Record Reviews

DOMINIQUE PIFARELY ~ SUITE: ANABASIS JAZZDOR 01 (Barcode: 3521383463772) ~ FRANCE ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2020 Released: 2021 This is an album by French Jazz violinist / composer Dominique PifarelyFind albums by this artist, recorded with an octet comprising of violin, two cellos, flute, two saxophones, keyboards and drums. The album presents five lengthy original compositions, all by Pifarely. The music is beyond straightforward classification, but obviously amalgamates elements of Jazz and modern / contemporary Classical Music, with a distinct French tinge, and a subtle fragrance of Pierre BoulezFind albums by this artist, glimpses of “Les Six” and other great French musical geniuses, but first and foremost expressing the highly individual inner voice of Pifarely. Despite the complexity of the music, it flows coherently and develops melody lines and atmospheric auras of great beauty. The proximity to Jazz is felt first and foremost in the rhythmic subtext, but also in the multi-layered thematic complexity and some short fragments that sound like “group improvisation”. The instrumentation sounds more Classical, but again today’s genre borders are mostly meaningless. I am not even sure if this music is Avant-Garde, despite its somewhat bizarre exterior, since it makes perfect sense to me, from start to finish, and rather that break completely new ground, it puts great many familiar elements into new arrays of sound. Pifarely’s role on this album is (for me) primarily that of the composer, despite the fact that he contributes flawless violin parts. All the participants prove virtuosic abilities required to perform this immensely tricky and demanding music. One can only admire the courage to undertake such project and the fact that this music was recorded over just three studio sessions, which from the outside looks like an unsurmountable task, regardless of how much rehearsal time went into it. Overall, this is a sensational piece of ingenuity, completely original, stimulating and full of sublime musical ideas. There is so much music on this album, that it might serve as a lifetime companion to avid music lovers, as repeated listening will surely reveal additional layers of previously hidden treasures. Although I have been following Pifarely’s recording career since many years, for me this is his best work so far. Yes, music is not a competition, but somehow everything I feel about his music fits here perfectly into a wonderful whole. I feel lucky to know Pifarely in person, which gives me the opportunity to say thank you, my Friend, for this rare gift of your musical talent!

Updated: 02/10/2021Posted: 02/10/2021

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

LOUIS SCLAVIS ~ DANS LA NUIT ECM 1805 (Barcode: 731458952428) ~ FRANCE ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2000 Released: 2002 This is an excellent album by French clarinetists / saxophonist / composer Louis SclavisFind albums by this artist with his superb quintet, which also includes violinist Dominique PifarelyFind albums by this artist, cellist Vincent CourtoisFind albums by this artist, accordionist Jean Louis MatinierFind albums by this artist and drummer Francois MervilleFind albums by this artist. The music was written to serve as a soundtrack to the legendary 1929 silent movie of the same title, by the French director Charles VanelFind albums by this artist, which was one of the last silent French movies made just before the arrival of the "talkies". Sclavis composed a wonderful piece of music, which suits the film perfectly (this is not his first cooperation with cinema) and is performed brilliantly by the entire quintet. It is a wonderful amalgam of Jazz and contemporary Classical influences, with a typical European approach, which mixes sophistication and imagination with musical tradition. The performances are all stellar and although this is by for not easy music, the result should be accessible even to less experienced listeners. Of course there is plenty of fascinating moments here and the entire album is basked in European aesthetics and the so very special French "fragrance". Sclavis certainly solidifies his position as one of the leaders of contemporary European Jazz scene. Warmly recommended!

CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend

MIKE WESTBROOK ~ CATANIA WESTBROOK 004 (Barcode: 5052442014829) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1992 Released: 2018 This is an archive concert recording by British Jazz Colossus pianist / composer / bandleader Mike WestbrookFind albums by this artist and his Orchestra, recorded over three days in July 1992 in Catania, Sicily during the Mike Westbrook Festival organized by local Jazz aficionados. Twenty four musicians take part in the recordings: twenty one members of the Orchestra including Mike and his wife Kate WestbrookFind albums by this artist and three guests - vocalist Phil MintonFind albums by this artist, French violin virtuoso Dominique PifarelyFind albums by this artist and Italian trombonist Danilo TerenziFind albums by this artist. The concerts were not officially recorded at the time, but the lamented studio wizard Jon HisemanFind albums by this artist, to whom this album is dedicated, managed to restore the music from various sources half a Century later to produce this double CD with sixteen tracks, seven of which are extended pieces between ten and almost twenty minutes long. As Westbrook writes in the liner notes the Orchestra was at the absolute top form at the time, following UK and European tours with the Big Band Rossini project, which culminated in a Royal Albert Hall concert for the BBC Proms, which took place on 30th of August 1992, just a month after the music presented here was performed and recorded, followed by the recording of the splendid "The Orchestra Of The Smith`s AcademyFind albums with this title" album in September of the same year. The material includes a wide range of compositions, with only one piece from the Rossini project and the rest covering Westbrook´s compositions going as far back as the mid-1970s ("Citadel / Room 315Find albums with this title") and his explorations of William BlakeFind albums by this artist and Berthold BrechtFind albums by this artist / Kurt WeillFind albums by this artist inspirations. The majority of the material is of course original, composed by Westbrook, with just one standard, one Duke Ellington inspired piece, two Brecht / Weill pieces and one Gioachino RossiniFind albums by this artist inspired piece arranged by him. As appropriate for a Westbrook Festival the music represents faithfully Westbrook´s musical path up to the time of the recording. I am sure I don´t need to convince any of the numerous Mike Westbrook followers that this album is an essential piece of his recorded legacy. Although the sound quality is perhaps not ideal in comparison to his other live recordings, it is certainly acceptable, surely thanks to Hiseman´s efforts. The music is certainly way too good to remain in the vaults. This album is pretty unique as far as the choice of material is concerned, since usually Westbrook´s live recordings document his current projects rather than a review of his work with an almost nostalgic glance back. With such quality of the music and the superb abilities of the performers involved, this is a beautiful time capsule, which documents not only the achievements of Westbrook but the entire European Jazz history at its best. One should admire Westbrook not only for his music but also for his consistent effort to document his music. More information about Mike Westbrook can always be found on his web site www.westbrookjazz.co.uk

Updated: 02/02/2023Posted: 23/07/2019

CD 2 Digipak Recommend To A Friend