Souffles

‘’Souffles’ (‘Breaths’) is the tenth album from award-winning French flautist and composer Naïssam Jalal. Written as an intimate and inspired dialogue between wind-instrument players it features Naïssam in a series of duets with eight prominent figures in jazz and improvised music, including Archie Shepp, Yom, Sylvain Rifflet, Thomas de Pourquery, Louis Sclavis, and Emile Parisien. Blending her own breath with these exceptional wind instrumentalists, Naïssam has created eight vibrant duos. New collaborations also enrich the project, with contributions from Robinson Khoury and Irving Acao, further expanding and energising the project.

The Guardian
« Naïssam Jalal’s flute glides animatedly around Louis Sclavis’s solemnly evocative bass clarinet, rises in clamorous harmonies with Émile Parisien’s soprano sax while she eloquently chants instrumentally and vocally as Archie Shepp plays gruffly bluesy tenor sax. »

Jazzwise – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Editor’s Choice & “The Best Jazz Albums of 2025 (so far)”
« The album hits a real emotional peak on the duet with legendary American saxophonist Archie Shepp, whose spirited, spiky horn playing and deep gospel moan lend powerfully with Jalal’s own moving wordless invocations. This is music with a depth of feeling to match its beauty of execution. »