Jazz Articles about Erik Truffaz

Erik Truffaz in Tampere: Fusion for the 21st Century

by Matthew Wuethrich
November 12, 2003

Old Customs Hall Tampere, Finland October 31, 2003

The Erik Truffaz 4tet wears two faces. One screams, “Fusion Lives!" and the other whispers in hushed tones. But after 90 minutes it becomes clear which mask they prefer-the full-out, ear-splitting fusion. Most of their eight-song set consists of open-ended jams that show both brilliant flashes and tedious moments, often coming in rapid succession on the same tune.

The 4tet display many exciting ideas, most of ...

Erik Truffaz: The Walk of the Giant Turtle

by Mark F. Turner
May 6, 2003

French trumpeter Erik Truffaz proves again to be a jazz non-conformist on his fourth US Blue Note release, where he exploits the musical elements of hard rock, funk, psychedelia, dance, and jazz in grand fashion. On last year's notable Mantis, which featured nice guitar work, Arab vocals, and unusual instruments, he showed no fear in blurring the boundaries of various musical genres. The similarities to Miles Davis fusion works are unmistakable; and like Miles, Truffaz seems to be somewhat of ...

Erik Truffaz: The Walk Of The Giant Turtle

by Jim Santella
May 2, 2003

With the tension of his muted trumpet and the release of his open horn, Erik Truffaz walks on the back of a giant turtle representing planet Earth. His hip creations traverse continents as well as history. While jazz and electric fusion have remained faithful soul mates for over 30 years, the popular mix has always represented a thorn in the side of loyal, straight-ahead devotees. Most of the recordings issued by Miles Davis after 1969, after all, still pose questions ...

Erik Truffaz: Mantis

by Jim Santella
April 12, 2002

Finding his own voice through clarion sounds and original ideas, French trumpeter Erik Truffaz brings a fresh, contemporary performance to the jazz scene. Hip-hop rhythms combine with New Orleans shuffles. Spoken word rhythms pump up the jam. Finally emerging from the powerful influence of Miles Davis, Truffaz lays his own brand of cool jazz out for a world audience to enjoy. By adding Tunisian singer Mounir Troudi to one piece and bringing in oud virtuoso Anour Brahem for another, he ...

Erik Truffaz: Mantis

by Javier AQ Ortiz
April 12, 2002

The innate concord between representation and abstraction, the crucial breakthrough of 20th Century art, palpable in the work of Picasso, Matisse and Klee, has a musical counterpoint in jazz recordings such as Mantis. The quartet is Truffaz’s medium and with the support of three noteworthy musicians, of which guitarist Manu Codjia receives the most attention soloing, he manages to parlay his low to mid register brand of trumpet playing into a captivating acoustic proposal.

At times, Truffaz’s blowing technique is ...

Erik Truffaz: Revisit

by Jim Santella
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 ...

Erik Truffaz: The Mask

by Jim Santella
July 1, 2000

Erik Truffaz’ sweet, open trumpet tone reveals the influence of a 1970s Miles Davis. The Fender Rhodes with echo serves to drive that message home. Most of the compilation employs acoustic bass and a tasteful drummer in the mainstream jazz tradition. However, it’s the French trumpeter’s intimacy with Davis’ fusion periods that takes center stage. From the small town of Gex, ten miles from the French/Swiss border, Truffaz got his early training working with his father’s dance band. His formal ...