Grégoire Maret: Americana

When Swiss harmonica virtuoso Grégoire Maret emerged on the New York City jazz scene 20 years ago, his jaw-dropping facility and uncanny expression caught the attention of a slew of heavy-hitters, including David Sanborn, Cassandra Wilson, Meshell Ndegeocello, and Pat Metheny. Known to go toe-to-toe with sax players in blazing torrents of post-bop fusillades or embellish a ballad with rare poignancy, Maret soon became a hot commodity. By last count, he has appeared on 60 albums as a sideman while releasing only five as a leader or co-leader. His latest, a gorgeous meditation on the American Dream, in collaboration with …