Olivier Collette: De l'Aube au Crepuscule

De l'Aube au Crepuscule is a most thoroughly Belgian release, with all liner note information in French, so I can't provide you with any background on the musicians or compositions. However, previous mental conditioning is linking "Crepescule" with "Nellie" (Thelonious Monk, 1946) and advising me that this record is worthy of your attention.

Pianist Olivier Collette is the composer and arranger of these thirteen songs. His ten piece combo is augmented with strings on a few tracks. The album starts off in a rather prosaic fashion with "De l'Aube" and "Peaceful Dance," featuring a soprano sax melody from Bart Defoort that sounds like smooth jazz. However, on "Phenix," the same Mr. Defoort's tenor sax is appreciably better. On "Arabesque," Olivier Ker Ourio plays a very Toots Thielemans-like harmonica with the addition of a string quartet. Mr.Ourio is also featured on "Tango Solitude" and again is in harmony with the tango dance arrangement. Defort gets his best tenor sax opportunity on "Cath's Song," which heats up the combo.

This 70 minute sojourn to Benelux provides interesting textures and tends to catch you off guard after the first two tracks. I did go back and re-listen to them and will stay with my original statement. The use of the string quartet and harmonica strategically placed, along with the tenor sax solos, keeps you wondering what the next musical direction will be. The tunes themselves are diverting and subtle.

This CD is available from www.jazzvalley.com .