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blogue@press-3534
press@3534

blogue@press-3371
press@3371
Montréal’s Ambiances Magnétiques has released some 169 records since 1984 with a pretty remarkable batting record. The original members of the collective (including Jean Derome, René Lussier, Martin Tétreault and Danielle Palardy Roger) have for the most part continued to do challenging work, while younger musicians have been brought into the fold.
Tim Brady is a talented guitarist with a rockish sensibility and plenty of jazz chops. He loves his instrument the way Jasper Johns loves paint: thick and apparent. His 2002 release Twenty Quarter-Inch Jacks was, in that sense, wholly satisfying. As is, in a certain way, his new offering, GO. It’s diverse, it’s raw, it’s pretty, it’s precise. Four compositions of his own and four by others, all strong but as a whole uneven. The disc feels as if Brady is trying to show off many approaches and styles he can pull off. And pull them off he does, so well that it sounds as if it could be a compilation album.
Likewise pianist Gianni Lenoci’s wandering sextet record Sextant. At center, the group is a traditional enough line-up of keyboards, guitar, bass, drum and two saxophones, although the keyboards and guitars are sometimes electronically augmented. Two tracks not penned by Lenoci are Eric Dolphy’s Miss Ann and Morton Feldman’s Intermission VI. Lenoci’s pieces seem to follow the two worlds, skipping between minimalist and jazzy pieces, generally strong tracks, but ultimately seeming to be more a display of diversity than creating a unified feeling.
The same charge could be leveled against clarinetist Lori Freedman’s new CD, culled from three nights of live performances with different trios. The difference here is that the record is exceptional regardless of her motives. A set with guitarist Lussier and turntablist Tétreault is a fascinating, warm rumble. A matchup with saxophonist Derome and guitarist/percussionist Rainer Wiens is strangely moody with touches of spaghetti western. And with percussionist Roger and bassist Nicolas Caloia she explores quiet, extended-improv techniques and jazzier explorations. Despite the different sources, the album holds together surprisingly well.
A different sort of project is presented on the guitar duet by Arthur Bull and Daniel Heïkalo. It’s the sort of bashing-of-minds improv one would expect to find, at this point, in clubs and cafés around the world — busy, sometimes riotously so, and introspective, as if some personal space is being invaded simply by listening. Whereas the other discs ask to be listened to, Bull and Heïkalo seem forever to be changing the subject because a listener walked in.
blogue@press-3335
press@3335

blogue@press-3257
press@3257
Clarinettiste canadienne accumulant les partenaires (Steve Lacy, Joe McPhee, Ab Baars, Barry Guy, Misha Mengelberg…) comme d’autres collectionnent les médailles, Lori Freedman présente ici des extraits choisis de 3 récents et affables trios.
Aux côtés de René Lussier (guitare électrique) et de Martin Tétreault (turntables), Freedman combine les élans de sa clarinette basse et les perles bruitistes de Tétreault (Skroawng, Seven) ou rivalise avec les postures amusées de Lussier — blues défait sur Spaghetti brûlé, rock nerveux sur The Tribe of Triclops.
Plus atmosphériques, les pièces concoctées en compagnie de Jean Derome (saxophone et objets) et Rainer Wiens (guitare préparée et percussions) dessinent une irrégulière rose des vents (The Light of Night), disposent selon des patrons parallèles des drones de tout essences (Six Degrees), ou cèdent à la nécessité d’un assaut final emporté par la fougue du saxophone et de la clarinette (Tigresse).
Plus conventionnelles, les improvisations menées par Freedman, le contrebassiste Nicolas Caloia et la percussionniste Danielle Palardy-Roger, rappellent les enregistrements du Spontaneous Music Ensemble - avec (Chrysalis, Lipsync) ou sans (Babalou, Poussière de lune) véritable conviction. Sorte de retour aux sources improvisées comme moyen de diversifier le propos singulier de Lori Freedman.
blogue@press-3221
press@3221
Clarinettist Lori Freedman is playing some of the bravest music on the local creative music scene. She never takes the easy way out with her improvisations, stepping out on limbs and never show-boating, yet she always manages to bring them back from the point of breakdown to a satisfying resolution. Her latest album, 3, has her in three trios (with, respectively, René Lussier/Martin Tétreault; Nicolas Caloia/Danielle Palardy Roger; Jean Derome/Rainer Wiens) in performances recorded at the Va-et-Vient and remixed in the studio. The music throughout is full of detail and nuance, with interesting interplays of texture and line. (3,5/5)
blogue@press-3218
press@3218