Jazz Articles about Jean-Michel Pilc

Jean-Michel Pilc: New Dreams

by Laurel Gross
October 14, 2007

Like a master builder, pianist Jean-Michel Pilc constructs and reconstructs, but instead of fixed or stable edifices his creations are more like castles in the air. All the better. There's nothing stiff or rigid about what he makes through his playing and composing so there's room for listeners to breathe as they explore these new spaces with him. If all this sounds a bit strange, just listen to New Dreams. Move along with him note to note, ...

Jean-Michel Pilc: Live At Iridium, New York

by Budd Kopman
December 13, 2005

If you have heard Jean-Michel Pilc live or on record, you will know that Live At Iridium, New York may bring goosebumps. Together, the tracks represent an excellent splicing job of tunes from sets over three nights in October 2004 to make up what sounds like one set. The record will almost certainly make you say, “Man, I wish I had been there! The energy of the trio is amazing and so is the stamina on display, ...

Jean-Michel Pilc: Live at Iridium, New York

by Brian P. Lonergan
November 16, 2005

French pianist Jean-Michel Pilc has composed some attractive music in his decade in New York, and he is a dynamic improviser as well. On Live at Iridium, New York, recorded in the fall of 2004, the latter quality is most prominent. Live at Iridium is the first recording featuring Pilc's new trio with bassist Thomas Bramerie and the thundering drummer Mark Mondesir. The first half of the record is largely a showcase for a suite of Thelonious ...

Jean-Michel Pilc Trio at The Jazz Bakery

by Jim Santella
March 28, 2005

The Jazz Bakery Los Angeles, California March 18, 2005

One influential factor in the winning formula that pianist Jean-Michel Pilc has adopted for his modern mainstream trio is the eye to eye contact that the threesome utilizes continuously. Drummer Tony Moreno had set up his kit so that he faced the pianist throughout the evening. Similarly, bassist Darek Oles positioned himself so that he could maintain eye contact for their Jazz Bakery concert set. With this ...

Jean-Michel Pilc: Follow Me

by Andrew Durkin
January 8, 2005

Given the Francophobia that has reared its ugly head in American politics over the last few years, it's a relief to see that Stateside jazz fans, at least, are still open to the contributions of European practitioners of the art form. So, for instance, Jean-Michel Pilc's latest CD, the somewhat generically named Follow Me , has been getting great reviews here in the States. And why shouldn't it? A former scientist, Pilc plays with a precision that in places is ...

Jean-Michel Pilc: Follow Me

by Ken Franckling
October 3, 2004

French pianist Jean-Michel Pilc has made a name for himself as an adventurous musical explorer. Follow Me is his first solo CD after four trio recordings and one large ensemble project. The opening title track is sort of an invitation to follow him through his many moods. He shows himself to be a musical sculptor, chipping away until he's left with what a tune means to him. “Follow Me" and “Happiness Seven"--among four originals scattered throughout the recording--are ...

Jean-Michel Pilc: Follow Me

by Jim Santella
September 11, 2004

A solo piano album is all about personal expression. The artist chooses to interpret with open harmony or denser measures, tightly packed or open wide. The rhythm, naturally, does not depend on teamwork. The artist is able to follow his muse freely.Pianist Jean-Michel Pilc captures the essence of jazz and blues; but he also permeates his interpretations with tinges of the classical music of a formative Western Europe. A native of Paris, the 45-year-old self-taught artist has been ...