Yolk Records

Amongst all the machine-linked metaphors used in the history of large groups in jazz, that of Alban Darche’s Gros Cube (literally “Big Bike”) is unusual, but absolutely perfect for describing this brand new band. It can purr, snore, or roar in turn; it can even gleam and sparkle, but it never goes over the top. The impression it leaves is less one of a Formula 1 engine than that of a gleeful ballet of bikers out for a good time, swept along in a masterly choreography. Alban Darche succeeds in inventing the most improbable combinations of instruments out of the strictly classical instrumentation of the typical Big Band; he’s constantly putting sections together then dismounting them, as if it were all a musical meccano and he’s a child “screwing” the new sounds together with his particularly gifted hands.

Each of the 17 members of the band – all soloists – seems galvanised into action by a strong sense of liberty, thanks to the roaring breakaways the coherent and spectacular orchestration allows them. As for the collective harmonised parts, they all show an outstanding “vocal” quality that is virtually unknown in current instrumental jazz. G.ARNAUD

All compositions & arrangements by Alban Darche

Recorded and mixed by Jonathan Marcoz at Peninsula studio in January 2020, under live conditions. peninsula-studio.com

Mastered by Pierre Vandewaeter at studio Lakanal. studiolakanal.com

Sébastien Boisseau plays on D’Addario ZYEX strings
Alban Darche plays D’Addario reeds and Selmer instruments
John Fedchock plays XO Trombones exclusively
Samuel Blaser is a XO Brass Artist and appears courtesy of OutNote Records/Outhere Music
Matthieu Donarier plays D’Addario reeds and mouthpieces
Jean-Paul Estiévenart plays AR Resonance mouthpieces
Christophe Lavergne’s cymbals are modified by Johan Nicolas Janicke

1. A la bougie
2. Ping-Pong
3. Le Cercle
4. Arcane XVIIII - Le Soleil
5. Le Mort Joyeux
6. Beauty and SAdness II
7. Le chemin (vertueux)
8. L'Oiseau qu'on voit chante sa plainte
9. Arcane XXII - Le Mat
10. Arcane XV - Le Diable

JASS >>
JASS >> mix of sun and clouds
Jean-Christophe Cholet - Alban Darche - Mathias Ruëgg >> Le tombeau de Poulenc
PACIFIC >>

unit >> wavin'
le gros cube >> la martipontine
Le Cube >> Le Thé
le gros cube >> LE PAX, Le Gros Cube VS Katerine
le gros cube >> polar mood
Le Cube >> Autorité Culinaire
triade >> japan edition
triade >> l'ardu
a suivre... x'tet >> paris-calvance
a suivre... x'tet >> variations alterees
hazebrouck sextet >> frasques
d. casimir & yolk en cuisine >> Phonotaxis ou le génome de la vache
Le Cube >> Frelon Rouge
Wood (boisseau-donarier) >> WOOD
le gros cube >> queen bishop
JASS >>
Orphicube >> perception instantanée
alban darche hyprcub >> Crooked House
La Musique de Salon >> 1 salon, 2 musiciens
JASS >> mix of sun and clouds
Orphicube >> Atomic Flonflons
Orbit >>
Clover >> Vert Emeraude


Le Cube >> Le Thé
le gros cube >> LE PAX, Le Gros Cube VS Katerine
le gros cube >> polar mood
francis et ses peintres >> la paloma
print & friends >> around k
le gros cube >> queen bishop

Le Cube >> Le Thé
le gros cube >> la martipontine
le gros cube >> LE PAX, Le Gros Cube VS Katerine
le gros cube >> polar mood
Le Cube >> Autorité Culinaire
quartethno >> quartethno
olh acoustic >> une vie sans lune
jazzophone quartet >> blues for geo
jazzophone cie + tim berne >> mosaiques
qüntêt >> on the road enfin...
olh acoustic >> G. meets K.
jazzophone >> yellow suite
alban darche trio >> trickster
qüntêt >> vents dominants
alban darche trio >> brut ou demi sec?
d. casimir & yolk en cuisine >> Phonotaxis ou le génome de la vache
quartethno >> tawada
Le Cube >> Frelon Rouge
le gros cube >> queen bishop
JASS >>
Orphicube >> perception instantanée
alban darche hyprcub >> Crooked House
Qüntêt featuring Desdamona >> Mots croisés/ Crosswords
JASS >> mix of sun and clouds
Orphicube >> Atomic Flonflons
Jean-Christophe Cholet - Alban Darche - Mathias Ruëgg >> Le tombeau de Poulenc
Clover >> Vert Emeraude
PACIFIC >>
Longboard >> Being wild

