Mantis [Import]

Erik Truffaz | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 2, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: EMI Import
• ASIN: B00005RCZ2
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #110,467 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. The Point

2. La Memoire Du Silence

3. Saisir

4. No Fear

5. Nina Valeria

6. Parlophone

7. Magrouni

8. Mantis

9. Yasmina

10. Mare Mosso

11. Tahun Bahu

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Trumpeter Erik Truffaz draws his lyrical lineage from Miles Davis. He merges the ethereal textures of Davis's Ascenseur pour L'Echafaud and In a Silent Way with world music and modern dance rhythms. Backed by guitarist Manu Codjia, bassist Michel Benita, and drummer Philippe Garcia, Truffaz's vibrato-less, open horn melds with drum & bass and hip-hop beats on "Saisir" and the title track. "No Fear" and "Tahun Bahu" swing with a more mainstream jazz feel. But "Nina Valeria," a duet piece with oud virtuoso Anouar Brahem, and "Magrouni," an anthemic ditty featuring vocalist Mounir Troudi, both have Arabic tinges. Truffaz and company create a compelling sound collage that dances and trances. --Eugene Holley Jr.

Product Description

Import pressing of his 2002 album that is out-of-print in the US. Jazz Times said of it on it's release: '...This is intelligent, uncompromising music happening in the now, played by musicians with serious chops, fertile imaginations and the courage of their convictions...' Features Truffaz backed by Mounir Troudi (vocals); Philippe Garcia (spoken vocals, drums); Anouar Brahem (oud); Manu Codjia (guitar); and Michel Benita (bass). 11 tracks. Blue Note.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jazz and Electronica united, January 31, 2003

By 

Rodrigo Guaiquil (Santiago, Chile) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mantis (Audio CD)

Truffaz is a French trumpeter that explores the conjunction between Miles Davis jazz sounds with current Electronica-Dance tunes like Drum'n'Bass. This album also has a little of what we could see in "The Mask" (Hip Hop orientes) and the remarkable CD "Revisited" with remixes of previous tracks. Nevertheless, there is a new powerful and experimental sonic exploration here. Recommendable for those who love jazz and the sounds of Dance music.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars No similarity to Nils Petter Molvaer, February 20, 2006

By 

F. Hoffmann "flh" (Toronto CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mantis (Audio CD)

I really do not understand how one can make any analogy to Nu-Jazz, DrumNBass, HipHop or Nils Petter Molvaer, because there is none. Indeed, Eric Truffaz is much more experimental and innovative than only mixing Jazz with Electronica, and his style is much more complex than Nils Petter Molvaer. If you compare it to anything, then to Fusion. But do not make the mistake to think of Miles Davis. This comparison is just so cliche, and most of the times is even highly unjustified. Truffaz has his own style, and I find it to be less lyrical.

I like "Mantis" very much, and I can't make any comparison to another Jazz artist. This is maybe the best compliment you can make, because in recent years, younger Jazz artists tended to be very uninnovative (see Nils Petter Molvaer). In contrast, Truffaz creates a new sound, maybe some kind of New-Style-Fusion. The biggest strength is experimentation with rhythm, which are at times really complex, much more complex than anyhing the Norwegian "Jazz"-musicians have ever created.

The sound is consistently dark, at times it makes you even feel a little uncomfortable. Certainly it does not help to light up your mood. I think it is a good sign if an album can create a special athmosphere.

Well, it is 2006 now, and if you look who is invited to the biggest Jazz festivals (Montreal, Montreux,...) you won't find Bugge Wesseltoft or Nils Petter Molvaer, but you find Eric Truffaz. This clearly shows who of those musicians have created something new, something you will still listen to in 10 years.

5.0 out of 5 stars squirreldive is tripping....., June 21, 2002

By 

J. T. Schulz "disenchanted hip hop head" (Tha Lou) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mantis (Audio CD)

To describe this album as "cliched" is the most backwards review I've ever heard. Not to dismiss squirreldive's review or anything, because do I see the similarity to Nils Petter Molvaer's ECM recordings, but this is very unique music. Tracks like "Magrouni" are so unique, yet at the same time work perfectly. There is also a mind-blowing dynamic range in the songs. Lyrical duets, like the ethereal "Nina Valeria," are juxtaposed next to experimental "beat-boxing" tracks, like "Parlophone." Phillipe Garcia's drum n bass inspired drumming cut deep grooves into songs like "The Point." Truffaz follows the pioneer of fusion trumpet, Miles Davis by using a wah pedal on the bonus track, a reprise of "Magrouni," to create a marvelous energetic effect. The album is solid from start to finish, but don't take my word for it; listen to the samples.