Quentin Dujardin returns to the stage with new irresistible melodies and a fiery energy conveyed by a generation of musicians that need no introduction: Didier Laloy, Nicolas Fiszman & Manu Katché. Each of their appearances leaves an indelible mark with universal colors in the hearts of the audience.

Produced by Lee Townsend, this new album, SAISON ORANGE, is dedicated to this discreet guitar whose nylon strings sketch infinite spaces. Painting landscapes remains an obsession for Quentin Dujardin. His journey to explore the instrument reflects his unchanged taste for adventure, a form of almost religious devotion: a link to his inner self and to its connection with his audience.

The guitarist confirms his attraction to collaboration, as evidenced in particular by the presence of the Norwegian trumpeter, Mathias Eick. To close this record, he offers this stripped-down cover of this classic by Stromae entitled ‘L’Enfer’.

Quentin Dujardin is instinctive, with endless freedom. The artist cultivates this taste for risk to reinvent his own musical universe, and also to escape the clutter of being categorized. SAISON ORANGE marks a turning point in the guitarist’s discography, denouncing the “fifth season”: one in which nature displays itself between winter and spring; the season of the pesticide-ridden fields around his village, turned orange through man’s efforts to ensure the illusion of better survival.

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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 Distancesand 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