Erik Truffaz: Revisit�

Jim Santella

Senior Contributor since 1997

Jim Santella has been contributing CD reviews, concert reviews and DVD reviews to AAJ since 1997. His work has also appeared in Southland Blues, The L.A. Jazz Scene, and Cadence Magazine.

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Published: May 1, 2001

A remix album, Revisité brings back songs from last year's The Mask by trumpeter Erik Truffaz. They're presented through sensual images that have been "enhanced." Remixers Pierre Auditat, Pierre Henry, Bugge Wesseltoft, Alex Gopher and Gilles Peterson add rap, voice samples, scratches, whistles, fuzzy bass, throbbing bass & drumbeats — and they organize each selection with loops. It's eerie, at times.

Acid jazz makes a fine soundtrack. It's also suitable for dance clubs and for just hanging out. What makes Truffaz's remix album out of the ordinary is its close affinity to the later music of Miles Davis and the way his session has been altered to emphasize its "world jazz" nature. Native music from Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe and Australia appear side by side in a jazz context. The human voice assumes a percussive role, while harmony comes from many directions. The quartet's music is blurred, but not altogether ignored. A repetitive "hip-hop, hip-hop, hip-hop" spoken loop announces new directions. Ancient choral assemblies weave their messages around natural-sounding drum effects and lyrical synth melodies. Native drums, ethnic percussion and handmade wind instruments combine their voices with electric guitar and keyboard — two contemporary instruments that have made their way around the world.

At times, this remix album takes on a "Don't Worry, Be Happy" rhythmic mood. The music from Erik Truffaz's quartet, however, is strong enough to survive the predictability. Experimentation will lead jazz in many directions. We've got to try them out before we'll know which ones work best.

Track Listing: The Dawn; Less; Bending New Corners; More; Siegfried; Sweet Mercy; The Dawn (Part 2).

Personnel: Erik Truffaz: trumpet; Patrick Muller: piano, Fender Rhodes; Marcello Giuliani: bass; Marc Erbetta: drums, percussion.

Record Label: Blue Note Records
Style: Straight-ahead/Mainstream