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- Artist: L'Orkestre des Pas Perdus
- Rating:
- Release Date: 2004
- Genre: Jazz
Review
So where has Montreal trombonist/composer/bandleader Claude St-Jean been since the release of L'Orkestre des Pas Perdus' Maison Douce Maison in 1998? Thankfully, it appears that he's been keeping his energy level up with triple shots at espresso bars on Rue St. Denis while dreaming up a full CD's worth of brass band riffs and melodies to bombard listeners with on 2004's Mondo Cuivro. And his old OPP friends -- Maxime St-Pierre on trumpet, Jean-Denis Levasseur on alto sax and flute, Roberto Murray on tenor and baritone sax, Jean Sabourin on sousaphone, and Rémi Leclerc on drums -- are all present and accounted for on the 12 punchy tracks of this C4 Productions release (the band's first two CDs were issued by Ambiances Magnetiques). Like the best brass band composers, St-Jean uses counterpoint, bright harmonies, and just the right amount of complexity to make his group sound much bigger than a sextet. OPP has a classic brass band sound that draws on traditions from Eastern Europe to New Orleans, the Caribbean, and Latin America, but -- perhaps due to the funkiness, expressive solos that would perk up any jazz fan's ears, clever compositions, and propulsive grooves -- the group has a contemporary edge that makes it entirely at home at the occasional avant-garde music festival. While "Yé!" reveals that OPP can swing with the best of them, "Skagogo" features a ska rhythm (you were expecting OPP to settle for a more sluggish reggae tempo?) and brings in some digital-delay effects. Such electronic treatments (also featured on the last track, "Où Allons-Nous?") are the biggest sonic departure from OPP's previous efforts, but they don't detract from the band's pleasingly organic sound -- likewise the contributions from bassist Tommy Babin (Les Projectionnistes) and percussionist Raffaele Artigliere, who are used intelligently on a number of tracks to enhance and embellish the ensemble rather than hog the spotlight. (Babin might've been added to share some of the low-end responsibilities with sousaphonist Sabourin, whose lips are given quite the relentless workout and must need a rest every once in a while.) Meanwhile, St-Jean and Murray in particular bring a large dose of fire to the front line -- including some wild baritone sax from Murray in the hyper "L' Épié dans les Plats." "Arbracamentête" summarizes many of the group's strengths, including not only tight and funky changeups but the beauty that a subtle touch can bring to a percolating groove -- creating music that hits a cruising altitude and flows forward with both power and agility, with no need to hammer the rhythm home. This is the type of performance that hugely satisfies at all levels and places OPP at the forefront of the world's groups exploring and extending the brass band tradition. Welcome back, and let's not wait six years for the next one. ~ Dave Lynch, All Music GuideTracks
| Track Title | Composers | Performers | Time |
| Brass Kamarades | Claude St-Jean | L'Orkestre des Pas Perdus | (3:42) |
| Sambabasam | Claude St-Jean | L'Orkestre des Pas Perdus | (4:01) |
| Équerre d'Artichaut | Claude St-Jean | L'Orkestre des Pas Perdus | (4:02) |
| Arbracamentête | Claude St-Jean | L'Orkestre des Pas Perdus | (4:38) |
| Tapis dans l'Ombre | Claude St-Jean | L'Orkestre des Pas Perdus | (5:12) |
| Skagogo | Claude St-Jean | L'Orkestre des Pas Perdus | (4:01) |
| L' Épié dans les Plats | Claude St-Jean | L'Orkestre des Pas Perdus | (4:19) |
| Mondo Cuivro | Claude St-Jean | L'Orkestre des Pas Perdus | (3:27) |
| Trapezi | Claude St-Jean | L'Orkestre des Pas Perdus | (5:29) |
| Ceci è 1 Message Enr. | Claude St-Jean | L'Orkestre des Pas Perdus | (4:11) |
| Yé! | Claude St-Jean | L'Orkestre des Pas Perdus | (4:00) |
| Où Allons-Nous? | Claude St-Jean | L'Orkestre des Pas Perdus | (3:36) |
