Antoine started to work on the Album 'Status Quo' mid May 2024. He composed and produced nine titles in the styles of Jazz Funk & Latin with a lot of brass section and lines and then sections for performers/guest to solo on it. 
 

The album features musicians Randy brecker and Mike Stern Oz Noy  Nazim Kri, Yvonnick Prene are featured on some of the songs.  Kevin Reveyrand plays bass part throughout the album. 

 

The idea was to create an album influenced by blues, disco, funk, Latin, jazz, and pop—all the music Antoine has always liked, both harmonically and rhythmically.

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GUESTS:

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Legendary guitar player Mike Stern is featured on three songs, where he plays guitar solos. He added his distinct sound and virtuosity to the album. Meeting Mike Stern was a unique moment for me, as I used to listen to his music at an early age. It was a dream come true.

 

 

 

 

 

Grammy Award-winning musician Randy Brecker is featured on three songs, where he played trumpet and flugelhorn solos, reminding listeners of his sound and groove from his band, 'The Brecker Brothers.' Using a WahWah pedal and some delays, he created very funky and bluesy lines

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French virtuoso bass player Kevin Reveyrand played on the entire album, bringing his incredible sound and groove, as well as his experience as a recording producer. Kevin has already recorded and released four solo albums as a band leader.

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Guitar player Oz Noy, internationally recognized and influential in the jazz world, is featured on one song where he plays a guitar solo.

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French Algerian guitar phenomenon Nazim Kri is featured on one song where he plays a solo. He brings a unique sound to the song 'Deja Vu,' a soul/pop/jazzy tune.

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Established French harmonica player Yvonnick Prene is featured on two songs. Yvonnick is considered one of the leading voices on his instrument worldwide and has already released five albums as a leader.

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French saxophone player Yannick Soccal is featured on three songs. He brings his powerful and tasteful tenor saxophone sound, adding incredible energy to the music 

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Amazing piano player Jerry Leonide is featured on two songs. Jerry has been touring with Christopher Cross and Frank Gambale. He performs Rhodes solos on "Wrong Turn" and "Let's Play."

 

 

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All these accomplished musicians from different parts of the globe and different career paths are gathered on this project to create the essence and vibe of 'Status Quo,' playing with their unique sounds.

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MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT/ALBUM 'STATUS QUO'

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"Status Quo is my first album, and I wanted to create energetic, feel-good music filled with instruments like horns, percussion, guitars, and keys. 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.
 

The project came about because I had a strong desire to create a fun album inspired by the music I have always been drawn to. I've always loved albums like Jaco Pastorius’ The Birthday Concert and the Brecker Brothers, along with many other similar musicians and bands.

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As a longtime lover of groove and funk music, I wanted to compose music that revolved around that vibe while giving the drums a prominent role, both as part of the ensemble and as a featured soloist. Seven of the nine songs include drum solos, making the drums an essential piece of the puzzle in this project.

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One of the key motivations behind this album was to challenge myself. After many years of working as a music producer and mixing engineer in electronic dance music, I wanted to test my abilities as a producer and mixer—but this time in the jazz and funk genres, rather than in electronic music. For example, mixing acoustic drums is a totally different process than mixing electronic drum samples. It was also an opportunity to see how I could create a full album filled with instruments, almost like a big band, with limited resources as an independent artist. I used techniques I had learned over the years doing EDM and applied some of that during the process of creating this album

 

The name 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 personal challenge for me, a way of breaking out of that 'status quo' 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, creating something new and breaking the cycle."

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TRACKS DESCRIPTIONS IN THE ALBUM (in order)

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1: "Wrong Turn" is a straightforward funky tune with groove and blues influences. The melody is delivered by a full horn section, clearly setting the vibe of the song and introducing the album's mood;
it's the kind of track you can play in the morning to kickstart your day and boost your energy. The tempo is mid-paced, resembling an energetic walking rhythm, and it’s a danceable track in the vibe of Earth, Wind & Fire or Kool & the Gang.
The first solo is played by Jerry Leonides, known for his work with Christopher Cross and Frank Gambale. His bluesy and funky lines are full of rhythmic elements.
The second solo features the legendary trumpet player Randy Brecker. He perfectly captures the track’s mood with simple, bluesy lines and phrasing. His powerful trumpet sound strongly carries the groove and adds a tremendous energy to the music.

