JEAN-LUC GUIONNET ET LE GGRIL - Tatouages Miroir
Tours de Bras Records CD TDB9046cd
LE GGRIL is Robert Bastien: electric guitar; Isabelle Clermont: harp; Alexandre Robichaud: trumpet; Éric Normand: electric bass; Olivier D'Amours: electric guitar; Catherine S. Massicotte: violin; Rémy Bélanger de Beauport: cello; Gabriel Rochette: trombone; Robin Servant: diatonic accordion; Sébastien Côrriveau: bass clarinet; Mathieu Gosselin: baritone saxophone.
Recorded at La Cooperative Paradis, Rimouski, Canada, between 31st March/2nd April 2019
The hugely tentative, improvising orchestra Le Ggril, from Canada, perform Jean-Luc Guionnet’s Tatouages Miroir, showing off their customary approach to improvising ensemble music. Throughout, the musicians’ production is highly animated and stimulating and this is achieved through an avant-garde approach to a free-form blend of expressions of both free jazz and modern-day classical.
Guionnet’s writing seems to shoulder against musical formulae and invite nonconforming musicians to join the cooperative investigation into systematically researching experiments in new resources and new conclusions. The musicians and the ‘composer’ join forces.
The whole is driven by a tidal flow of histrionic cacophonies swelling out of almost inaudible, reclusive whispers, though the flow may often seem reversed and the unbearable silences resurge with a roar that’s just a rumour, the other half of a polyphony. Inharmonious characteristics are invited, celebrated even, as are conflict and unrest between the orthodox and introverted expressions by discrete musicians and their instruments.
This is a truly inventive piece that generates a surprising drama through examination of its internal challenges and its possible depths of meaning, rendering the presentation excitingly sensitive and inspiring.
Reviewed by Ken Cheetham
Tours de Bras Records CD TDB9046cd
LE GGRIL is Robert Bastien: electric guitar; Isabelle Clermont: harp; Alexandre Robichaud: trumpet; Éric Normand: electric bass; Olivier D'Amours: electric guitar; Catherine S. Massicotte: violin; Rémy Bélanger de Beauport: cello; Gabriel Rochette: trombone; Robin Servant: diatonic accordion; Sébastien Côrriveau: bass clarinet; Mathieu Gosselin: baritone saxophone.
Recorded at La Cooperative Paradis, Rimouski, Canada, between 31st March/2nd April 2019
The hugely tentative, improvising orchestra Le Ggril, from Canada, perform Jean-Luc Guionnet’s Tatouages Miroir, showing off their customary approach to improvising ensemble music. Throughout, the musicians’ production is highly animated and stimulating and this is achieved through an avant-garde approach to a free-form blend of expressions of both free jazz and modern-day classical.
Guionnet’s writing seems to shoulder against musical formulae and invite nonconforming musicians to join the cooperative investigation into systematically researching experiments in new resources and new conclusions. The musicians and the ‘composer’ join forces.
The whole is driven by a tidal flow of histrionic cacophonies swelling out of almost inaudible, reclusive whispers, though the flow may often seem reversed and the unbearable silences resurge with a roar that’s just a rumour, the other half of a polyphony. Inharmonious characteristics are invited, celebrated even, as are conflict and unrest between the orthodox and introverted expressions by discrete musicians and their instruments.
This is a truly inventive piece that generates a surprising drama through examination of its internal challenges and its possible depths of meaning, rendering the presentation excitingly sensitive and inspiring.
Reviewed by Ken Cheetham
