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Hubert Dupont: Smart Grid
ByStill, the musicians waste no time in showcasing their own styles. Guivarc'h makes his presence known from the get-go, blasting a solo on the opener, "Greed," that seems to rely on, yet forego, melody and rhythm at once, to match the composition. The mood is changed completely as Robilliard begins to improvise, his right hand scampering all over the mid-tempo swing that his bandmates lay down. "Greed's intense mechanics bring to mind the music of Steve Lehman, with perhaps a little more grooviness. Guivarc'h and Robilliard also share many memorable moments on track 3, "Helliptic," as their simultaneous solos restlessly climb atop one another.
Dupont prefers to take his solo moments unaccompanied on Smart Grid, and he gravitates toward playing arco. The growling bowed bass adds an interesting texture to the music, particularly on "Eoliane," as the contrasting saxophone whistles along with the bass in unison. They play in unison again on "Recondition," before the song melts into an eerie, open section. Only here does the quartet reveal that free improvisation is well within their wheelhouse, but in a moment the tune evolves, replaced by a slow, shuffling swing. As Mangeard slaps out quarter notes on the snare, the trio of musicians above sing out melody lines loosely yet masterfully, keeping in mind their timelessness of minutes before.
Mangeard takes Smart Grid's final solo, crisp and busy, a solid lead-in to the outro of "Pendulair." The moment serves as a reminder that while the compositions could be more compelling, they serve as perfectly capable frameworks for the quartet to finesse their technical skill and creativity.
Track Listing
Greed; Eoliane; Helliptic; Wonder; Recondition; Pendulair.
Personnel
Hubert Dupont
bassHubert Dupont: double bass; Denis Guivarc'h: saxophone; Yvan Robilliard: piano; Pierre Mangeard: drums.
Album information
Title: Smart Grid | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: Ultrabolic
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Hubert Dupont
CD/LP/Track Review
Samuel Stroup
Smart Grid
Ultrabolic
Denis Guivarc'h
Yvan Robilliard
Pierre Mangeard
Steve Lehman