For the successor to his ECM leader debut La traversée, French saxophonist Matthieu Bordenave expands his trio with German pianist Florian Weber and French bassist Patrice Moret by adding the unique sensitivity of drummer James Maddren, whose persistent pulse provides a skillful counterpoint to the already distinctive sound of the group. In addition to the emotionally sharp rendition of John Coltrane's 'Compassion', the quartet tackles eight original pieces by Bordenave that bridge the gap between chamber jazz dynamics and post-swing designs. Weber's and Bordenave's unconventional approaches to their instruments—Bordenave is featured on both tenor and soprano saxophones—seamlessly intertwine, weaving unexpected lines over a highly interactive rhythm section. The Blue Land was recorded in 2022 in Pernes-Les-Fontaines and produced by Manfred Eicher.