Sylvie Courvoisier Trio – “D’agala” (Intakt, 2018)

“D’agala” is the newest modern jazz album of 2018, which is released by “Intakt Records” on January 19, 2018. Album was recorded by “Sylvie Courvoisier Trio” – it’s Sylvie Courvoisier (piano, compositions), Kenny Wollesen (drums, wollesonic) and Drew Gress (bass). All these three musicians are interesting and creative improvisers. They had been improvising together for a long time – inventive, individual and colorful melodies which are full of expressive and energetic twists, gently fit together in one place. Colorful and fascinating instrumentation, experimental and extraordinary musical decisions, creative, expressive, playful and dynamic playing – all these elements are the main elements of the trio compositions. The musical language of the trio compositions is full of dynamic, rich and gorgeous musical experiments, original and interesting improvisations, shocking ways of playing, unpredictable waves, pleasant surprises and powerful bursts of energy – all these elements are just small part of fascinating and expressive improvisations.

This album compositions are based on different music styles – bebop, hard-bop, cool jazz,some intonations of contemporary and traditional jazz, basic elements of avant-garde jazz. Each composition is dedicated for famous jazz pianists, sculptors, painters and other famous artists – Ornette Coleman, Louise Bourgeois, Irene Schweizer, Simone Veil, Antoine Courvoisier, Geri Allen, Charlie, Martin Puryear and John Abercrombie. Each composition have its own playing style, manner, sound and musical language. Repetitive, monotonic and solid rhythms, dynamic and powerful solos, expressive, fascinating and vivacious melodies, dramatic, aggressive and turbulent collective improvisations – all these elements are mixed together and change each other very speedy and dynamically. Piano improvisations by Sylvie Courvoisier are full of shocking, interesting and fascinating musical decisions. Expressive, dynamic, vivid, striking, turbulent and vivacious, peaceful and loud – this pianist can masterfully combine different playing styles, manners, sounds and timbres in one place. She plays very expressive, dynamic and vivid all the time. Pianists improvisations sometimes are more similar to calm and simple contemporary jazz composition, but suddenly it turns out to powerful, spontaneous, expressive and turbulent improvisations. All kinds of different harmony and rhythmic are used – dynamic, very speedy and active rhythmic is combined with monotonic, static and repetitive. Dissonance, sharp and expressive harmony chords also are mixed with soft and peaceful consonances. The masterful virtuosity of the pianist is effectively combined with spontaneous, effective, surprising and passionate improvising. Kenny Wollesen drums improvisations make and keep solid and interesting rhythmic pattern. Improviser try out many different playing techniques – load and powerful trills, wild speedy, fast and energetic solos, arpeggios, glissando and gorgeous sounds of percussion are combined with soft, monotonic, repetitive and peaceful rhythms which make these compositions to sound more similar to contemporary or traditional jazz styles. Drew Gress bass improvisations are contrasting and spontaneous. After subtle, peaceful and interesting improvisations musician suddenly switch to turbulent and expressive solos. Vivacious, joyful and vivid improvisations have turbulent, sharp and aggressive sound and the most effectively sounds in collective improvisations. All three musicians can masterfully switch off between different moods, playing techniques, characters and styles and combine it in one composition. Bright, evocative, vivid and striking improvising of all the musicians create fascinating, surprising and expressive sound.