subscribe! - La Scena Musicale

More documents

Recommendations

Info

JAZZ REVIEWS News from Europe Dutch strings by MARK CHODAN ΩDanish combosΩ by MARC CHÉNARD Once known as a haven for expatriate American boppers in the golden days of the 1960s, the Danish capital Copenhagen has long since turned the page, thanks to a younger generation of native talents trained at the city’s Rhythmic Conservatory. Here are but two examples of contemporary jazz emerging from this still very dynamic music capital. Jacob Anderskov Accident : Full Circle Ilk 178CD (www.ilkmusic.com) ★★★★✩✩ Caught last summer at its jazz festival, the ensemble of Copenhagen’s pianist composer Jacob Anderskov (Accident) was one of this writer’s personal highlights. Five months previous to the show of his seven-piece band, it recorded the following album at another of the city’s venues, minus one saxophone player. What’s more the leader is heard here on an electric keyboard (the Wurlitzer) rather than standard acoustic grand. Fueled by the clatterings of American drummer Tom Rainey, the group interprets somewhat slow unfolding orchestral passages that create considerable tension, especially when the soloists break loose, most notably the no-holds-barred outpourings of alto saxophonist Laura Toxværd, closely followed by the leader’s keyboard excursions. In fact, these two players largely dominate this session, though the drummer is given a generous solo spot in the closing number “Pyschotonalities”. Five cuts ranging from eight to eleven minutes grace this medium-length side, seconds shy of the 50-minute mark. Hybrid 10tet : On the Move BBBCD14 (www.michielbraam.com) ★★★★✩✩ The Hybrid 10tet is an ensemble led by Dutch pianist Michiel Braam. The ‘hybrid’ aspect comes from the pairing of musicians from different musical domains: jazz-based improvisation (horns), rock (rhythm section) and European concert hall music (strings) plus, on piano, Braam himself, who penned all pieces (9 in total). The line between written and instant composition is not clearly delineated: it is always nice to hear music in the jazz/improv domain where the listener can ponder the written/instant composition question, safely conclude “who cares?” and just focus on enjoying the results. Braam is a tremendously talented pianist, as anyone who has seen him live can attest (some may have heard him in Montreal last October with his trio). This recording is evidence that his compositional skills are as interesting and quirky as his playing. As eccentric as some moments on this disc may seem, the music fortunately steers clear of any over-indulgence in the corny humour that the Dutch Bimhuis musicians are known for. At times, the three different components of the ensemble work together surprisingly well, despite obvious dynamic differences between the instruments (strings versus rock-ish rhythm section). What’s more, the leader propels his musicians, who in turn follow him to fertile sonic grounds. His compositions also have drive, and there’s everything from tango to mid-70s Miles Davis-inspired grooves, but always filtered through Braam’s personal and unpredictable signature sound. Overall, On the Move is a jarringly diverse yet cohesive set of compositions that mark a fantastic musical ride on which Braam set out to take us. Ig Henneman Sextet : Cut a Caper Wig 19 (www.stichtingwig.com) ★★★✩✩✩ Violist Ig Henneman is somewhat of an unsung hero on the Dutch jazz/improv scene. Cut a Caper is her latest release after a recent 5 CD and 1 DVD box set Collected, documenting her recorded output since 1985 and celebrating her 65th birthday. At the core of this international ensemble are the members of her Queen Mab trio (with Canadians Lori Freedman, clarinets, and Marilyn Lerner, piano), with Dutch stalwarts bassist Wilbert de Joode, reedman Ab Baars, and German trumpeter Axel Dörner in tow. The drummerless format plants this session clearly in chamber jazz territory, with equal parts of jazz and contemporary music. This is not music that draws the listener in, but rather demands some effort in penetrating its icy shell. This may be due, at least to some degree, to the arrangements