Above the Laws Ludivine Issambourg

• 1 The Bear 03:26
• 2 New Morning 03:21
• 3 Kickin' Your Ass 02:51
• 4 Manoir 03:50
• 5 Angel Dust 04:04
• 6 Hop Scotch 04:26
• 7 Fever 04:56
• 8 Heartbeats 03:47
• 9 Lenox 03:43
• 10 If You Knew 03:41
• 11 Night Watch 02:44
• Total Runtime 40:49

Info for Above the Laws

Ludivine Issambourg's flute hasn't come down in temperature since Outlaws in 2020. How could she, who, with this album of Hubert Laws covers, had been brought to incandescence? Still panting, still burning despite the lid of her case remaining wide open, she waited to be able to give a sequel to these adventures that the master Laws himself had hailed. A sequel? Above The Laws isn't quite a sequel.

Even if his name is still readable, Hubert L. is no longer the only guide for exploring the immensity of the jazz-funk galaxy. Ludivine has summoned the spirit and impalpable presence of Jeremy Steig, Ronald Sneijder and Bobby Humphrey, through covers and, above all, his own compositions. Legends of the flute. A roadmap marked out by a groove from which there is no escape, a musical dial set to the late 70's and early 80's, it's to go even further in her explorations that Ludivine has this time enlisted the services of a brass section, a veritable reactor for funk propulsion, which can also switch to a soulful breath if the moment demands. In support of the keyboards, a Moog is used to apply its fat layers or its twists and turns.

Flutes used as joysticks to stabilize the flight or, on the contrary, to make it fly even faster over the bars, the alto version, which until now Ludivine rarely used, brings the necessary velvet note when it comes to embarking on smoother destinations. Accelerating the tempo to get passengers out of their seats as if lurking in danger; calming the mood to put them in a reassuring cocoon where they can let their minds and spirits wander, the improvisations find their place in the scores followed from the window. Detached from gravity, and yet still so in tune with the ambience of cities that radars mark as hot spots on today's jazz scene, it's the smell of those streets whose asphalt Above The Laws would have shaved that permeates certain tracks.

Commissioned from the production tower by Eric Legnini, Chassol, Alex Finkin and Michaël Lecoq, Above The Laws benefits from a few stops along the way, where precious connections are made. Nils Landgren and his trombone in the colors of the Swedish flag, Laurent De Wilde for a chase between flute and Fender Rhodes, Céline Bonacina's saxophone for an Afrobeat lurch. But it was on the edge of a journey where organic intensity never ceased to assert itself without loss of power, that Ludivine connected with Brian Jackson for a cover of Angel Dust. A track brought back from the days when he and his partner Gil Scott-Heron were engraving soul masterpieces. One of these featured a flautist by the name of Hubert Laws.

The point of departure for Ludivine's latest jazz-funk explorations also becomes the point of arrival. With the ten tracks on Above The Laws, Ludivine Issambourg closes a loop in which she has installed her flute and her twirls in the role of undisputed leader. Opening the doors to ambitious orchestrations and unexplored horizons, she inscribes in the filigree of her compositions the experiences, places and encounters that have shaped her.

Ludivine Issambourg, flutes and artistic direction
Eric Legnini, Fender Rhodes and direction (1, 3, 11)
Michael Lecoq, keyboards and direction (2, 4, 5, 9)
Laurent De Wilde, Fender Rhodes and direction (6, 7)
Swaeli Mbappe, bass and Moog (S)
Yoann Serra, drums
Alexandre Herichon, trumpet
Lucas St Cricq, alto saxophone
Sylvain Fetis, Tenor saxophone
Vincent Aubert, trombone
Céline Bonacina, baritone saxophone (6, 7)
Amen Viana, guitar (6, 7)
Alex Finkin, keyboards and direction (8)
Xavier Zolli, bass (8)
Octave Ducasse, drums (8)
Wolfgang Valbrun, voice (5)
Brian Jackson, voice and Fender Rhodes (5)
Nils Landgren, trombone (2)
Christophe Chassol, Fender Rhodes and direction (10)

Ludivine Issambourg
A versatile flutist with an international reputation.

Alongside her classical studies, Ludivine found interest in jazz and improvisation at the dawn of her musical journey. In 2007, she won the first national jazz flute competition organised by Magic Malik. The same year, Wax Tailor invited her to join his band, for a five years international tour. She also played on the album 'Fantastic Planet' by La Fine Équipe, as well as on 'Crown Yard' by the English hip-hop band. A State of Mind (ASM) and toured with them throughout Europe.

More than a musician, Ludivine Issambourg is an accomplished teacher. She was the first French flutist to graduate with a national jazz diploma in 2011.

A year later, Ludivine founded the Antiloops project, with which she won the Sunset trophies and toured throughout France. The flutist then produced her first album 'Electroshock', followed by 'Electroshock Remixed' and 'Lucid Dreams'. In 2019, Ludivine was invited by Catherine Ringer and Angélique Kidjo to perform a cover of Jacques Dutronc’s song 'Il est cinq heures, Paris s’éveille'. Early 2020, Ludivine payed tribute to Hubert Laws with her 4th album 'Outlaws', featuring the greatest musicians of the current french jazz scene and exploring the 70’s musical influence.

Pearl Flute is no stranger to Ludivine Issambourg. Indeed, the musician has come across Pearl Flute several times during her career. In fact, she owned a student flute, played on an alto flute and recently acquired an ebony head piccolo. Pearl Flute is pleased to welcome a renowned ambassador in the name of Ludivine Issambourg. She is now playing a Cantabile series flute, handmade in Japan, with head, body, foot-joint and mechanism in solid .925 silver and Gold Champagne plated. A unique flute for a unique musician.

Ludivine Issambourg : "I am delighted to be part of the Pearl Flute family and to represent this prestigious brand and its unique craftsmanship. My new flute is a wonderful instrument and I really enjoy playing it, with its incredible sound consistency, technical reliability and remarkable power".

This album contains no booklet.