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Jazz Articles about Jean-Michel Pilc
Stephane Wrembel: Triptych, featuring Jean-Michel Pilc
by Scott Gudell
If Stephane Wrembel's early influences partially evolved from guitarists in classic rock bands such as Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin, it was not long before the French-born guitarist was drawn forever to the creative and romantic sounds of gypsy jazz master guitarist Django Reinhardt. Elements of Reinhardt's often brisk style would drift in and out of many of Wrembel's releases. Dreamers of Dreams, his 2014 release (Water Is Life Records, the artist's label), featured not only stand out cuts such ...
Continue ReadingSam Newsome, Jean-Michel Pilc: Cosmic Unconsciousness Unplugged
by Neri Pollastri
Talentuosissimi strumentisti ed eccellenti improvvisatori, Sam Newsome e Jean-Michel Pil tornano a registrare assieme a sei anni di distanza dal loro Magic Circle. E lo fanno con lo stesso spirito, cioè andando in studio senza scalette o programmi predefiniti, fidandosi dell'intesa consolidata e delle comuni preferenze, per snocciolare una serie di improvvisazioni alternate a storici standard, il tutto interpretato in modo estremamente personale anche grazie all'uso di “preparazioni" sui rispettivi strumenti. Quest'ultimo aspetto del lavoro viene valorizzato fin ...
Continue ReadingJD Walter: What the World Needs Now
by Pierre Giroux
JD Walter beckons listeners into a soulful and captivating journey through modern jazz interpretations of non-jazz material. With his unique vocal stylings and innovative arrangements, he brings a fresh perspective to familiar popular tunes, and several jazz standards, while delivering thought-provoking original compositions. From the very first track--Stevie Wonder's “Golden Lady"--it is evident that Walter's vocal prowess is a force to be reckoned with. He dashes along in full flight and then effortlessly shifts into intricate ...
Continue ReadingJean-Michel Pilc: Symphony
by Dan Bilawsky
On November 28, 2021, at the completion of a two-day recording session for Galician saxophonist Xose Miguélez's Contradictio (Origin, 2022) at CARA-OJM Studios in Matosinhos, Portugal, pianist Jean-Michel Pilc had a little time on his hands. And with a gorgeous Steinway right in front of him, beautiful acoustics in the room and engineer José Trincado at the ready to record, it proved to be the perfect opportunity to explore the moment. The result, a stunning statement on subliminal complexities and ...
Continue ReadingXose Miguélez: Contradictio
by Jane Kozhevnikova
After an album of Spanish-flavored original tunes, Ontology (Origin Records, 2019), Galicia-based saxophone Xose Miguélez releases Contradictio. Alongside Miguélez, the album features Jean-Michel Pilc on piano, Carlos Barretto on bass and Marcos Cavaleiro on drums. Both Miguélez and Pilc are listed as the album producers. The forceful energy of this great French pianist comes out in every tune. Unlike Ontology, Contradictio includes several jazz standards. “You and the Night and the Music," written by Arthur Schwartz, starts ...
Continue ReadingXose Miguelez: Contradictio
by Hrayr Attarian
Galician composer and saxophonist Xose Miguelez has established himself as a mainstay of the international jazz scene. His superb second release as leader, Contradictio, showcases his talents to the full. A taut quartet session, it consists of inventive originals and clever arrangements of standards. Well- versed in bop and his own ethnic music, Miguelez excitingly fuses both traditions. The warm, tense opener “Meniña" starts with bassist Carlos Barretto's dramatic refrains. Once the ensemble launches into the main theme ...
Continue ReadingJD Walter: Dressed in a Song
by Victor L. Schermer
JD Walter is a consummate vocalist who has devoted himself over many years to evolving a unique style that is nevertheless ensconced in the jazz tradition. The public relations sheet for this new CD states that “this is his first release since recovering from a life-threatening heart condition and surgeries on his heart and vocal cords." It states that this is a “comeback" record. That is a misnomer. In this recording, he takes the music to new levels of structure, ...
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