where instruments play in a similar range for long periods of time, giving it a lightness that one would not expect from a sextet, but at the same time making it sound rather austere, at times downright humourless (very unlike the Dutch, known for their whimsical nature). Other sections move at an extremely slow pace, again requiring both intense concentration and considerable patience. However, such misgivings can be set aside based on the strength of the musicianship involved. Repeated and concentrated listenings actually reveal fragile compositions of great complexity, and the musicians navigate these with all of the skill for which they are known. But given the overall intensity of this session, the net impact is greater on the listener, ultimately less wearing than a longer duration would have been. Indeed, there’s much more to contemporary jazz than warmed over post-bop formulas, and here’s some proof positive. Definitely jazz for the new century. Markus Pesonen : Hum Unit Records UTR 4297 (www.unitrecords.com) ★★★★✩✩ From the septet of the previous disc, we move on to a “Hendectet,” an eleven-piece group headed by a young Finnish guitarist, Markus Pesonen. His debut release, issued last summer on the Swiss label Unit Records, is, to say the least, an ambitious first move, with a program of six originals and two covers, the latter being Mingus’s dedicatory evergreen to Lester Young (“Goodbye Porkpie Hat”) and an unlikely closer, the Beatles’ “A Day in the Life”, complete with its dreamy lyrics and delirious sonic outburst, reminiscent of the original. Like many emerging artists, Pesonen wants to show us all he can do as a composer-arranger, maybe a little too much: from the rock-ish band energy of the opener “CO2”, the music goes from the ethereal to a quasi-free-jazz power play in “Hullun Paperit”, then on to some full-throttle jazz swinging in “Sugar Rush” and so on, lest we forget the Mingus-derived collective improvisation of his tune, or his take on the Fab Four’s psychedelic pop hit. Apart from the listing of personnel, there are no band pictures or liner notes in this disc (giving us a bit of background wouldn’t have hurt, but then again there are artist Websites to cover that now.) Also worth noting in this production is the ecologically friendly cardboard sleeve, including a pretty ingenious inset to slot in the disc. 40 DECEMBER 2011 / JANUARY 2012
Normand Guilbeault at Dièse Onze, 2 nd and 3 rd and at Upstairs on the JAZZ+ jazz@scena.org All concerts subject to change without prior notice. Unless otherwise stated, all phone numbers listed are within the 514 area code. All times listed are PM. Thur. 1 » Marianne Trudel & friends. [Artist of the month at the Resto-bar Dièse Onze. 223-4533] 8:30 (Return performances on Thurs. 8 and 15.) Fri. 2 » Oliver Jones and Ranee Lee. (Opening act for Diane Warwick.) Théâtre Maisonneuve, Place des Arts. 8:00 » Jazzer Noël, pianist James Gelfand plays Christmas favourites. Chapelle historique du Bon-Pasteur. 8:30 [872-5338] (Return performances on Wed. 21 at l’Espace Deschamps.) Fri. 2, Sat. 3 » The Châteauguay Tenors (Cameron Wallis and Al McLean) with spécial from New York, baritone saxophonist Gary Smulyan. Upstairs Jazz Bar. (Two shows per night at 7:00 and 10:00. Reservations: 931-6808) » Ensemble Normand Guilbeault, Hommage à Mingus. Resto-bar le dièse onze. 8:30 Sat. 3, Sun. 4 » Plans d’immanence (Free improvised music performed on baroque instruments.) Chapelle historique du Bon-Pasteur. 8:00 Dim. 4 » Double bill: Rainer Wiens (solo guitar) followed by bassist Nicolas Caloia and his group Ring. Casa del Popolo. 9:00 [284-0122] Tue. 6 » Trumpeter Kevin Dean presents The Next Generation. Upstairs Jazz Bar. 8:30 » Les mardis Spaghetti, weekly improvised music series at the Cagibi. 9:00 [Schedule online at: myspace.com/mardispaghetti Wed. 7 » Mercerdismusics, weekly improvised music series at the Casa Obscura. 9:00 Schedule on line at: www.casaobscura.com Thur. 8 » Thomas Carbou’s Hekate trio (with Eric Hove, alto sax and Jim Doxas, drs.) Upstairs. 8:30 Fri. 9, Sat. 10 » François Bourassa Quartet. Upstairs. 