For his SteepleChase debut Mean What You Say, French guitarist Yves Brouqui bridges continents and traditions with an effortless sophistication that’s as steeped in American modern jazz as it is brushed with Parisian elegance. Recorded in March 2024 with top-tier New York players - pianist Spike Wilner, bassist Paul Gill, and drummer Anthony Pinciotti - this album swings hard, speaks straight, and lives up to its title.

Though Brouqui has made his home between Paris and New York for decades, Mean What You Say is no transatlantic hybrid, it’s pure, uncut straight-ahead jazz. His tone is warm and articulate, his phrasing sharp and intentional. Think Wes Montgomery with a touch of Jim Hall’s lyrical restraint and Joe Pass’s rhythmic fire. Yet Brouqui never imitates; he converses, listens, and leads with clarity.

A seasoned player who cut his teeth in Parisian jazz clubs like Duc des Lombards and Sunset before moving to New York in the mid-'90s, Brouqui has spent years refining his voice alongside a who's who of French and American jazz musicians like Steve Grossman, Emmanuel Bex, Joe Magnarelli, Dmitry Baevsky, and Peter Bernstein to name a few. That experience pays off in spades here. His playing is authoritative without ever being showy. Every note feels considered, every solo an extension of the melody.

The material on Mean What You Say leans into the post-bop tradition, but Brouqui and his trio keep it fresh, energized, and intimate. Whether they’re stretching out on mid-tempo swingers or digging into bluesy ballads, the chemistry is obvious. While this may be Brouqui’s first release on SteepleChase, it’s far from his first artistic statement. From his earlier work with the Horace Silver songbook to his recordings with gypsy jazz titan Florin Niculescu, he’s consistently shown a deep respect for tradition, while never allowing it to limit his palette. Mean What You Say continues that lineage, a straight-ahead jazz record that feels timeless yet personal, understated yet rich with character.