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Vincent Courtois, Daniel Erdmann, Robin Fincker: Mediums

By Anthony Shaw
March 12, 2014
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Vincent Courtois, Daniel Erdmann, Robin Fincker: Mediums

This album of tunes from the cross-border, French-led trio features many elements of their native approaches to improvised music— exploratory experimentation on the boundaries of the respective instruments, solo work of a high order, and a strong sense of playfulness.

The three instruments concerned are all from the middle range of pitch, as suggested in the title, two tenor saxophones led by a cello. As one might expect from the likes of

Vincent Courtois

cello

" data-original-title="" title="">Vincent Courtois (sometime colleague of John Greaves,

Sylvie Courvoisier

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Sylvie Courvoisier, Dominique Pifar��ly, and Joachim K��hn to name a few) invention features highly among the selection, even if the album starts with two more conventional, even lyrical pieces. With a palette drawing as much upon pop idioms as any other genre, Courtois leads the investigation of the similarities of timbre between these instruments, sometimes in a playful, frivolous way (hear "Entresort"), other times insistent and discordant (hear "Une Inquietude Discordant")!

The pieces are very independent of electronic interference, relying on the clarity of the recording to bring out the interplay of tension and release between these surprisingly like- sounding instruments. As with their leader, both the German

Daniel Erdmann

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Daniel Erdmann (himself leader of Das Kapital) and Franco-English Robin Fincker have a wealth of experience with free-form jazz, and relish the discontinuities and contrasts that Courtois explores with confidence.

If ever there was to be a revival of experimental acoustic jazz-rock this album might be expected to blaze the trail. Exquisite recording makes this experience a treat as one is torn between the rivaling tensions of the players, collectively straining to bear the listener to distant planes of musical existence (as one might expect of a medium), but quite prepared to dump the unwary back on the living room floor, with a chuckle.

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Track Listing

Mounting; Mediums; Entresort; Une inqui��tante disparition (Part 1); Regards; Jackson's Catch; Une inqui��tante disparition (Part 2); Rita and The Mediums; La femme sans corps; Bengal(1); Bengal(2); Bengal(3;)La nuit des monstres; The removal.

Personnel

Vincent Courtois

cello

Vincent Courtois: cello; Daniel Erdmann: tenor sax; Robin Fincker: tenor sax;

Album information

Title: Mediums | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Studios La Buissonne

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Vincent Courtois Concerts

Sep 19 Fri

Basklarinet Festijn

De Pletterij
Haarlem, Netherlands

Sep 20 Sat

Basklarinet Festijn

Tivoli
Utrecht, Netherlands

Sep 21 Sun

Basklarinet Festijn

Bimhuis
Amsterdam, Netherlands

Nov 8 Sat

Vincent Courtois & Colin Vallon

Le Triton
Les Lilas, France

Nov 14 Fri

Free Space

INSEL
Wuppertal, Germany

Nov 19 Wed

Basklarinet Festijn

Lindenberg
Nijmegen, Netherlands

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