VOLANT
“a very beautiful album…genuine saxophone virtuoso at work”
★★★★ ½ The Weekend Australian
“When Ottignon and company play, you listen, unable to be distracted, unable to not take something away from the endeavour.”
★★★★ Sputnik Music (USA)
“heightened beauty and transcendence”
★★★★½ Dingo Jazz Magazine
“They elicit so much life from every note, every phrase, the quartet elevates this music into something much grander.”
The Best Jazz on Bandcamp, August 2024
“his invention, execution and originality is exceptional”
★★★★ Jazzwise Magazine (UK)
“progressive creativity, changing shape with tensile unpredictability, adorned with exciting saxophone”
★★★★ ½ Fine Music Magzine
TOUR DATES
Friday, 7 March - Kiama Jazz and Blues Festival - Tickets
Tuesday, 18 March 8:00pm - NIMA, Newcastle - Tickets
Saturday, 22 March 3:00pm - Chapel of Light, Tallwoods Village - Tickets
Sunday, 23 March 4:00pm - Bellingen Memorial Hall - Tickets
Friday, 4 April 8:00pm - The Jazzlab, Melbourne - Tickets
Monday, 5 May 8:00pm - Monday Night Confessions, Sydney - Tickets
Friday, 9 May 6:30 pm - Smiths Alternative, Canberra - Tickets
Saturday, 10 May - Folk, Jazz & Blues Festival, Milton - Free Entry
Volant comprises four exceptional musicians, Matthew Ottignon, Lauren Tsamouras, Hannah James, and Hayley Chan, who produce a singular explorative sound.
Matthew Ottignon's compositions are an ode to his admiration for nature and are deeply influenced by musical geniuses including John Coltrane and the Necks.
The music moves effortlessly from moments of anthemic heroism, with Ottignon’s fiery tenor at the fore, to lyrical melodies and intimate soundscapes, where the subtle yet confident artistry of Hayley, Hannah, and Lauren results in music of sheer beauty.
While embodying the spirit of giants such as John Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders, Volant is undeniably a modern quartet, delivering world-class compositions and thrilling improvised dialogue.
The album draws inspiration from birds in flight—a motif that defines its ethereal quality. “…the impression of flight is not observed, but is experienced and exhilarating.” - John Shand, Sydney Morning Herald.
The debut album featured Holly Conner. The band now tours with Hayley Chan on drums
★★★★ Album launch review by John Shand
Sydney Morning Herald
Goethe-Institut, August 9th, 2024
Flying is miraculous not because of altitude, speed, precision or aerodynamics, but because of earth and gravity. So in creating music to celebrate birds and flight, Matthew Ottignon ensured airiness and velocity are only part of the equation: he also often grounds the music in grooves and weightier textures, so the impression of flight is not observed, but is experienced and exhilarating.
read more
Photography: Barnabas Imre