Ah the scholars among you will already know that Shijin is “an oriental symbol representing the guardians of the four cardinal points. Each guardian is also related to an animal, a season, a colour, an element, a virtue.” It also happens to be a band, a mostly heavily bearded band. And as naturally as night follows day, Shijin being decidedly nocturnal, a record. To be released on 26 October, the issuing label of Shijin is www.alter-nativ.fr it has been a while since hugely imaginative saxist Jacques Schwarz-Bart flickered on the radar, and here he is alongside Laurent David, bass guitar; Stéphane Galland, drums; and Malcolm Braff, piano, Rhodes electric piano. You read it here first, bien sûr. Promo background, top. 
More reading—Jazz Racine Haïti (2014).