Reviews « Misterioso

“ZEP TEPI” Randy Weston and His African Rhythms Trio (2006): CD Review and Commentary:

By Laurence Svirchev, on October 5th, 2013%

©Laurence Svirchev

With Zep Tepi Randy Weston demonstrates why he continues to be one of the elite musicians of the international stage. He has seen every change in the jazz world from the end of the swing and big band era, right through the be-bop period and the periods of free . . . → Read More: “ZEP TEPI” Randy Weston and His African Rhythms Trio (2006): CD Review and Commentary:

CD Review: Dortmund Variations, Evan Parker & Georg Graewe

By Laurence Svirchev, on September 22nd, 2013%

©Laurence Svirchev

Dortmund Variations is a recording of a 2010 improvised concert between Evan Parker and Georg Graewe in Dortmund, Germany. In three spontaneous compositions, simply titled Dortmund Variation 1, II, and III, Parker and Graewe’s music-making is a series of immaculately-conceived preternatural confluences. Their communication at a . . . → Read More: CD Review: Dortmund Variations, Evan Parker & Georg Graewe

Concert review: Benoît Delbecq-François Houle-Marc Ducret TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival 2012

By Laurence Svirchev, on February 14th, 2013%

Benoît Delbecq delivered his introduction to the trio gig with his usual charm, grace, and wit through his huge handsome smile by recounting his history of working with François Houle and Marc Ducret. But never before had they played as a trio. When he told the Iron Works audience it . . . → Read More: Concert review: Benoît Delbecq-François Houle-Marc Ducret TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival 2012

Pierre Dørge & New Jungle Orchestra: Sketches of India

By Laurence Svirchev, on October 13th, 2012%

©Laurence Svirchev

Sketches of India is a musical travelogue that shimmers with mosaical scenes of intense beauty, contemplative emotion, and spectral landscapes. Dørge’s approach to this CD is to integrate and differentiate the forms of Indian music with the jazz forms he is intimate with. Having traveled for decades to all the human-occupied . . . → Read More: Pierre Dørge & New Jungle Orchestra: Sketches of India

Benoît Delbecq and François Houle: Because She Hoped

By Laurence Svirchev, on May 15th, 2012%

©Laurence@Ssvirchev.com

Because She Hoped is the third duo recording by Benoît Delbecq and François Houle. The series, each on the Songlines label, began in 1997 with Nancali and continued with Dice Thrown in 2002. Complimentary recordings exist with Evan Parker on Parker’s Psi label and the Delbecq 5 (Songlines). Their association . . . → Read More: Benoît Delbecq and François Houle: Because She Hoped

“Haywire” by Thomas Chapin Trio plus Strings (Knitting Factory Works 174)

By Laurence Svirchev, on February 13th, 2012%

©Laurence Svirchev

Thomas Chapin continues to expand his repertoire with the addition of a bass, cello, and violin ensemble to his working trio of Mario Pavone (bass) and Michael Sarin (drums). Recorded in front of a New York audience at the Knitting Factory, the CD consists of a five piece suite . . . → Read More: “Haywire” by Thomas Chapin Trio plus Strings (Knitting Factory Works 174)

“Menagerie Dreams” by Thomas Chapin Trio (Knitting Factory Works 167)

By Laurence Svirchev, on February 13th, 2012%

©Laurence M Svirchev

Menagerie Dreams is a barn-yard affair with squawking chickens, honking hogs, and swaggering monkeys boozing it up. The Chapin Trio (Mario Pavone, bass; Michael Sarin, drums) form a frenetic company, playing with an abandon that threatens to tip them right over the musical edge. But they never . . . → Read More: “Menagerie Dreams” by Thomas Chapin Trio (Knitting Factory Works 167)

“Aerials” by François Houle Solo Improvisations for Clarinets

By Laurence Svirchev, on February 13th, 2012%

www.dripaudio.com, www.francoishoule.ca/

©Laurence Svirchev

The career pathway of clarinetist/composer François Houle has been variegated in the extreme, a continuum of explorations into a broad range of musics. A selection of his congruously eclectic CDs include the compositions of American clarinet genius John Carter, duo collaborations with . . . → Read More: “Aerials” by François Houle Solo Improvisations for Clarinets

“Bow River Falls” by Dave Douglas, Louis Sclavis, Peggy Lee, Dylan van der Schyff (Premonition Records 0765)

By Laurence Svirchev, on February 13th, 2012%

©laurence@ssvirchev.com

Proverb: “The best people meet in the best places.” That seems to be the case with Douglas (USA), Sclavis (France), Lee and van der Schyff (Canada). Each musician tours inter-continentally and all four have musical passports that render them immune to being policed by the border check-points of stylistic differences. While they . . . → Read More: “Bow River Falls” by Dave Douglas, Louis Sclavis, Peggy Lee, Dylan van der Schyff (Premonition Records 0765)

“Au Coeur du Litige” François Houle (Spool SPF 302)

By Laurence Svirchev, on February 13th, 2012%

©Laurence Svirchev

The artistic work of François Houle advances so quickly that each new release is a surprise package with no overt references to previous recordings After acknowledging his debt to clarinetist John Carter with In the Vernacular (Songlines), Houle has now published a singular creation, Au Coeur du Litige (At . . . → Read More: “Au Coeur du Litige” François Houle (Spool SPF 302)