matthieu donarier trio >> live forms
le gros cube >> la martipontine
unit >> wavin'
le gros cube >> LE PAX, Le Gros Cube VS Katerine
le gros cube >> polar mood
matthieu donarier trio >> optic topic
kindergarten >> kindergarten
d. casimir & yolk en cuisine >> Phonotaxis ou le génome de la vache
Wood (boisseau-donarier) >> WOOD
le gros cube >> queen bishop
Orphicube >> perception instantanée
matthieu donarier trio >> Papier Jungle
Jean-Christophe Cholet - Alban Darche - Mathias Ruëgg >> Le tombeau de Poulenc
Adieu mes très belles >> Adieu mes très belles
Longboard >> Being wild
Santi Quintans' TIPTRICK >> Kiss the Joy



alban darche hyprcub >> Crooked House


Orphicube >> Atomic Flonflons
Jean-Christophe Cholet - Alban Darche - Mathias Ruëgg >> Le tombeau de Poulenc

le gros cube >> la martipontine
Le Cube >> Le Thé
le gros cube >> LE PAX, Le Gros Cube VS Katerine
le gros cube >> polar mood
Le Cube >> Autorité Culinaire
francis et ses peintres >> la paloma
qüntêt >> vents dominants
LPT3 >> deja 7h!?...
Le Cube >> Frelon Rouge
le gros cube >> queen bishop
Orphicube >> perception instantanée
alban darche hyprcub >> Crooked House
Jazzarium >> Megapolis
Qüntêt featuring Desdamona >> Mots croisés/ Crosswords
LPT3 >> Vents Divers
Orphicube >> Atomic Flonflons
Jean-Christophe Cholet - Alban Darche - Mathias Ruëgg >> Le tombeau de Poulenc

le gros cube >> la martipontine
le gros cube >> LE PAX, Le Gros Cube VS Katerine
le gros cube >> polar mood
qüntêt >> on the road enfin...
a suivre... x'tet >> paris-calvance
le souffle des terroirs >>
a suivre... x'tet >> variations alterees
qüntêt >> vents dominants
LPT3 >> deja 7h!?...
d. casimir & yolk en cuisine >> Phonotaxis ou le génome de la vache
a suivre... x'tet >> suite... de danses
le gros cube >> queen bishop
Brass danse orchestra >> La danse du souffle
Jazzarium >> Megapolis
Qüntêt featuring Desdamona >> Mots croisés/ Crosswords
LPT3 >> Vents Divers
Clover >> Vert Emeraude
Yves Rousseau 7tet - >> Fragments
Santi Quintans' TIPTRICK >> Kiss the Joy

Jean-Christophe Cholet - Alban Darche - Mathias Ruëgg >> Le tombeau de Poulenc

Qüntêt featuring Desdamona >> Mots croisés/ Crosswords


le gros cube >> la martipontine
le gros cube >> LE PAX, Le Gros Cube VS Katerine
le gros cube >> polar mood
Le Cube >> Autorité Culinaire
quartethno >> quartethno
olh acoustic >> une vie sans lune
jazzophone cie + tim berne >> mosaiques
olh acoustic >> G. meets K.
le souffle des terroirs >>
geoffroy tamisier trio >> au bonheur des anges
quartethno >> tawada
georgui kornazov quintet >> staro vreme
le gros cube >> queen bishop
Brass danse orchestra >> La danse du souffle
Jazzarium >> Megapolis
PACIFIC >>
Nathalie Darche joue Geoffroy Tamisier >> 15 berceuses