Label: Clean Feed, 2022
Personnel - Eve Risser: piano, voice, composition; Antonin-Tri Hoang: alto sax, analog synth; Sakina Abdou: tenor sax; Grégoire Tirtiaux: baritone sax, qarqabas; Nils Ostendorf: trumpet, analog synth; Mathias Müller: trombone; Tatiana Paris: electric guitar, voice; Ophélia Hié: balafon, bara, voice; Mélissa Hié: balafon, djembe, voice; Fanny Lasfargues: electro-acoustic bass; Oumarou Bambara: djembe, bara; Emmanuel Scarpa: drums, voice.
Displaying an uplifting hybridity, French pianist and composer Eve Risser leads her 12-piece Red Desert Orchestra with vision, leaving a firm footprint even when the music has a certain lightness to it. For the suite Eurythmia, both the musicians and the musical influences come from Europe and West Africa, resulting in a music motivated by openness and a clear drive.
“So” thrives with a clever electronic-like treatment and Brazilian percussive tract. Saxophone trills, apt trombone commentary, v-shaped piano moves, and muted trumpet contribute a multitude of colors. Even more appealing is “Sa”, a horn-driven exercise with modulation and coruscating drumming by the versatile Emmanuel Scarpa. Altoist Antonin-Tri Hoang is also featured here, catalyzing energy with briskness and nerve. A cyclical, African-tinged texture is implemented at the end, enhanced by the highly expressive vibes of the balafons. This ravishing rhythmic tapestry serves as a foundation for “Desert Rouge”, a central piece in six whose organic whole is brought by fine solos, collective response, and a sense of experimentalism that hits the spot.
“Gämse” is made of many ingredients: electronic, avant-garde jazz, soul, funk, and exotic rhythms. On top of a booting bass line slides a lusty trombone solo that contrasts with the romanticism of the piano. Even though, Risser doesn’t sidestep from some angular friction and deft runs.
After an obstinate baritone-driven effort (“Harmattan”), and an ambient-like improv (“Petit Soir”) whose only sin is to be too abbreviated, we have “Soyayya”, a new arrangement of the 2019 piece “Après un Rêve”. The latter number - with prepared piano, balafon and percussive instruments churning polyrhythms and counterpoint - features a squirming tenor solo with strong timbral qualities by Sakina Abdou. Appeasing guitar chords finalize the proceedings.
An interesting musician to be reckoned with, Eve Risser solidifies her ensemble’s stature, spreading out some magic across spellbinding textures and rhythms.
Favorite Tracks:
02 - So ► 03 - Sa ► 08 - Soyayya