1. Moon Over Bourbon Street
2. Shape Of My Heart
3. We Will Meet Again
4. My Funny Valentine
5. Prelude No.4
6. Exit Music
7. Notes to the Future
8. Because
9. Besame Mucho
10. Gnossienne No.3
11. Purple Diamond
12. Meditation
Katia Labèque - Piano
Sting - Vocals
Chick Corea - Piano
Herbie Hancock - Piano
Gonzalo Rubalcaba - Piano
David Chalmin - Vocals, guitars
Crossover albums by predominately classical artists directed to a
jazz-oriented audience are fraught with challenges for both the artist
and the listener. Katia Labèque’s offering Shape Of My Heart
is no exception. Best known as part of the classical music piano duo
of Katia and Marielle Labèque, Katia has branched out previously into
jazz and new world music and did issue several straight jazz albums
with her ex-husband, guitarist John McLaughlin.
This album however seems to be a pastiche of songs and recordings
by artists that has no consistent theme and was simply thrown together
to build out the album. Take for example Sting’s two songs, Moon
Over Bourbon Street and Shape Of My Heart. While Katia
provides lush accompaniment, Sting offers no new insights into these
two pieces compared to when they were originally issued, firstly for
Bourbon Street which was part of Sting’s initial solo album
in 1985 entitled The Dream Of The Blue Turtles and My Heart
which was originally done in 1993 as part of his album Ten Summoner’s
Tales.
As for the duo piano offerings, Katia has Chick Corea as her partner
for We Will Meet Again, Herbie Hancock for My Funny Valentine
and Gonzalo Rubalcaba for Besame Mucho. While all these pianists
are masters of their instrument, and have technique to burn, these
pieces are simply variations on a theme. Since they have been languishing
in the vault since 1995, one wonders why they were resurrected at
this time.
Adding to the hodge-podge feel of the album is the fact that several
of the performances herein also appear on other recent recordings
by this artist. For example, Gnossienne No. 3 is included in
the Katia and Marielle Labèque album entitled Erik Satie. Katia/B
for Bang have recorded Notes To The Future in their album Across
The Universe of Languages and although the Lennon/McCartney tune
Because does not appear on that album, it may have been an
outtake as the latter album is devoted to The Beatles songs.
Finally the Katia Labèque Band recorded Exit Music for their
album Unspoken. None of these previously mentioned titles would
be considered a must listen.
While Katia Labèque is undoubtedly a musician with an international
musical pedigree, this album may not be the touchstone a jazz enthusiast
would embrace.
Pierre Giroux
CD Reviews
KML Recordings KML 2119
