Organic

Not at all what I expected based on previous listening experience of this artist. The album feels somehow too 'commercial', far from the 'organic' sound I'd hoped for.

Organic is not "commercial" in the sense that it's "fuzak" or smooth jazz. Not sure what the other reviewer was suggesting with the derisive "commercial" put-down. I've got all of Sylvain Luc's discs going back to Piaia from the early 90's. He's an absolutely peerless guitarist who should be heard by a broader audience. I've seen him live in NYC with Billy Cobham, Victor Bailey and Didier Lockwood; and in Paris in duo with Philip Catherine. He's got flawless technique and a terrific harmonic concept. He's a wonderful guitarist and a musician who's worth hearing.Organic is a pretty mellow project, and the chops might not be as apparent here as when he'd be trading licks with Bireli Lagrene. That being said, there's nothing here as "commercial" as when he does Stevie Wonder's Isn't She Lovely with Bireli on their duo disc, or when he covers Earth Wind and Fire's September on his Standards album. In fact the mood of this album to me is more lovely, lyrical, and transportive than whatever may be implied by the word "commercial".Organic finds Sylvain in the company of the great Andre Ceccarelli, his bandmate in the Trio Sud project, and a pianist/keyboardist who is new to me, named Thierry Eliez. All of the playing and writing here is fabulous. There are some wonderful European jazzers who should be more widely heard in the US. I hope this view of Organic might balance out the negative sense one might get from the other review and lead a reader towards a very rewarding listen, and perhaps introduction, to Sylvain Luc's artistry.