8:30 » Samuel Blais (alto sax) and Friends. » Resto-bar le dièse onze. 8:30 » From Berlin, tubist Robin Heyward and guests. L’envers. 9:00 [Info and schedule online at: lenvers185.blogspot.com Wed. 14 » Pianist Jérome Beaulieu and his trio. Upstairs. 8:30 » Record launch and performance by the Toronto vocalist Lara Solnick. Resto-bar le dièse onze. 9:00 Thur. 15 » Vocalist Emma Frank and her band. Upstairs. 8:30 Fri. 16 » Two solos : Ottawa saxophonist Lindsey Wellman and Montreal violinist Malcolm Goldstein. 9:00 Fri. 16, Sat. 17 » Lorraine Desmarais trio and special guest, alto saxophonist Jean-Pierre Zanella, Christmas music concert. Upstairs. 8:30 » Tenor saxophonist Yannick Rieu and his trio. Restobar le dièse onze. 8:30 Sat. 17 » Ottawa saxophonist Bernard Stépien and his perform perform: “A Very Ayler Christmas”. L’envers. (Information on this project online at: site.uottawa.ca/~bernard/ayler_christmas.html Tue. 20 » Lori and the Blue Mangoes. (With Lori Freedman, clarinets., Nicolas Caloia, bass, Bernard Falaise, guitar and Michel-F. Côté, drums.) Casa del Popolo. 9:00 (Improvised music.) Wed. 21 » Jazzer Noël. Pianist James Gelfand plays Christmas favourites. Place Deschamps. Two set at 5:00 and 10:00. 260 de Maisonneuve Ouest. 285-4200 Thur. 22 » Bassist Normand Guilbeault and his trio (with Normand Deveault, piano, and Claude Lavergne, drums.) Upstairs. 8:30 Thur. 29 » Vocalist Dessy di Lauro and her musicians. Upstairs Jazz Bar. 8:30 Sat 31 » Jazzin’ in the New Year with vocalist Dawn Tyler Watson. Upstairs. 8:30 (Reservations: 931-6808) JAZZ CALENDAR LOOKING AHEAD: JANUARY 2012 Sat. 7 » Trombonist Muhmmad al Khabbyr. Upstairs. 8:30 Mon. 9 » Nozen (The Damian Nisenson quartet). Casa del Popolo. 9:00 Thur 12 » Pierre Labbé and Sacré Tympan-Vertiges. Maison de la culture Frontenac. 8:00 [872-7882] (Workshop and performance directed by composer and saxophonist Pierre Labbé. With Frank Lozano, saxophones, François Bourassa, piano, Clinton Ryder, bass, Pierre Tanguay, drums and Steve Regeale, guitar.) Fri. 13 » Vocalist Jeri Brown and her trio. Upstairs. 8:30 Sam. 14 » Guitarist Richard Ring and his musicians. Tribute to trumpeter Tom Harrell. Upstairs. 8:30 Thur. 19 » Pianist Joshua Rager performs music from his new record Kanansakis. Upstairs. 8:30 Sun. 22 » Guitarist Carlo Jimenez and his band. Power Jazz Series, Segal Centre. 8:00. 739-7944 22 nd AT THE HEART OF JAZZ :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: FRANÇOIS BOURASSA IDIOSYNCRASIE (FND111) ALEXANDRE CÔTÉ TRANSITIONS (FND114) DONATO-BOURASSA-LOZANO-TANGUAY AUTOUR DE BILL EVANS (FND112) ALAIN BÉDARD AUGUSTE QUARTET HOMOS PUGNAX (FND115) SAMUEL BLAIS WWW.EFFENDI R E C O R D S .COM DESTINS (FND113) JOSH RAGER KANANASKIS (FND116) DECEMBER 2011 / JANUARY 2012 41
Page 2 and 3: CONTENTS DECEMBER 2011 — JANUARY
Page 4 and 5: y CAROLINE RODGERS PHOTOS OF ANA SO
Page 6 and 7: ON THE COVER SVADBA PHOTOS John Lau
Page 8 and 9: N TES by CRYSTAL CHAN, REBECCA ANNE
Page 10 and 11: discovery cd Transposing Tradition
Page 12 and 13: PORTRAIT ALEXANDRE DA COSTA A passi
Page 14 and 15: MUSICULTURE to create music for a f
Page 16 and 17: MUSICULTURE IN MEMORIAM Maryvonne K
Page 18 and 19: PHOTO Philippe Jasmin PORTRAIT NÉZ
Page 20 and 21: OPERA HIROMI OMURA will play Leonor
Page 22 and 23: PORTRAIT LAN TUNG Taiwanese-born er
Page 24 and 25: CONCERT Previews by RENÉE BANVILLE
Page 26 and 27: PREVIEWS A GREAT LIEDER PERFORMER A
Page 28 and 29: 2011 DECEMBER in QUEBEC TO LIST YOU
Page 30 and 31: TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY S
Page 32 and 33: PREVIEWS Elsewhere in QUEBEC OPERA
Page 34 and 35: Mozart: Don Giovanni. McGill S.O.;
Page 36 and 37: SALUTE TO VIENNA Salute to Vienna b
Page 38 and 39: jazz Jazz is particularly fond of h
Page 42 and 43: REVIEWS » cds • dvds• books A
Page 44 and 45: REVIEWS CDs they had already record
Page 46 and 47: variations ON A THEME Looking for a
Page 48 and 49: CONTEST CIOC Pipe dream turned real
Page 50 and 51: ARTS THIS WINTER ΩDance by TAO FEI
Page 52 and 53: ARTS THIS WINTER Visual Arts by JUL
Page 54 and 55: ADISQ 2011 NOMINATION ALBUM OF THE

subscribe! - La Scena Musicale

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?