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Fabrice MOURLON Quartet: Facing the Lough
ByRazafindrakotowho studied at the Conservatoire National de Regionhas been the beneficiary of training from France's prolific world-class saxophonist and conductor François Jeanneau. Tardieu trained in the workshop of Enrico Rava and worked with Paolo Fresu among other international artists from Europe and Asia. Brunet has played many of the western European jazz clubs and worked with one of the better known French trombonists, Sébastien Llado, in his quartet.
Facing the Lough takes its name from the view at a home in Belfast, Ireland where Mourlon had visited; lough being the Anglo-Irish interpretation of a loch, a type of bay or inlet. More to the point, it seems to represent a far reaching view of the modern, traditional and folkloric tunes that Mourlan reads in French, English and Swedish on the CD. The albumquite brief, at under thirty minutesconsists on seven Mourlon originals and one traditional piece, "Mannelig," based on a medieval Swedish ballad.
Mourlon's take on his own compositions covers a wide range from traditional balladry, to swing, to more improvisational treatments. Razafindrakoto, Tardieu and Brunet make for an excellent and substantial trio, their playing seemingly unprompted and in the moment, full of energy yet yielding to the vocalist's needs when that is the applicable approach. Facing the Lough is a versatile collection made gratifying by musicians whose proficient skills allow easy passage from straight-ahead jazz to more modern approaches. For those who like vocal jazz, this is an album to check out.
Track Listing
Brooklyn Bridge; Mannelig; Nonna Ines; Pat's In Paris Take 1; Blissful Time; Wish You Were Here; Back From Belfast; Pat's In Paris Take 2.
Personnel
Fabrice MOURLON
vocalsFabrice Mourlon: vocals. Compositions; Richard Razafindrakoto: piano; Emmanuel Brunet: bass; Thierry Tardieu: drums.
Album information
Title: Facing the Lough | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Self Produced