Here we fall from the sky on the 12the record by the 66-year-old pianist and composer who is back at ease in the jazz trio, geometry of the first LPs released since 1985 and who has returned to service on an ad hoc basis over the years.
The erudite acrobat of notes of ivory and ebony always has both hands full when she rubs shoulders with her two precious acolytes who follow her in her controlled skids and her impressionist aspirations. Alec Walkington on double bass, with his master’s degree in jazz obtained at McGill in 1996, benefited from the knowledge of two monsters of the instrument, Michel Donato and Dave Young. On the drums, it is also noted. Camil Bélisle has 30 years of jazz in his drumsticks. His participation in shows Live Jazz and Jazz Beat on the airwaves of our public radio gives an idea of the forces involved. These two are not pinpins!
Lorraine Desmarais has composed several film scores for the NFB and the eight movements over more than 43 minutes of Street Beat Suite evoke landscapes, but also tributes to two jazz greats with whom she has already played: Paquito is one of them. Cuban alto saxophonist and ex-Irakere Paquito D’Rivera has been on Montreal soil a few times. As for the title The President loves Chickit’s obviously Chick Corea and Barack Obama that we’re talking about here.
From the first clusters of notes ofburnt orange, which reminds her of a sunset in Rimouski, we feel the pianist more emotional, more dreamy. same for me sea promenade. If it seems tedious in execution, it is far from being incompatible with pleasure. The title track is New Orleans to the core and its funky cadence is reminiscent of Dr John or Art Neville. It’s instrumental, but it feels good in the buffet. Jam Session, which extends over more than eight minutes, reveals a piano playing that gives off a strong personality. It doesn’t lack body or density!
Recorded last July, Street Beat Suite is one of the good surprises of the moment.
Jazz
Street Beat Suite
Lorraine Desmarais Jazz Trio
Analekta