each time, she hesitated.

And then, perhaps she forgot—forgot what once seemed essential, but in the end, was not the most important thing.
Then one day, she surrendered. And in doing so, she did not give up.
That is how she rediscovered what had always driven her music.
That is how she found herself—more herself than ever before.

Now, it is as if she has fully revealed herself, without restraint.
Without any restraint other than that which is necessary to give,
to become the offering itself,
the restraint that is nothing but self-respect,
and in turn, respect for those before whom she lays herself bare.

Now, one can imagine her happy—happy with the fulfillment of this happiness.
In the chosen moment of work, sometimes difficult, no doubt,
after trials that may have seemed exhausting,
after detours that were useful, even essential,
even when they appeared to lead only to futile wanderings.
Not futile because a wall blocked the path,
but because the road stretched on endlessly, devoid of meaning,
like a mesmerizing desert, repeating the same landscape over and over.

Now, with Trane Steps, one can believe that the saxophonist Claire Michael is in harmony with herself.
That is what we hear throughout this recording.
Because what we hear, precisely, is the musician—
what she feels, what she experiences, what she endures from life.

Rather than offering a conventional Tribute to John Coltrane—
a homage that could have been perfectly accomplished
(imagine if it had been so—it is not too difficult, not so hard to conceive),
with themes like Giant Steps or Naima—
Claire Michael instead makes us experience her music.
Not just Coltrane’s, but her own—perhaps just as he would have wanted.
Claire Michael may not play “so far” from what Coltrane once played,
but it is unmistakably her we hear—
her own emotions, her own feelings, played and offered freely.

Will every piece of Trane Steps be loved? That is uncertain.
But one would have to be deaf not to be swept away by the voice of the saxophonist
when she puts down her instrument to sing,
choosing another way to be truly herself.
Perhaps some tracks will seem more conventional, less intense.
If so, what does it matter?
There is enough vitality in this music to leave us with a share of happiness.

* Trane Steps is a Blue Touch recording (distributed by Rue Stendhal) featuring Claire Michael, Michel Vallet (piano, keyboards), Patrick Chartol (bass), and Thierry Le Gall (drums).
November 2014

Serge Baudot’s Review

Lonnie’s Lament, Hello, Trane Steps, Giant Steps, Rebel Song, Miles Mode, Sao Paulo, Lovely Blue, Naima, Blue Planet, Resonance

Claire Michael (saxophones, flute, vocals), Jean-Michel Vallet (keyboards), Patrick Chartol (bass), Thierry Le Gall (drums)
Recorded at Studio des Charmettes in 2014
Duration: 48’35’’
Blue Touch 00314 (Rue Stendhal)

After playing in the groups Laeta and After in Paris, Claire Michael continues her exemplary path with her quartet, fearlessly tackling—oh, the youthful boldness, and so much the better—the moments of genius of John Coltrane. It must be said right away: she does so with remarkable success. Unlike Raphaël Imbert, who proposed a reinterpretation of Coltrane’s work, Claire walks directly in Trane’s footsteps (Trane Steps).

The album opens with Lonnie’s Lament, featuring a tenor sax-piano duo. It is pure lyricism, full of restrained emotion. The tense yet expressive saxophone melody rises above an equally intense piano accompaniment. Coltrane’s spirit, yet deeply infused with a feminine sensibility.

The same emotion returns in another magnificent sax-piano duo on Naima, played like a prayer to beauty. These two pieces alone justify acquiring the album. But the rest follows suit.

On Hello, one of her own compositions, Claire switches to flute and soprano sax, this time with the full quartet, showcasing a beautiful sense of musical interplay.

Another facet of her artistry emerges as Claire the singer on Rebel Song, also one of her compositions; her voice has gained richness in the lower register and velvet softness in the highs—she sings as a true musician. Her tenor sax solo on this track is nothing short of a journey to wonderland. Another vocal piece, Lovely Blue, is full of charm, featuring a beautiful trio section between piano, bass, and drums before the tenor sax returns with a melody full of serenity.

Miles Mode offers another captivating trio moment, with piano, bass, and drums intertwining seamlessly. The drummer plays with sharp precision, using minimalist yet striking attacks—mostly snare, bass drum, and cymbal. The bassist delivers a crystal-clear, singing tone, with sustained notes and simple yet effective lines. Just listen to his solo on Resonance, where you can almost hear the breath of the bass itself.

Jean-Michel Vallet switches to the Fender Rhodes—an instrument in which he excels—on Blue Planet, a Claire Michael composition with a Piazzolla-like melody, enhanced by touches of melodica. It’s a delicate piece, elegantly woven together by the bass and drums.

If I dared, I would say that the musical soul of John Coltrane has found new life in the saxophones of Claire Michael.

November 2014

Coltrane’s Footsteps
A dream of Coltrane.

An album titled Trane Steps immediately evokes a blend of nostalgia, the enduring power of a genius never surpassed, and a lingering sense of unease. Is it possible to evoke Trane without betraying oneself, without merging into his towering presence, without stepping into his tomb—a tomb he doesn’t truly occupy, for he remains so vibrantly alive?

Claire Michael has found a way around this challenge. With her quartet—an ensemble that has played together for ten years—featuring Jean-Michel Vallet on piano and Fender Rhodes, Patrick Chartol on bass and double bass, and Thierry Le Gall on drums, she has chosen to dream of Coltrane rather than merely invoke him.

She intertwines her own compositions with Trane’s, sketching the blurred contours of a music that could belong to our time. Her selection of pieces is impeccable. Not only Giant Steps, which in 1959 marked the end of an era in jazz, but also the poignant Lonnie’s Lament, which opens the album.

She plays tenor and soprano saxophone as well as flute, breathing new meaning into this music. This is one of those albums that stay with us, lingering in our hearts.

Nicolas Benies
Trane Steps, Claire Michael, Blue Touch, distributed by (Rue Stendhal)
November 28, 2014