Octobre 2010 - La Scena Musicale

MUSIQUES à
VOIR AU OFF
et à ENTENDRE
PAR APRÈS
Si l’Off Jazz donne l’occasion aux
musiciens de chez nous de faire
entendre en concert leurs productions
endisquées (comme les deux titres de
la page précédente), il permet aussi à
d’autres de lancer un album. À ce chapitre,
la manne sera particulièrement bien remplie,
avec pas moins de sept nouveaux
titres présentés en huit jours de festivités.
Menant le bal, l’étiquette Effendi ajoutera
trois autre compacts à son catalogue florissant,
en l’occurrence: le troisième album
du collectif Jazz Lab Octo Portraits (lun.
18, Sala Rossa), la chanteuse Sonia
Johnson et Le carré de nos amours (mar. 19,
Dièse Onze) puis Chorégraphie d’Yves
Léveillé (mar. 19, Sala Rossa). Dans un
registre jazz néogitan (avec saxo et trompette),
Maânouche Swing présentera
Montréal Jazz-Up (sur Étiquette Fidelio),
le vendredi 22 au Dièse Onze. Dans la
même soirée, l’ex-Montréalaise, la flûtiste
et saxo ténor Anna Webber, arrivera en
direct de la Mecque du jazz avec Third
Floor People (sur Nowt Records), sa formation
à deux saxos, guitare et batterie se
produisant à la Sala Rossa. Pour terminer,
le concert de clôture du lendemain sera à
lui seul un double lancement, commençant
par Paris Jazz Underground du batteur
Karl Jannuska, puis Tremblement de Fer de
Pierre Labbé (sur Ambiances magnétiques).
Voilà sept autres bonnes raisons de
faire un tour à cet événement qui tient son
jazz à cœur.
MC
CANADIAN
CAPERS
David Beckett
40 OCTOBRE 2010 OCTOBER
Admittedly, the sample is miniscule. But to
judge solely from these three new items under
review, jazz in Canada’s three main centers is
vibrant, exciting and healthy!
Joe Sullivan: Voices
Effendi 099 www.effendirecords.com
★★★★★✩
Although known for his
big band, and active as a
teacher of jazz composition
and big band orchestration
at McGill,
Montreal trumpet player
Joe Sullivan fronts a sextet
in his latest offering.
Though its title is Voices, Sullivan could have
called it “Rainy Streets” because so many of the
pieces have a Film Noir quality to them. While
there are three up-tempo numbers here, the predominant
mood is one of a lovely melancholy.
The leader has studied classical trumpet, and his
technique is so good, it’s hard to tell his trumpet
from his fluegelhorn. This sort of warm brass
tone is perfect for the material, expertly played
by some of the city’s finest, ie. pianist André
White, drummer Dave Laing, and saxophone
player André Leroux who contributes excellent
solos and incisive ensemble work on both tenor
and soprano. Bassist Alec Walkington, and Jean
Fréchette on baritone sax round out the band
and chip in with fine solos. Voices rewards close
listening, but can also be recommended for its
mood. If Joe Sullivan hasn’t been asked to score a
film yet, he shouldn’t be surprised if the phone
rings one day with an offer.
Richard Underhill: Free Spirit
Stubby Records 7734 www.richardunderhill.com
★★★★★✩
For years, alto saxophonist
Richard Underhill has
been the driving force
behind the crowd pleasing
Shuffle Demons, but
he’s also been recording
albums under his own
name. His latest yearlong
labour of love, Free Spirit, is a combination
of a terrific studio CD, and an exciting
performance DVD, recorded live at Toronto’s
Lula Lounge. The studio side is an energetic
affair driven by pianist Dave Restivo, bassist
Artie Roth, and drummer Larnell Lewis, or Sly
Juhas on three of the tracks. Ron Westray
rounds out the personnel here and adds a lot to
both recordings. Best known as lead trombonist
of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Westray is
a fluent and exciting player who holds an
endowed chair of jazz studies at York University,
created in memory of Oscar Peterson. The live
set offers a few extra angles; Restivo plays
Fender Rhodes on a couple of tunes, elsewhere
former Montreal guitarist Eric St-Laurent takes
over, but both play together on “Be Strong, Be
Strong”, and share solo duties with the leader.
Michael DeQuevedo on djembe makes an
appearance on the final number. This live date
is so enjoyable it’s tempting to consider the
equally fine audio CD a bonus. The whole band
performs passionately in the lovely club. The
camera work and video editing are world class
too, never detracting from the music. Drummer
Larnell Lewis shines throughout for his alert
attention to the rest of the players. Watching
him listen to, comment on, and support the
other players with his quick-witted drumming is a
master class of sorts well worth the price of this
two-disc set. Let’s hope this DVD makes the
rounds, for the benefit of all the players and the
drummer in particular.
Chris Davis: Baile Bonita
Cellar Live CL020510 www.cellarlive.com
★★★★★✩
Trumpeter Chris Davis’
second recording for
Vancouver’s Cellar Live
label is a delightful studio
date. Though he’s
from Florida, this talented
newcomer is making
his way as a mainstay in
his adoptive city. There’s no piano on Baile
Bonita, which poses a challenge for the
musicians but an opportunity as well. Both the
leader and altoist Ian Hendrickson-Smith meet
that challenge by taking every opportunity to
play counterpoint and harmony on the heads
of each piece. Someone should proudly take
credit for this in this small group. This disc is
the antithesis of a “blowing date” with long
and self-indulgent solos on well-worn tunes.
Instead it’s spare, swinging, and hip, an
example of well-written and carefully
arranged originals played with joy and spirit.