Jazz Articles about Joëlle Léandre

Joëlle Leandre / Francois Houle / Raymond Strid: Last Seen Headed: Live at Sons d'Hiver

by Eyal Hareuveni
June 4, 2010

It is always amazing, but also reassuring, to realize how three creative and resourceful musicians--French bassist Joëlle Léandre, Canadian clarinetist François Houle and Swedish drummer Raymond Strid-- can produce such a masterful piece of art out of a spontaneous free-improvised meeting. Obviously, all three have shared the same stage or studio in the past, most recently on 9 Momemts (Red Toucan, 2006), and are masters in free improvisation--in solo formats or in assorted ad-hoc outfits--but still, each new collaboration sounds ...

Joelle Leandre / Maguelone Vidal / Raymond Boni: trace

by Jerry D'Souza
November 26, 2009

Improvised music is created on the spur of the moment, the players looking for the common thread from which they can go in different directions as they spin their story. The logic of continuity is integral, even if they build it in pieces that may at first seem incongruent. Bassist/vocalist Joëlle Léandre, saxophonist/vocalist Maguelone Vidal and guitarist Raymond Boni blend their instruments and imaginations, delving into the unusual and fathoming the unexpected. The end result is fascinating.

Léandre ...

Joelle Leandre: Duos with William Parker and George Lewis

by Eyal Hareuveni
October 24, 2009

French double bassist Joelle Leandre needs no introduction. She has gained a legendary status as one of the best free improvisors of recent decades, always ready for new challenges and opportunities to perfect her art. These two arresting recordings, both totally improvised, with close comrades double bassist William Parker and trombone player George Lewis, offer two different angles on such well-fulfilled opportunities.

Joelle Leandre & William Parker Live At Dunois Leo Records 2009

Since ...

Joelle Leandre / George Lewis: Transatlantic Visions

by John Sharpe
October 23, 2009

Joelle Leandre / George Lewis: Transatlantic Visions

by Stuart Broomer
October 7, 2009

Recorded at Vision Festival XIII in 2008, this pairing of French bassist Joelle Léandre and American trombonist George Lewis brings together two of the most gifted and committed musicians in improvised music. They've been acquainted since the '70s and distinguished themselves as duo improvisers in the best company. (Among their individual highlights are the former's duets with Derek Bailey and Steve Lacy and the latter's with Anthony Braxton and Evan Parker). The intense commitment with which they ...

Joelle Leandre & Barre Phillips: A l'improviste

by Nic Jones
December 19, 2008

Both Joelle Leandre and Barre Phillips are bass players who carry a wealth of experience around with them, and they bring it to bear so effectively on A l'improviste that the limitations in sonic and timbrel range implied by a program by such a duo is never an issue. Both musicians are similarly alert to the range of sound their instrument has to offer and both are abundantly equipped to exploit it.

One need hear no ...

Joelle Leandre: Basse continue

by Eyal Hareuveni
December 1, 2008

Joelle Leandre: Basse continue Hors Oeil Editions 2008

2008 was a good year for French bass master Joelle Leandre: a biographical book A voix basse, assembling her talks with journalist and producer Frank Medioni; excellent discs, with bass comrade Barre Phillips--A l'improviste (Kadima Collective), with reed player Akosh S.--KOR (Leo), her Stone Quartet (DMG); and a recent documentation of her 2007 tour in Israel--Live In Israel (Kadima Collective). And now this remarkable documentary film, ...