Davis, Jean-michel & Ethereal Vibes
Vibraphone Jazz
From Hampton to Burton, in passing by Jackson and Hutcherson (yes, only names, without a doubt, that rhyme with vibraphone), this most complete and unlikely percussion instrument has established itself as a jazz chromatic keyboard, as rich as any piano. Under the inspired mallets of Jean-Michel Davis, with elegance and fl uidity, the vibraphone is affi rmed in this triptych-like album as a wonderful instrument of caressing bars: long notes lingering in the ear, cascades of crystal beads, gentle tumbling of percussions, refi nement of dosages, subtlety of nuances, friction and high frequency tremors, in short, everything that gives meaning to the etymology of the vibraphone: nearer and nearer to real voice vibrations. Pascal ANQUETIL The great French percussionist Jean-Michel Davis (Les Movies Swingers, Les Primitifs du futur, Novelty Fox,_) author of two historic vibraphone-jazz method books, presents, for the fi rst time on record, compositions and arrangements from these works. 18 ethereal tracks, like swirls of smoke, reminiscent of the masterful contribution of this unique instrument to jazz history. Augustin BONDOUX & Patrick FREMEAUX