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Etienne Charles: Creole Orchestra Featuring René Marie

By Angelo Leonardi
September 2, 2024
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Etienne Charles: Creole Orchestra Featuring René Marie

A 18 anni di distanza dal debutto discografico in Culture Shock il trombettista originario di Trinidad & Tobago, si cimenta come bandleader di un ampio organico, in una lussureggiante sintesi di ritmi caraibici e orchestrazioni che vanno dalla tradizione Swing all'hip hop. L'orchestra è un ampliamento della sua storica Creole Soul Band e ospita la cantante

Rene Marie

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Rene Marie in quattro brani.

Etienne ha iniziato a scrivere per ampi organici a partire dalla collaborazione con la stessa cantante nell'album del 2013 I Wanna Be Evil: With Love to Eartha Kitt ed ha continuato anche in altri contesti, fino al recente San Juan Hill: A New York Story della New York Philharmonic: i suoi modelli sono

Frank Foster

saxophone
1928 - 2011

" data-original-title="" title="">Frank Foster,

Thad Jones

trumpet
1923 - 1986

" data-original-title="" title="">Thad Jones,

Quincy Jones

arranger
1933 - 2024

" data-original-title="" title="">Quincy Jones,

Oliver Nelson

saxophone
1932 - 1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Oliver Nelson,

Gerald Wilson

composer / conductor
1918 - 2014

" data-original-title="" title="">Gerald Wilson eccetera (la lista di chi cita come ispiratori è lunga e va da

Mary Lou Williams

piano
1910 - 1981

" data-original-title="" title="">Mary Lou Williams e

Duke Ellington

piano
1899 - 1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Duke Ellington a

Maria Schneider

composer / conductor

" data-original-title="" title="">Maria Schneider).

Come si vede prevale di gran lunga il filone degli orchestratori afro-americani, che si riflette in esecuzioni dal palpabile mordente: gli arrangiamenti sono elastici, swinganti e ricchi di colore secondo la migliore tradizione mainstream. Il massimo tratto distintivo è l'impronta poliritmica caraibica, grazie al notevole lavoro percussivo di

Obed Calvaire

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Obed Calvaire.

Entrando nel dettaglio dei brani la sintesi più originale tra antico e moderno è "Poison," dove convivono un elastico e danzante arrangiamento swing e il fantasioso innesto di suggestioni contemporanee: dai suoni elettrici di fender rhodes e chitarra alle incursioni del rapper (

Brandon Rose

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Brandon Rose) e del turntablist

DJ Logic

turntable

" data-original-title="" title="">DJ Logic.

Ricordiamo ancora la teatrale versione di René Marie in "I Wanna Be Evil" e quella sensuale in "Take My Breath Away." Tra le composizioni del leader spiccano il fantasioso calypso "Douens," il ricercato svolgimento di "Holy City" (un torrenziale assolo di

Seth Ebersole

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Seth Ebersole al sax tenore) e la versione orchestrale del vecchio calypso del leader "Old School."

Album della settimana.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Old School; Poison; Think Twice; I Wanna Be Evil; Holy City; Ten to One Is Murder; Centerpiece; Douens; A Shade of Jade; Colorado River Song; Stompin' at the Savoy; Take My Breath Wway; Night Train.

Personnel

Etienne Charles

trumpet

Sullivan Fortner

piano

Alex Wintz

guitar

Ben Williams

bass, electric

Obed Calvaire

drums

Jonathan Michel

bass

Seth Ebersole

saxophone

Brian Hogans

saxophone, alto

Godwin Louis

saxophone

Giveton Gelin

trumpet

Anthony Stanco

trumpet

Walter Cano

trumpet

Jumaane Smith

trumpet

Dion Tucker

trombone

Corey Wilcox

trombone

Chris Glassman

trombone, bass

John Ellis

saxophone, tenor

Michael Dease

trombone

DJ Logic

turntable

Rene Marie

vocals

Additional Instrumentation

Michael Thomas: saxophone; Paul Nedzela: baritone saxophone; Gina Izzo: flute; Etienne Charles: percussion; Jorge Glem: cuatro; Pascual Landeau: maracas; Brandon Rose: vocals.

Album information

Title: Creole Orchestra Featuring René Marie | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: Culture Shock Music

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Etienne Charles Concerts

Sep 18 Thu

Etienne Charles & Creole Soul

Wexner Center for the Arts
Columbus, OH

Sep 18 Thu

Etienne Charles & Creole Soul

Wexner Center for the Arts
Columbus, OH

Jun 5 Fri

Etienne Charles

The Appel Room
New York, NY

Jun 6 Sat

Etienne Charles

The Appel Room
New York, NY

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