MIDNIGHT ALCHEMY

I had the unique opportunity to catch "No Plan B" premiered live at La Fontaine, and I’m still buzzing from the experience. Composer Dent-de-Lion du Midi’s latest work unfolded in a dusky bloom of swing and soul, masterfully delivered by pianist Mikkel Kattinger and drummer Leo Thorvaldsen.

The atmosphere was velvety thick — glasses clinking, low laughter, the audience leaning in — and it all seeped into the performance. Kattinger’s piano thrilled like one slow exhale, rising from reflective whisper to bold flourishes, always with a hint of noir intrigue. Every note embodied the hush and heat of the late hour.

"Sticks" Thorvaldsen proved the perfect counterpart, delivering licks that danced like smoke, then snapping into tight rhythms that gave the piece its heartbeat. The interplay between the two felt alive, two conspirators trading musical secrets in the dark.

"No Plan B" isn’t just a composition — it’s an atmosphere, a lingering reminder that the best moments arise when there’s no backup plan in sight!

Elias Fontaine
The Ramblin' Ear