Quentin Dujardin returns to the pure language of strings. ‘‘Janette sur son cheval’ is a luminous ode, written for his daughter, Janette—a solo guitar piece that traverses interior landscapes and vast open plains.

The song draws, note by note, the image of a young rider and her mount, advancing in perfect harmony under a vast sky. This music breathes the breath of a deep, almost ancestral bond between man and animal.

With his signature sensitivity, Quentin Dujardin paints a scene that is both intimate and universal—one of simple beauty, of a suspended moment.

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«This is the third album in which I have been involved with the music of guitarist and composer Quentin Dujardin. A number of years ago, I had the pleasure of working on Distances and the following year with his multi-cultural band project Kalaban Koura. The music, in both cases, was fresh in its originality, ambitious in scope, but also just simply beautiful. In addition, it showed considerable promise for future development.

Fast forward thirteen years and this new opportunity came to me with Quentin’s latest music for his band 4tet, featuring the irrepressible rhythm section of Manu Katche (drums) and Nicolas Fiszman (bass), as well as accordionist and colorist extraordinaire Didier Laloy. Quentin’s compositions, realized by this wonderfully-cast group of collaborators, indeed have revealed the kind of fulfilled promise that could have only been dreamed of in the early 2010’s, a notable and exciting thing to witness. They have also presented ample opportunity to showcase Quentin’s own astonishing playing.

I have had the privilege of working with a good number of brilliant guitarist/composers over the years. Quentin’s work and his creative process have shown that he belongs in the creative company of such illustrious musicians. I feel fortunate to have been asked to collaborate with him in bringing this music out into the world. And I think it is more needed now than ever.»

Lee Townsend, Berkeley, California, March, 2025