Every so often, a new artist emerges who feels like both a fresh discovery and an old soul. For 2025, one of those names is Jultrane, real name Julien Ndiaye, a French-Senegalese saxophonist, paraglider pilot, and world traveler who has now fully dedicated himself to music. His single “Le petit parapente alpin” is already making waves, even earning airplay on radio, and it’s easy to see why: this track has both lift and depth.
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Much like its title suggests (“The Little Alpine Paraglider”), the piece moves with a sense of weightlessness. Jultrane’s saxophone lines float and dip like a glider riding thermal currents, while the band behind him creates a foundation that is grounded yet full of open skies. It’s jazz that doesn’t feel confined, traditional at its heart but modern in its sense of freedom.
There’s something cinematic here too: you can almost picture alpine ridges, crisp winds, and the thrill of discovery. The improvisation is mature without being heavy-handed, giving listeners an accessible entry point while still rewarding those who love jazz complexity.
Jultrane’s stage name is no accident. A direct nod to his greatest influence, John Coltrane, the reference carries a lot of weight. But Julien Ndiaye doesn’t simply imitate, he channels Coltrane’s spirit of exploration, using it as a compass while finding his own flight path. His saxophone tone carries a similar searching quality, but it’s paired with a personal warmth that feels distinctly his.
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With his first album, Création, out now on Jazz Family, Jultrane is positioning himself as one of the year’s most exciting discoveries. “Le petit parapente alpin” is a standout, playful yet profound, intimate yet expansive. It’s the kind of track that confirms what the early buzz suggests: Jultrane isn’t just a promising new voice in jazz, he’s a musician ready to carry the tradition forward.
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