Release Date: January 17th, 2025
DRUMMER ANTOINE CARA CONVENES AN EXTRAORDINARY LINEUP ON HIS UPCOMING RELEASE “STATUS QUO”
About the Recording
French-born drummer, composer and producer Antoine Cara is proud to announce the arrival of Status Quo, a bold new album of original compositions. Status Quo offers a close and vibrant look at Cara the player, writer and leader, drawing on the firepower of such veterans as guitar great Mike Stern and trumpet legend Randy Brecker, on three tracks each. The album combines elements of hard-edged, brass-heavy funk, Latin jazz fusion, melodic pop and uptempo jazz.
“I wanted to create energetic, feel-good music with horns, percussion, guitars and keys,” says Cara. “With the help of amazing guest musicians, I was able to bring the solo sections to life, where each artist contributed their unique sound and phrasing developed over their careers. I also wanted to give the drums a prominent role, both as part of the ensemble and as a featured soloist. Seven of the nine songs include drum solos, an essential piece of the puzzle in this project.” Cara’s virtuosity, sonic imagination and solid, unerring pocket make Status Quo a riveting listen from start to finish.
Cara composed much of the album using techniques often employed by electronic music producers, such as chopping micro-samples and placing them into grids like a collage. “Some of the horns come from sample banks that I used, transposed and time-stretched,” he explains. Locking in with Cara on every groove and soloing proficiently as well, French bassist Kevin Reveyrand is the glue holding these nine blistering tracks together. “Kevin brought his incredible sound and groove, as well as his production experience,” says Cara. The deft harmonica solos of Yvonnick Prene, lyrical and poignant on “When We Were Young” and toe-to-toe with Mike Stern on the closing “Nevermind,” are among the key highlights. The muscular tenor sax of Yannick Soccal is heard on “Status Quo,” “Déjà Vu” and “Let’s Play.”
Keyboardist Jerry Léonide (Christopher Cross, Frank Gambale) contributes rich and soulful textures and burning solos on the opening “Wrong Turn” as well as “Let’s Play” and “Quidproquo.” Two highly distinctive and contrasting guitarists, Oz Noy and Nazim Kri, weigh in as well, on “Take It Easy” and “Déjà Vu” respectively.
“One of the key motivations behind this album was to challenge myself,” Cara reflects. “After many years as a producer and mixing engineer in electronic dance music, I wanted to test those abilities this time in the jazz and funk genres. The title Status Quo comes from the feeling of sometimes being stuck in a loop—a routine where one might feel the strong desire for change. This album represents a way of breaking out of that by trying something different. Stepping away from familiar situations often requires mental strength and motivation, whether it’s professional or personal, like a relationship. Fear can also be a factor that keeps one stuck in the status quo. For me, this album is a way of pushing past that, breaking the cycle.”
About Antoine Cara
Raised in France, Antoine Cara studied classical percussion and later moved to Paris to pursue his studies as a drummer at the American School of Modern Music and the conservatory of the 9th district in the jazz program. In 2006 he moved to New York City to study at Manhattan School of Music and City College of New York. He began performing in the city and became involved in many musical projects. In 2011-12 he toured with Serge Gainsbourg’s son, Lulu Gainsbourg, performing Serge Gainsbourg’s repertoire. Antoine has also worked as an artist and producer in electronic dance music, signing with Ultra Music/Sony Music and releasing songs with over eight million streams on Spotify.
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Antoine Cara – “Status Quo”
Line up:
Antoine Cara, drums & compositions
Randy Brecker – trumpet
Mike Stern, Oz Noy, Nazim Kri – guitars
Jerry Léonide – keyboards
Kevin Reveyrand – bass
Yannick Soccal – tenor saxophone
Yvonnick Prene – harmonica
Gabriel Richards – alto & soprano saxophones
Track list:
1 Wrong Turn
2 Better Late Than Never
3 Status Quo
4 When We Were Young
5 Take it Easy
6 Deja Vu
7 Lets Play
8 Quiproquo
9 Nevermind