Yves Robert - trombone
Vincent Courtois - violoncello
Cyril Atef - drums
Recorded March 2001, Paris.
1. In Touch
2. Let's Lay Down
3. La Tendresse
4. In Touch var.1
5. L' Air D' Y Toucher
6. Basculement Du Desir
7. In Touch var.2
This is unusual music performed by a highly unusual
ensemble both in terms of style and instrumentation. I must confess
that I approached it with a greater than normal sense of trepidation.
Whilst I cannot claim to understand everything contained on this disc,
I must say that I was delighted by the pieces presented here. This
is, once again, music that does not fit into the accepted norm in
the sense of categorisation. It can claim to be Jazz in that it contains
a great degree of improvisation and experimentation. It would also
be possible to link it to earlier types of Classical music with the
often chorale - like harmonies and the Baroque sense of counterpoint.
It is assuredly Avant -Garde but is not at all difficult in the manner
of presentation. Perhaps the best contemporary music often falls into
the area which can only be termed a conglomeration and it is therefore
the duty of the critic to forget about the concept of hanging everything
on to a convenient peg.
Whilst a track by track analysis would not be appropriate
as it is far more helpful to allow music such as this to permeate
the senses, I feel it might give some preconception to describe the
opening selection. This begins with the cello giving what could be
seen as an orchestral background which is then joined by the muted
trombone playing in a high register and sounding eerily like a human
voice singing. The drums push the piece into a tempo which is very
North African in its style and the whole begins to swing in quite
a pronounced manner. The other selections are varied and rich in their
creativity. I would recommend this disc as an enjoyable and informative
insight into the more experimental areas of modern music.
Dick Stafford
CD Reviews
ECM
1787 016 375 - 2
