Alexis Valet & The Cypher

Whether on his own albums or as a sideman with Francesco Ciniglio, Ludivine Issambourg or Joe Sanders, Alexis Valet explores, listens and encounters. For the past ten years, the vibraphonist has been imagining a jazz that belongs to him alone.
Free without ignoring codes, curious about the underground cultures being built in basements, imbued with the airs of New York, and above all, a jazz that thinks in common. 

As you may have heard, Alexis Valet has been touring Parisian clubs with a brand-new band since last summer. A brand-new quintet featuring Mel Marquez on saxophone, Carl-Henri Morisset on keyboards, Kate Curly on electric bass and Tilo Bertholo on drums. 

Together, the five of them form The Cypher. The term may not mean much to you, but in reality, you all know what it means. In the rap world, a “cypher” refers to a circle of rappers who get together to improvise and express themselves in rhyme, all on a musical basis. A cypher can be seen as a kind of rap “jam session”, where everyone takes a turn to improvise and showcase their oral talents. That's what a cypher is. And in the world of hip-hop, this moment is taken very seriously. It's a moment of cohesion, but also of pure creativity and unfiltered expression, while respecting certain codes. In a word, a cypher is like jazz. Like Alexis Valet's jazz.