Entitled « Vers l’azur noir » (Towards The Black Azure) in reference to both an Arthur Rimbaud poem and the tragedy of thousands of migrants who, full of mad hope, launch themselves towards the black azure of the Mediterranean, this album marks Caffonnette’s comeback to one of the most classic and flexible combo in jazz history : the piano trio.
This new release on German label Neuklang include nine tracks : six originals, two twisted pop-rock covers and a classic Thelonious Monk tune. The first six tracks were recorded in the mythical Jet Studio in Brussels and the last three are an excerpt from a concert given in Brussels in September 2018. The mix between the spontaneity of a live recording and the accuracy of the studio shows the two sides of this very tight-knit trio.
After a first album in quintet released in 2015 (Simplexity, AZ Productions) with which he toured a lot, Caffonnette crossed paths with French musicians Alex Gilson (b) and Jean-Baptiste Pinet (dr). The connexion between the three cats was almost telepathic at the first notes, and eighteen months of countless concerts made that link even more obvious. Right after a twelve gigs tour, they recorded an album illustrating the particular mix of lyricism and complex harmonies typical of Caffonnette’s style.
The release concerts take place at Théâtre Marni in Brussels on April 18 — one of the strongholds of the Belgian jazz scene — and Sunside Jazz Club, in Paris — a key venue for jazz lovers in the French capital. Next season, the trio will embark on a European tour, playing several gigs in France in October and in the UK in November. (www.joachimcaffonnette.com/live).
I’ll be happy to send a digital or physical copy of the album on request and provide any information you might need.
Below are some videos of the trio :
Perspectives - Hey Jude
joachimcaffonnette@gmail.com // +32 477 44 62 50
Best,
Joachim Caffonnette
