Le Sourire
Jean Derome & Somebody Special
ambiances magnetiques AM 286 CD (ambiances-magnetiques.bandcamp.com/album/le-sourire)
This is Canadian saxophonist, bass flutist, vocalist Jean Derome and ensemble Somebody Special’s second recording of improvisations, adaptations and swing touches on compositions by soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy (1934-2004). The band takes its name from Lacy’s tune of the same name. Derome’s longtime collaborators are Normand Guilbeau (double bass), Pierre Tanquay (drums) with new members Alexandre Grogg (piano) and Karen Young (vocals). Together their musical ideas and performing expertise create brilliant, tight renditions of 11 Lacy originals featuring settings of texts by diverse writers Anna Akhmatova, Samuel Beckett, Robert Creeley, Bob Kaufman, and Judith Malina.
Jack’s Blues starts with Derome’s attention-grabbing sax solo. Midstream, his alto sax incorporates some bluesy phrasing. His singing blends beautifully in duet with Karen Young in Robert Creeley’s text. Piano and drums add a jazzier feel to the closing held note. The Smile (Le Sourire) encompasses some of the best Derome ideas. Repeated slightly atonal piano, bass held notes and sax start. Young’s emotional singing of Anna Akhmatova text is moving with Derome’s sax lines and his expressive solo is supported by bass line, drum kit and piano chords. High pitched piano solo is followed by vocal re-entry. Touching slower ending with vocal held notes. All the musical lines are independent yet fit together seamlessly, setting the stage for the other Lacy songs here.
Slower, hypnotic, calmer instrumentals and Akhmatova text feature in The Cuckoo. Young’s hilarious pronunciation of the word “cuckoo” evokes the cuckoo clock’s “singing.” Derome leads the other tracks with equal musicality.
Liner notes with bilingual French/English lyrics are included. Derome’s solo and ensemble music is always SO carefully adventurous yet thoughtful in these renditions of Lacy compositions!
