Étymologie
by Mike Chamberlain |am_166-0001|
The first time I saw Jean Derome, Normand Guilbeault and Pierre Tanguay
was in March 1997. On that occasion, the three were playing-along with
trombonist Tom Walsh and pianist Guillaume Dostaler—in Réunion, a group under Tanguay’s leadership. The quintet played compositions by
Duke Ellington, Ben Webster
and Harry “Sweets” Edison. I was
immediately captivated by their formidable sense of swing and the manner in
which each was attuned to the subtle variations that the others played.
Fast forward several years, past wonderful performances by bassist
Guilbeault’s Mingus Project and the
Monk repertory trio Évidence, with Derome, Tanguay, and bassist Pierre Cartier, to
the Trio Derome Guilbeault Tanguay. On their first
album, 10 compositions, recorded in 2003, and in
performances at the time, the Trio reworked Derome
compositions dating back, in some cases, almost 30 years, in what might be
loosely termed an advanced hard-bop fashion.
Subsequently, the Trio has returned, for the most part, to its activities
as a repertory ensemble. Their second album, The Feeling of
Jazz, includes material from the whole spectrum of jazz history.
Compositions by Eric Dolphy, Misha
Mengelberg, Lennie Tristano, and Charles Mingus are featured in their live sets, along with
pieces written by Derome. But these mature artists
are not content to re-create the originals. They have too much respect for
the spirit, and yes, the feeling, of jazz to do that. Each performance of the
Trio is an episode in their continuing dialogue with one another and the
music. As with Réunion, and through the work with their other jazz-oriented
groups, their playing is imbued with the essential spirit of jazz modernism,
featuring group interplay of the highest order.
Étymologie (titled, appropriately, from a
Derome composition written as an homage to
Ornette Coleman) is a DVD-Video recording of their
set at the 2006 edition of L’Off Festival de Jazz de Montréal. In it,
we can see clearly the gentle, warm wit of the musicians and their mutual
musical empathy. Recorded at the historic Lion d’Or in front of a full
house on June 29, 2006 (coincidentally, Derome’s 51st birthday), this performance is a living
embodiment of the ongoing musical conversation among three great
friends—and great artists.
Mike Chamberlain, Montréal
[iv-07]
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