We talked about their first cd, Serpent. Akagera, a totally original jazz trio from Orleans, has just released a five-track EP that can be found on all platforms, Curfew Session. And he will be in concert during the Loire Festival.
By Bernard Cassat
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These five tracks, actually four plus one, were recorded during the winter 2021 curfew periods. This EP is currently only available digitally. In Goodbye Pork Pie Hat, Charlie Mingus’ theme that has become almost a standard, the vibraphonist Benoît Lavollée sets the theme clearly, David Georgelet’s drums pick up and develop the rhythm, the trombone of Stephane Montigny imposes the melody. It swells, it gets complicated, it resonates. The trio walk around this theme with ease and intense pleasure. Each instrument takes its share of the feast while respecting Mingus. From the great Akagera.
Sancocho and Phenomenon are compositions of the trio. Very dancing drums in the first, in duet with a naughty vibraphone which opens the space to the trombone. The trio in great rowboat shape on this joyful and lively theme. A rereading of Sancocho by Colombian percussionist Cenen Hurtado completes this EP.
Phenomenon, more serious as much in the rhythm as in the sounds of the bass trombone, builds a moment of music full of images and dreams. The sound of the vibraphone, in itself, easily evokes fairyland and childhood. We are in the middle of it.
Lonnie’s Lament, Coltrane’s theme, inspires the trio for a more reflective moment. This adaptation of the quartet to a trio of completely different instruments, very good research in itself, rediscovers the original inventiveness.
This brilliant trio continues their rigorous and creative work.
Akagera
Curfew Session
Stéphane Montigny, trombone
David Georgelet, drums
Benoît Lavollée, vibraphone
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