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- Artist: Les Projectionnistes
- Rating:
- Release Date: 2005
- Genre: Jazz
Review
Vue, the second CD by Claude St-Jean's Les Projectionnistes and first on the RIF label, finds the trombonist/composer and his band seemingly determined not to crank out a mere rerun of 1999's Copie Zéro, the cinematic avant jazzers' debut recording on Ambiances Magnetiques. St-Jean and group mainstays Bernard Falaise (guitar), Rémi Leclerc (drums), Pierre Labbé (tenor saxophone), and Tommy Babin (bass) are joined by L'Orkestre des Pas Perdus' Roberto Murray (alto saxophone), expanding the core lineup from a quintet to a sextet. And while the addition of Murray provides another capable soloing and ensemble voice, also important is guest keyboardist François Lafontaine on Hammond B-3, adding a bit of a soul-jazz feel to selected tracks. On average, Vue's tracks are a bit shorter than those on Copie Zéro, and so the debut disc -- which also includes an 11-and-a-half-minute live improvisation (accompaniment to a surrealist film) -- arguably showcases the group stretching out more. Yet Vue provides plenty of improvisational fire from all the soloists, sacrificing none of the group's spirit of adventure while delivering music that is concise, polished, and even tuneful. There are a few more spices in the stew here, as Vue tilts toward a hybrid of jazz, rock (including a startling punkish break in the midst of the comparatively lyrical "Qui Est a l'Appareil?"), funk, Latin, and more. Despite St-Jean's sometimes complex multi-layered arrangements, the band maintains its customary momentum as the soloists cut loose over modal jazz and rock-based progressions. "Hebdromadaire" builds into a Zappa-esque unison melody and shines a spotlight on guest percussionist Eric Breton, who adds a Latin tinge to this piece and to the nearly seven-minute "11 H 16," the album's most extended workout. Meanwhile, Leclerc and Babin are tight as a knot; likewise the hornmen with their unison and counterpoint riffs and abrupt dynamic shifts. St-Jean has provided plenty of opportunities for axeman Falaise to once again strut his stuff, whether filling the background with chunky, dirty chords and noise bursts or blasting away, as on "Transport," with solos that seem to channel both Jimi Hendrix and Henry Kaiser. Tight and uptempo numbers like "Poursuite Impossible," with their relentless propulsion and inventive horn charts, may have strong funk elements, but this is an internationalized rather than U.S.-centric example of the form. Also credit St-Jean for some genuine warmth -- as when the band downshifts into a lovely midtempo piece like "Promenade Solidaire," with shimmering saxophones and B-3 chord washes beneath the trombonist's melody. Not a rerun perhaps, Vue is more like a sequel to Copie Zéro, as St-Jean tweaks rather than overhauls the band's winning formula, kicking out 11 new tunes (and "Digestif," an oddball live improvisational snippet with Frédéric Boudreault on bass) that ably demonstrate just how exciting a singular band united under a strong leader's vision can be. [Vue is available through the Wayside Music website at www.waysidemusic.com.] ~ Dave Lynch, All Music GuideTracks
| Track Title | Composers | Performers | Time |
| Hors-d'Oeuvre | Claude St-Jean | Les Projectionnistes | (3:35) |
| Péril en la Demeure | Claude St-Jean | Les Projectionnistes | (3:28) |
| Hebdromadaire | Claude St-Jean | Les Projectionnistes | (4:15) |
| Transport | Claude St-Jean | Les Projectionnistes | (5:07) |
| Promenade Solidaire | Claude St-Jean | Les Projectionnistes | (4:15) |
| Série B | Claude St-Jean | Les Projectionnistes | (5:11) |
| 11 H 16 | Claude St-Jean | Les Projectionnistes | (6:44) |
| Pile Ou Face | Claude St-Jean | Les Projectionnistes | (3:33) |
| Qui Est à l'Appareil? | Claude St-Jean | Les Projectionnistes | (4:30) |
| Poursuite Impossible | Claude St-Jean | Les Projectionnistes | (4:09) |
| La Suite La Semaine Prochaine | Claude St-Jean | Les Projectionnistes | (3:40) |
| Digestif [Live] | Claude St-Jean | Les Projectionnistes | (1:28) |
