Jazz Articles about Pierre Favre

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Pierre Favre / Samuel Blaser: Vol A Voile

by Nic Jones
November 25, 2010

On one level, this program of trombone and drums duets possesses very little in the way of the sound of surprise, once the ear becomes accustomed to the sparseness of the lineup. Perhaps inevitably, this means that for all their obvious empathy, the musicians don't really grab the moment, nor do they ruffle the surface calm of the music they make. In view of the promise sometimes tantalizingly shown, this makes for a frustrating listen. Of the ...

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Pierre Favre: Fleuve

by Budd Kopman
July 30, 2007

With Fleuve, drummer and percussionist Pierre Favre demonstrates that not only is he a master of his instrument, but he also has complete command in the fields of composition and arrangement.

The music dances (often literally), and is light, airy and transparent. Favre seems to go out of his way to choose instrumentation that works against such a result by being bottom-heavy: acoustic and electric bass, tuba, serpent and bass clarinet are included. However, to lighten things, soprano saxophone is ...

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Robin Williamson: The Iron Stone

by John Kelman
April 25, 2007

Scottish singer/multi-instrumentalist Robin Williamson continues to mine the nexus of traditional song and free improvisation on The Iron Stone. Back from Skirting the River Road (ECM, 2002) are Mat Maneri (viola and Hardanger fiddle) and Swedish traditionalist Ale Möller (on a plethora of instruments plucked, pressed or blown), while renowned bassist Barre Phillips makes his first appearance with Williamson. Departing from Skirting's verse by Walt Whitman, William Blake and Henry Vaughan, Williamson looks to Walter Raleigh, Thomas Wyatt, John Clare ...

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Pierre Favre Ensemble: Fleuve

by John Kelman
April 18, 2007

It's hard to imagine that a group as bottom-heavy as percussionist Pierre Favre's new ensemble could actually sound light and ethereal. But Fleuve does just that. With a septet featuring two basses, tuba/serpent, percussion and, at times, bass clarinet, there's no shortage of warmth and depth. But with guitar, harp and soprano saxophone fleshing out the middle and top end, Fleuve manages to have both weight and an airy ambience that works, in no small part, due to Favre's carefully ...

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Pierre Favre: Saxophones

by Rex Butters
September 9, 2004

Pierre Favre has an interesting resume. Starting out with names like Lil Hardin Armstrong in the '50s, Favre drummed for Bud Powell, Booker Ervin, and other boppers before going free with the likes of Peter Kowald, Evan Parker, Peter Brötzmann, and John Surman. On his new release with the ARTE Quartet saxophones, with Michel Godard adding tuba and serpent, Favre utilizes parallel motion in arranging the horns resulting in a sound that, while modern, references haunting holy choral music of ...

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Pierre Favre on Intakt

by A. Henkin
August 12, 2004

One of the most important skills contributing to the longevity of an improvising musician's career is versatility. A look at several successful examples demonstrates a commitment to adaptability: Evan Parker, William Parker, Kenny Wheeler, Anthony Braxton. Two new albums by venerable Swiss drummer Pierre Favre, one an improvised duet and the other a carefully sculpted quasi-sextet session, show why he has managed to remain relevant since the early '60s while so many others wallow in their back catalogue.

Pierre Favre ...

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Pierre Favre: European Chamber Ensemble

by Glenn Astarita
January 1, 2001

Pierre Favre is not only one of the most musically minded freelance drummers in modern jazz yet also leads the charmingly inventive quartet known as “Singing Drums”. And with his latest endeavor titled European Chamber Ensemble, the maestro extends his quartet with the addition of a dual string section, guitar and bass.

Favre and fellow percussionist Lucas Niggli steer the octet through a series of thoroughly memorable pieces that serve as paradigms for predominately contrasting elements. Yet the leader’s visions ...