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2: "Better Late Than Never" is the second track on the album. The tempo is slower than the first tune, maintaining a vibe rooted in funk and jazz. It evokes a brass band style with a strong backbeat feel, reminiscent of gospel church claps on the 2nd and 4th beats. The B section transitions to a more disco vibe with a four-on-the-floor feel and an incisive brass section melody.
The solo is performed by the world-renowned guitarist Mike Stern. His sound and phrasing are distinctive, and his tone is instantly recognizable after just a few notes.
The track features a lengthy drum solo at the end (over 2 minutes and 30 seconds) over a musical vamp. This is Antoine Cara’s moment to express himself freely, engaging in a conversation with and following the melodic line of the horns in the background. During the solo, Antoine experiments with drum sounds by adding effects such as delays, reminiscent of Stewart Copeland’s work with The Police, as well as phaser effects at certain moments.
 

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3: "Status Quo" which gives the album its name, is a fast funky tune. The intro features French tenor saxophonist Yannick Soccal, whose powerful sound sets the tone for this energetic and funky track. The sections alternate between different meters, including 4/4 and 3/4, and incorporate a half-time Latin feel.
Randy Brecker takes the solo, playing both trumpet and flugelhorn. He uses an octaver during the 3/4 section, which clearly evokes the effects he might have used with the Brecker Brothers Band.
Antoine Cara delivers a drum solo over a piano montuno, incorporating phrasing influenced by Latin and Cuban music, reminiscent of timbales and congas.
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4: "When We Were Young" cools down the mood with its ballad style and a touch of pop music harmonies. It features a very simplistic melody played by the horns at a softer level, with the drums using brushes.
The first solo is performed by French chromatic harmonica player Yvonnick Prene. He delivers a rich melody and sound that add a deeper emotional touch to the music.
This is beautifully followed by a guitar solo from Mike Stern. He excels in this type of mood and vibe, the jazz pop ballad, elevating the song to another level.

 

5: "Take It Easy" is a fast, funky tune on the album. It brings the energy back up with the horn section blasting the melody. The song has a vibe reminiscent of late-night TV shows, designed to energize the audience.
Oz Noy delivers a guitar solo on a half-time groove, embracing the song's intensity. His performance is perfect for the mood, showcasing incredible and unorthodox melodic lines on his distorted guitar. He's a world-renowned guitar virtuoso.
Following that, Antoine Cara takes on a drum solo over a full percussion vamp featuring bongos, cuica, congas, and shakers. Similar to his solos in 'Better Late Than Never,' he uses a phaser in the first half of the solo to add tension.

 

 

6: "Deja Vu" is a mellow tune with touches of pop and electronic music. The catchy melody, consistently played by a horn section sticks in your head. The song has a tonal, feel-good vibe, making it highly singable and well-suited for a brass band performance.
The first solo is delivered by guitarist Nazim Kri, whose melodic approach and unique, clean sound perfectly complement the track's atmosphere. Next, the bass player takes over, building the solo with clever phrasing, blending virtuosity and musical complexity. Finally, Yannick Soccal's solo leads the listener back into the main theme of the tune."*
 

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7: "Lets Play" was written as a jam tune, focused more on a groove pattern and riff than on melodic lines and phrases. The song evokes a groove that Serge Gainsbourg could have easily sung over in the 1980s. This reference holds special meaning for Antoine, as he toured with Serge Gainsbourg's son, Lulu Gainsbourg, in 2011 and 2012 as a drummer, performing Serge Gainsbourg's repertoire."​

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8: "Quiproquo" is a Latin jazz fusion tune with a fun, feel-good vibe, strongly inspired by brass band music. It carries a sense of collective improvisation, with the horns trading solo phrases over the main theme, reminiscent of old swing bands.

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9: "Nevermind" is an uptempo jazz song, composed for the fun and challenge of performing it. With a tempo of 340 bpm, it is extremely fast and energetic. Mike Stern, who plays the first solo, loved it and mentioned that the song was both a challenge and therapeutic for his injured hand, as it pushed him to his limits. Yvonnick Prene takes the second solo, and it was also a challenge for him to improvise at such an extreme tempo. The song concludes with a drum solo over the form of the tune, following a standard AABA structure

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