Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Michel Doneda: Anatomie des clefs

134

Michel Doneda: Anatomie des clefs

By

Sign in to view read count
Michel Doneda: Anatomie des clefs
On “Anatomie des clefs”, Michel Doneda presents himself as a one man “idea-factory”. Doneda, a highly regarded European improviser performs solo soprano sax within the framework of 3 lengthy pieces. Doneda’s resume is quite impressive. Extensive work with bassist Barre Philipps, guitarist Elliot Sharp, saxophonist Lol Coxhill, collaborations with actors, poets and improvisational institutions in France.

The opener “Creux actif” is a 31 minute piece which features the hypnotic blowing sound of air flowing through his soprano sax transcending into squeaks and trills while also suggesting imagery of clanking and grinding steel. The outer limits of the soprano are attained via Doneda’s subtle manipulations. Doneda’s charter is to exploit the sonic capabilities of the soprano sax. He frequently utilizes vibrato and circular breathing techniques to accentuate his appealing motifs. No place to hide here. Doneda is a one-man band using the soprano as a tool to implement scintillating and thought provoking themes that prod one’s imagination in a captivating manner. On “Bloc D’air”, Doneda meticulously crafts polytonal sounds in tandem with frenetic lightning fast runs that evoke thoughts of crowded places or big city traffic jams. The final cut “Portees divisees” explores delicate whispers, gruff tones and exhibits microtonal sounds.

The soprano saxophone may never seem the same after hearing “Anatomie des clefs”. Doneda’s uniqueness lies within his ability to blend abstractions, unusual sounds and firmly envisioned concepts into concrete, cohesive statements that incites listener participation.

Personnel

Michel Doneda
saxophone, soprano

Album information

Title: Anatomie des clefs | Year Released: 1999 | Record Label: Potlatch Records

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio
Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.