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Jean-Michel Pilc: What Is This Thing Called?

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Jean-Michel Pilc: What Is This Thing Called?
Pochi altri pianisti jazz riescono come Jean-Michel Pilc ad unire vibrante espressività, magistero tecnico e volatile progettualità. Lo dimostra questo CD imperniato sulla variazione/destrutturazione del celebre standard "What Is This Called Love." Il tema di Cole Porter diventa così il pretesto per una rigogliosa cavalcata in solitudine, tra le mille pieghe del pianoforte jazz e non.

I trenta bozzetti musicali proposti rivelano una mente aperta nello sciorinare con souplesse interpretativa un pensiero pianistico trasversale che tocca vari lidi: Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, Martial Solal, Cecil Taylor. In primo piano un gusto raffinato del procedimento improvvisativo che porta il musicista francese a mimetizzare gli standard di Porter e John Coltrane dall'alto di una variegata tavolozza melodica ed armonica.

I brani vanno attentamente ascoltati per scorgervi un flusso continuo di idee. Come in un montaggio cinematografico le aleatorie cellule tematiche sono raccolte, riprese e sviluppate con senso destrutturante della forma. La breve durata di molte composizioni lascia già presagire la presenza di piccole particelle che vanno e vengono per tutto il CD, fino a cambiare forma, sostanza e linguaggio. La bussola ritmica del disco oscilla freneticamente tra cambi di velocità, accelerazioni e decelerazioni ritmiche. Ne vien fuori un ammaliante progetto dalla coerenza esemplare.

Track Listing

C Scale Warm Up; What Is This Thing Called Love; Cole; Dawn; Walk; Run; Glide; Look; Cross; Giant; Time; Prelude; Duet Vox; Waves; Martial; Duke; Factor; More; Quick; Odd; Grace; Float; High; Ode; Chimes; Dance Elegy; Bells; Swing; Now You Know What Love Is.

Personnel

Jean-Michel Pilc: piano

Album information

Title: What Is This Thing Called? | Year Released: 2015 | Record Label: Sunnyside Records

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