Fidel Fourneyron – “Animal” (ONJ, 2018)

“Animal” is the newest release of “ONJ” label. Album was recorded by three French avant-garde jazz masters – Fidel Fourneyron (trombone, compositions), Joachim Florent (double bass) and Sylvain Darrifourcq (drums). The imrpovising style of these musicians is totally based on free and turbulent improvisations and avant-garde jazz. The traditions of American and European avant-garde and experimental jazz are blended together in their music. Expressive and energetic improvisations are filled with vibrant solos, marvelous and innovative musical experimenta, search of unusual sounds, inventive musical decisions and huge range of colorful expressions. The synthesis of all these elements makes an effort to interesting and original sound and forms rich, colorful and modern musical pattern. Musicians like to experiment in all sections of musical language – that especially feels in instrumentation section. Special effects, vibrant and energetic solos, unusual timbres, evocative and experimental musical decisions, very well-known and extended playing techniques turn the compositions to real bursts of energy.

“Animal” has evocative, frech and turbulent sound. The album based on free improvisations, turbulent solos and interesting musical experiments by all three jazz masters. The compositions show the main elements of musicians playing styles – spontaneous improvisations are based on main element of avant-garde jazz and formed by synthesis by various styles of experimental jazz. Open and abstract form is the main attribute of the musical language – musicians aren’t using quadratic structure and making a priority to free, moody, dynamic and expressive improvisation. Rich and colorful musical pattern has many layers – expressive, illustrative, vivacious and vivid melodic section, strong and solid rhythmic section and fresh, evocative andgorgeous background. Separate sections form the layers, which are highly contrasting with each other and finally make effective, expressive and original sound. The instrumentation is modern and colorful – musicians are using dozens of different playing techniques and experimental ways of playing to extract interesting, strange and evocative timbres. That creates a wide palette of illusttrative, modern, unusual and weird sounds. Each of them brings his own color and tune to the musical pattern. All compositions were written by Fidel Fourneyron. It’s masterfully amd inventively arranged compositions with full of space for collective improvisation and musical experiments of each musician. Fidel Fourneyron also plays trombone – its deep, solid, intensive and contrasting melodies bring expressive, remarkable and vibrant sound. He fuses together different ways of playing, wide range of different playing techniques, express different moods and expressions. Dark, deep, rigorous and turbulent solos are contrasting with light, expressive, vivacious and vivid melodies, turbulent free improvisations and dramatic culminations. The most effective episodes of trombone improvisations are bright, extremely loud and intense blow outs, turbulent and spontaneous solos and impressive riffs. All these elements bring energetic and vibrant sound and create a solid bass line. The double bass melodies Joachim Florent also are expressive and dynamic. Musician is travelling between different moods and expressions – sometimes his music is very silent and calm, sometimes – very turbulent, dramatic, moving and striking. The msuic is connstructed by contrasts – after subtle and peaceful episodes there comes glamorous, energetic and passionate solos with impressive passages, vibrant riffs, illustrated by numerous of extended playing techniques and special effects. Sylvain Darrifourcq drums section has especially energetic and moving sound. Drummer form his improvisations by turbulent and free solos in-the-spot. It’s filled with passionate solos, extremely loud and powerful drum rolls, vivacious and light rhythmic combinations, roaring and harsh fanfars and many different elements. This album has original and interesting sound, which is created by marvelous synthesis of musical language elements.