
Sylvie Courvoisier (piano)
Ikue Mori (electronics)
Tyshawn Sorey (drums)
Joelle Leandre (bass)
Quand le dernier arbre aura été abattu, quand la dernière rivière aura été empoisonnée, quand le dernier poisson aura été pêché... Alors, on saura que l’argent ne se mange pas. GERONIMO



This new release titled, Ocre: “Y2K” features quite a distinguished cast! - A Trio consisting of Swiss modern jazz pianist Sylvie Courvoisier, tuba and serpent performer Michel Godard and Pierre Charial who utilizes that sound machine known as the barrel organ. As some might already surmise, the musical format portrayed on this new release does indicate or allude to a rather improbable setting. Here, the musician’s cultivate a groove and sound that might seem indigenous to something or somewhere although when viewed as a whole, the Trio do indeed carve out a series of adventurously surrealistic grooves that for the most part, seem unclassifiable or a tad eccentric.
The title piece, “Y2K” features engrossing and albeit somewhat bizarre cyclic unison choruses and rapid flurries by both Courvoisier and Charial as Godard dutifully handles the rhythmic flow via his fleet-fingered and at times amazingly fast lead soloing. The musician’s exchange rapidly executed lines amid two or three way dialogue while integrating kaleidoscopic themes that often invoke notions of being at a circus or perhaps listening to the soundtrack of a Fellini film........ The composition titled “Mutant”, hits you with mechanical-like velocity as Courvoisier also implements huge block chords in conjunction with Charial’s speed demon approach to the barrel organ. At times, the music conveys a festive atmosphere, complete with abrupt shifts in tempo and whirling dervish-like interplay along with twists, turns and an assortment of perplexities.
With Ocre: “Y2K” Sylvie Courvoisier and her equally adept musical constituents have produced a thoroughly interesting and quite entertaining effort. However, it is possible to draw an analogy, which might be something like – blinking your eye while driving through a small country town. We must reemphasize that “speed” is an overriding factor throughout the duration of this project. Therefore, it is easy to get a bit lost here, without giving your undivided attention to the overall thrust and vigor exhibited within the context of these compositions. Sort of like driving through that small town – If you blink your eye or in this case, become distracted you’ll surely miss something. Essentially, Ocre: “Y2K” is an imposing yet often breathtaking artistic achievement....









Rappel des faits : quand en 1994 est publié par le label japonais DIW, Alef, le premier volume du Masada Quartet (John Zorn, Dave Douglas, Greg Cohen, Joey Baron), la critique souligne à juste titre l'intensité de cette musique à mi-chemin entre tradition klezmer et harmolodie colemanienne. Neuf autres volumes verront le jour puis se serra au tour des enregistrements live et autres produits dérivés (Masada String Trio, Masada électrique, Masada acoustique, Masada guitars, Masada electro-bruitiste...). La saga Masada fête sa dixième année d'existence (chipotons un peu ; la première trace recensée de Masada remonte à septembre 1993) et pléthore d'enregistrements sont d'ores et déjà annoncés. Le Masada Recital est sans nul doute le projet le plus ambitieux et le plus convaincant de la série.
En donnant carte blanche à Mark Feldman et Sylvie Courvoisier, John Zorn se doutait-il que ses compositions allaient être à ce point transformées, métamorphosées ? Mark Feldman est un violoniste virtuose, un improvisateur né et un mélodiste hors pair. Tantôt tendre et nostalgique (Mashav), tantôt aiguisant ses ergots pour mieux déchirer et reconstruire la partition (Malkut entre chocs brutaux et humour noir), nous découvrons ici un soliste particulièrement inspiré. Sylvie Courvoisier, plus sombre et nocturne que d'ordinaire, cisèle douze bijoux impressionnistes. Ici, elle préfère nourrir l'espace de notes espacées et néanmoins récursives, ossature faussement fragile sur laquelle peuvent s'exprimer les folles élucubrations de son partenaire. Non dénué d'humour (Abidan et ses faux airs d'Ennio Morricone, l'un des compositeurs préférés de Zorn, faut-il le rappeler ?), cette Masada déboussolera quelque peu les fans de Zorn. Mais il est vrai qu'ils commencent à avoir l'habitude.
(lien là où vous savez)






«...That her music is as aesthetically beautiful as it is strange and mysterious is only further testament to her prowess as a composer. That this trio plays her music as if it has been creating it from the air is nothing short of remarkable. Abaton is Courvoisier's crowning achievement thus far, and this group points her firmly forward in a direction where everything is still possible, demonstrating that there is something new under the sun in classical music and improvisation. Perhaps Abaton is the great moment of 2003 for new classical music.»
Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
«Courvoisier's playing is jaw-dropping at times, and there's an extended passage that features her working both inside and on the keyboard of the piano interacting with Rainey and the others in subtle combinations, and working up to a terrifying free jazz piano freakout that could make a person faint!»
Michael Anton Parker, 2005
«This highly original and new music has it all: razor-sharp edges, sounds of a thousand dancing needles, thundering power arising from deeply yawning chasms, mystic fluorescence throughout, calmness combined with a mysterious kind of moving»
Henning Bolte, 5/2007
Je n'ai pas la liste des titres. Si vous trouvez des ressemblances avec d'autres titres connus, vous pouvez en faire part, en passant.
(liens là où vous savez)
