Customer Reviews

Something Like Now

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This entire album is so incredibly solid. Every note, every tap, every accentuation, not only fits, but fits perfectly. It's to the point where you would expect them to have done hundreds of different takes for each track, but having seen Francois live, I know that's just the way he plays. The bass lines are incredibly melodic, not only in his solos, but in all his walking lines and rhythmic hits. I would mention how tight the bass and piano are, but then I would have to mention how every component of the group is tight with another. The performance on this album is so melodically and rhythmically sound. I guess that's one of the benefits of having a rhythm section proficient in mathematics (Francois and Louis both studied Engineering, Math, and Physics, if you're not familiar with their backgrounds).

This album definitely has the elements of European jazz in it: a little more meticulous than soulful, acute determination, and an approach to polyphony reminiscent of classical compositions. But it is also immensely personal and rich with emotion. The dynamics are also extremely well placed and natural. The compositions, with the exception of Bird's Medley, were all composed by either Francois or Louis, and are both complex and wonderfully listenable.

If I had a top 15 or 20 list going, this album would definitely be somewhere on it. It has the complexity and creativity I long for, the melodies and rhythms I enjoy, the excellent performance and communication I admire, and the passion that I inspires me to strive to be a better musician. There are few albums that can mimic the live-like feel of seeing a performance in person, but I think this does it almost as effectively as can be done. I'll give it two thumbs up, but only because that's all I have.

The Moutin twins are a bassist and drummer that play with other leaders and record on their own. This CD adds saxophonist Rick Margitza and pianist Pierre de Bethmann. From the first song to the last, with one exception, the songs are 'modern jazz'. By that, I mean tunes that sounds complicated and don't resolve on obvious notes. They also don't sound bluesy. Many of the songs also have advanced rhythms with bass-drum punches and highlights. Those remind me of stuff David Binney does a lot of. Rick Margitza isn't the most famous tenor saxophonist out there, but he's a very good player, and in tune with the Moutin brothers' songs. The exception to the modernistic stuff is a bass-drum duet, "Bird's Medley". It's good, though it would have been nice if it was mixed a little louder, since there are fewer instruments.

This is a pretty good CD, and if the samples sound good, you should order it.