Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Jean-Christophe Beney: Cassiop

177

Jean-Christophe Beney: Cassiop

By

Sign in to view read count
Jean-Christophe Beney: Cassiop
Jazz from outside the U.S.A. can bring in unexpected pleasures. Cassiopée offers unusual color and a marked departure from the usual parameters. This quartet of French musicians turns expectation into high satisfaction with their selection of tunes, all but one of which are originals.

They start off with the medium tempo swing of "Darn That Dream." The subtle permutations in register that Béney introduces get down to hardier terrain as he dips deeper in to the groove along the way. The pianism of Coq, at once translucent and sparkling, adds the icing to what turns out to be a spiffy version indeed!

These original tunes are captives of an undeniable melodic presence. They establish a quick rapport with the listener, and once that is in place, the musicians open them up with an impeccable sense of logic. Coq brings clusters and runs that are the pure joy of abandon to "Maély Smiles." It is melancholic air envelopes "David's Mood" the atmosphere dense and swirling before it loosens and saturates its progression in hard bop. A different adjunct comes through "Swee' Pea," where Soirat uses the brushes effectively and Béney captivates with an emotionally haunting performance.

Béney and Coq act as the main protagonists, hedging each other, picking up strands and extending them. But where would the frontline be if there was no rhythm section to keep them on edge and feed them? Nicolas and Soirat do just that and create a palpably solid quartet.

Track Listing

Darn That Dream; Black Light; Cassiop

Personnel

Jean-Christophe B

Album information

Title: Cassiop | Year Released: 2002 | Record Label: Effendi Records

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Fiesta at Caroga
Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective
Fellowship
David Gibson
Immense Blue
Olie Brice / Rachel Musson / Mark Sanders

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.