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Pierre de Bethmann: Ilium Quintet
ByBethmann founded the group Ilium in 2001, a quintet based on the sound of the Fender Rhodes piano surrounded, except for guitar, by acoustic instruments. He is joined by 30-year-old saxophonist David El Malek, a quartet leader in his own right; Michael Felberbaum, an American guitarist based in Paris since 1991; Clovis Nicolas, a 28-year-old bassist who has played in the Belmondo Quintet and the Baptiste Trotignon Trio; and Franck Agulhon, who has performed regularly with Bireli Lagrène, Stefano di Battista, and others. This is the group’s debut recording.
The CD is a classy album of tight, precise, funky harmonic fusion, the kind of music that one envisioned might have grown out of the classic sessions of Miles Davis, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, John McLaughlin, Wayne Shorter, and Joe Zawinul. It shows what can happen when solid musicians play an original repertoire that is written specifically for the group and constantly reworked over a period of two years. In his hands, Bethmann’s electric piano does not sound dated; its output is as fresh, current and crusty as a baguette. El Malek is creative, inventive, and imaginative; his ideas flow in a nearly uninterrupted stream. Interplay between the instruments is as smooth as brie.
So once again we have to hand it to the French. They certainly do have a way with our American art form...
Visit www.effendirecords.qc.ca
Track Listing
Volseau; K.I.S.S.; Ing
Personnel
Pierre de Bethmann
keyboardsPierre de Bethmann (Fender Rhodes piano), David El Malek (tenor sax), Michael Felberbaum (guitar), Clovis Nicolas (bass), and Franck Agulhon (drums)
Album information
Title: Ilium Quintet | Year Released: 2003 | Record Label: Effendi Records
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Saxophonist Dave Schnitter
Comments
About Pierre de Bethmann
Instrument: Keyboards
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