Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Andy Milne / Benoit Delbecq: Where is Pannonica?

Andy Milne / Benoit Delbecq: Where is Pannonica?

By George Kanzler
July 12, 2009
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Occasioned by a commission from Chamber Music America's French-America Jazz Exchange and realized during a three-week composing/recording residency at the Banff Centre in Canada in 2008, this is a fascinating project, pushing the boundaries of the piano duo format. Using Steinway D grands that were often—mostly in

Benoit Delbecq

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Benoit Delbecq's case—altered with prepared devices (objects on strings) and alternative playing techniques (strumming or hitting strings inside the piano), plus manipulating sounds with five-channel effects, the subtle use of electronics and a Dlooper audio application on some tracks, the two musicians have created unique soundscapes while managing to maintain a dominantly pianistic approach. While the title alludes to

Thelonious Monk

piano
1917 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Thelonious Monk and the poetic/mythic notes reference

Muhal Richard Abrams

piano
1930 - 2017

" data-original-title="" title="">Muhal Richard Abrams as well as poets and others, the piano playing also evokes memories of some of the more cerebral solo piano excursions of

Ran Blake

piano
b.1935

" data-original-title="" title="">Ran Blake,

Bill Evans

piano
1929 - 1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Evans and

Fred Hersch

piano
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Fred Hersch. This is an album that demands a quiet room (or earphones) for listening. The effects are often very delicate and subtle, the pianos on the slower pieces played with a spare intensity that allows notes to float and recede slowly. Some tracks—"Task Sharing," "Pyramides," "Water's Edge Part I"—are basically two-piano duets while others employ a panoply of altered piano sounds and electronic manipulations, from the wood block/marimba echoes and pluckings of "Divide Comedy" to the bowed-like drones, high-low contrasting textures and siren-like finale of "Mu-Turn." A metallic, vibes-like timbre and harp-like strums compete with percussive textures and plain piano on "Water's Edge Part II," described as "water slowed down by frost" while "Part I" is a lively duet with one piano playing a rolling modern boogie while the other swoops and swirls cascades of notes around the rhythm. The full 51:50 minutes is more than the sum of its 11 tracks, making for a very satisfying and intriguing recital. There are two multi-channel SACD bonus tracks and the 15-minute video, The Making of Where Is Pannonica?, is illuminating and fun.

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Track Listing

Portrait of Giorgio Thelos; Task Sharing; Divide Comedy; Ice Storm; Le M

Personnel

Andy Milne

piano

Andy Milne: piano; Benoit Delbecq: piano.

Album information

Title: Where Is Pannonica? | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: Songlines Recordings

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