Romain Collin: Unearthing A Sound

Ian Patterson

Senior Contributor since 2006

Ian is dedicated to the promotion of jazz and all creative music all over the world, and to catching just a little piece of it for himself.

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Published: July 3, 2012

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Romain Collin AAJ: There are a couple of tracks on the CD—"Greyshot" and "Aftermath"—that have an elegiac, almost hymnal quality, particularly on the latter. Has church music influenced you much?

RC: I love church music, and when I say church music I'm not only talking about gospel music—which I absolutely love—but also church music in the baroque sense, which I also love. I love Bach's chorals. It has certainly been a great influence on my music and my writing. The sound really moves me and it's a very important part of what I do. I'm glad you asked me that because these are tunes that people don't mention too much, but those are sounds that I relate to strongly emotionally.

AAJ: The closing track, "One Last Try" is an absolutely gorgeous, melodic composition. Was that the obvious closing tune from the outset for you? How did this tune come to you? RC: It came to me very easily and quickly. I just sat down at the piano and I pretty much improvised it from beginning to end, about 90% of it. Then I just fine-tuned little things here and there but it worked out pretty organically. As for it being the last track on the record, yeah. It stops time a little bit and I felt that it would be strange to have this track followed by anything. I like records that tell a story and make you feel as though you've been on a journey and in that sense it's very important to program tunes the right way. It's an interesting contrast to the opener and I thought it was a nice way to end the journey.

AAJ: It's a great journey. Are you touring to support the The Calling? What are your upcoming plans?

RC: I've been touring for the record quite a bit in the States and in Europe and I'll be doing more touring in the States and again in Europe later in the year. It's a great privilege to be able to play to an audience. I always give it 100% and give it all my energy. It's really exciting to perform with the trio and I'll keep doing it.

Selected Discography

Romain Collin, The Calling (Palmetto Records, 2012)
Romain Collin, The Rise and Fall of Pipokhun (Fresh Sound New Talent, 2009)
Tony Grey, Unknown Angels (Obliqsound, 2009)
Robby Marshall Group, Living Electric (RMG,2008)
Thelonious Monk Institute Band, Nothing But Love (TMIJ,2007)
Various Artists, Mysterious Voyages—A Tribute to Weather Report (ESC Records, 2005)
Tony Grey, Moving (Self Produced, 2004)