Sleeping Cats

Pau Moltó
Duration: 06:30
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There’s a fresh approach to enjoy and inspire on the tune “Sleeping Cats.” The French Horn Jazz Project is comprised of piano / upright bass / drum kit plus a flugelhorn and French horn (the latter played by Pau Moltó). The two horns provide similar ranges and sonority, so the ensemble’s success is due to their overall blend and the beauty of the melody. When one searches the Web, comments about using a French horn in jazz range from “no one ever encouraged me” to “it’s next to impossible.” One technical reason given are “close partials” -- slight differences in embouchure generating different notes (harmonics) in the upper register, making accuracy difficult. Then there’s a “legato tendency,” or a great sound when played smoothly, unlike the attacks, slurs, and swing of, say, a trumpet. Despite these challenges, a few French horn jazz masters emerged, such as Julius Watkins who gigged with Monk, Coltrane, and Davis.

Posted by Scott Lichtman.