Ensemble ILÉA – “Multi​.​Cosmes” (Mikroclimat, 2018)

“Multi​.​Cosmes” was released on February 20, 2018 by “Microclimat” record label. This album was recorded by a group of interesting and talented jazz musicians – Alexandra Tibbitts (harp), Alexis Langevin-Tétrault (electronics), Ana Dall’Ara-Majek (electronic), Camille Fauvet (clarinet), Charlotte Layec (bass clarinet), Geneviève D’Ortun (saxophones), Jeremy Chignec (flute), Kevin Gironnay (electronic), Olivier Marin (viola), Pierre-Luc Lecours (electronic), Simon Aliotti (percussion) and Vincent Fliniaux (double bass). The compositions by this ensemble are the free improvisations – free structures, wide range of playing expressions, scales, patterns, harmonies and instrumentation decisions, are masterfully used and combined in one place. Each musician has original playing style – creative improvising, free and spontaneous solos, sudden stylistic twists and turns, wide range of different expressions and moods – all these elements form the main basic of each musicians improvising. The improvisations of each musician are full of masterful styles combinations, virtuosic solos, emotional and expressive free improvisations, harsh, sharp and specific electronic music sounds and other elements. Musicians masterfully combine together their own and unique sound and get all the different melodies together in one place.

This album music is based on free improvisation. Various acoustic instruments and electronics are gently combined together in one place. The sound of this album is dynamic and variable – free and spontaneous collective improvisations are based on many different music styles and expressions, have rich and bright musical language. The synthesis between acoustic and electronic and electro-acoustic instruments form the big contrast between different episodes. Soft, warm and expressive clarinet, saxophones, bass clarinet and flute solos, emotional and passionate strings (viola, double bass), dynamic harp melodies, memorable and energetic percussion sounds – all these elements form the rich, independent and solid basic ogf acoustic instruments. The wide range of different playing techniques are used here – from traditional and very well-known playing techniques to experimental and innovative ways of playing – musicians are able to connect and fuse together all these elements. Different timbres, strange noises, weird sounds and other illustrative and effective elements of the melodic background effect all the melodic pattern. The electronic music section is absolutely different from the acoustics. It’s full of strange, dark, harsh and depressive timbres, original and inventive musical decisions, unknown and extraordinary sounds, abstract and short melodic elements, special effects and various modern and innovative playing techniques. The sound of these two absolutely different types of music is combined in one place in this album. Soft, warm and expressive reeds solos, subtle, passionate and virtuosic flutes, dramatic strings, dynamic and effective double bass, colorful and energetic percussion section is based on free jazz elements and collective improvisations. It’s impossible to predict, what’s gona be next – this music is full of sudden turns and twists, is formed and based on spontaneous solos and innovative musical experiments. Live, energetic, warm and memorable sound of acoustic instruments is combined together with electronics, which also bring to the compositions academic music elements. Electronic and electro-acoustic music, academic avant-garde jazz and other various styles of contemporary academical music are heard in these compositions. Ekectronic music episodes are also based on free structure and various electronic music playing techniques – field recordings, tape records, computer and electronic devices sounds, sonic system experiments, sonoristic music and many other playing techniques are combined together with experimental and new ways of playing. This wide range of acoustic and electronics, different playing techniques, manners, sounds and moods, masterful and creative improvising and playing, bright, organic, effective and innovative musical language bring original and interesting sound of this album.