Artist: Thomas Naim
Album: On the Far Side
Label: Rootless Blues
Year Of Release: 2023
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Tracklist:
01. Endless Memories
02. Slow Blues
03. Kite
04. Lincoln Circus
05. Little Dreamer
06. The Walk
07. Panama Red
08. No Way Home
09. Gypsy
Personnel:
Thomas Naïm: guitar, bass (3)
Marc Benham: organ, piano
Raphaël Chassin: drums, percussions
Marcello Giuliani: bass, double bass (9)
Laurent Bardainne: tenor saxophone (3, 4, 6)
This time Thomas Naïm takes us to the “Far Side”. For those who know his discography, the title of the album echoes Desert Highway, whose references were notably Bill Frisell and Ry Cooder. We imagine bridges with North American music, especially since between these two albums, Thomas Naïm had made Sounds of Jimi, an album of Jimi Hendrix covers.
This time again, we find Raphaël Chassin on drums and Marcello Giuliani on bass, who have been working with the guitarist since his recording debut. Note also the presence on organ and piano of Marc Benham and, on three pieces, saxophonist Laurent Bardainne in addition to Daniel Yvinec at the production.
We thus obtain a fundamentally electric album – and it is not only due to the guitar – in which we readily imagine the great plains of the Middle West or the Rockies. “Slow Blues”, “Kite” or even “Little Dreamer” and their imposing developments are all examples.
