“From One Path to Another” reflects both maturity and serenity. These qualities are undoubtedly due to the recent sentimental upheavals of the French double bass player. The pretext was then found to “make an album”, as Basile Rahola only speaks when he has things to say. He lets the emotions that this new relationship arouses in him and that makes him happy wander (the joyful “Song for Shahd” is dedicated to his sweetheart).

But he also evokes oppression and questions the definition of freedom and equality, paying tribute to forgotten peoples (“One for the Forgotten”), or the disturbing eco-climatic aberrations. The album is then articulated between the “before”, with the tracks (“Brothers”, “Melted Snow”) that open the album and the “present”, or even “after”, with the poignant “Earth Is Pressing Against Us”. The text is by the Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, declaimed in English by Montassar Mchiri), and then declaimed, in music and in the original Arabic by Shahd Awawda, on “One for the Forgotten”.

The album’s tipping point comes with the title track “From One Path to Another”, which Basile leaves – the ultimate proof of unwavering trust and friendship – in the hands of the pianist and saxophonist. The leader also leaves room for two compositions by Pierre Hurty (the nervous “Fairground” and the feverish “Caracal”) as well as to two songs that spread as much humanity as love: “I Can’t Help Falling in Love with You” and “Love Theme from Spartacus”.

Needless to say, the album as a whole exudes freedom (in Wajdi’s brilliant solos), complicity (Matthias’ modulated, subtle and enveloping playing) and osmosis (Pierre’s precise, snapping and soft drumming). As for Basile, like a wise philosopher, he guides his group with flexibility and intelligence.

The track ‘One For the Forgotten’ closes the album and leaves us with a reflection on our place in the complexity of today’s world.

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