Born: June 18, 1956 Primary Instrument: Guitar, acoustic
Last Updated: July 30, 2012Pilgrim of the Strings, the new recording from acoustic guitarist Jean-Pierre Chassé is a lush embroidery of ambient soundscapes tooled in penetrating improvisations, protracting arpeggios and melodic fractals. The Montreal native teamed up with classical pianist Claude Marc Bourget who produced the recording while mixed and mastered by Jacques Laurin. A synthesis of flamenco, bossa nova and ambient jazz, Pilgrim of the Strings soars with a nimble imagination reflective of vintage Django Reinhardt and the melodic sensibilties of Paco.
The soft, angelic sonorous of « Passage To Europe » contrasts the rattling chords swagging « Lo Mas Importante es Vivir.» The elegant flamenco wings of « The Other Side of Eyes » move with a dancer’s instinct switching to the taut arpeggios of « Narmada Ka Pani » highlighting sizzling, erotic chord rotations which are embellished by Turkish accents. The gentle acoustic twirls and spinning riffs of « Pas a Pas » complement the whispery tendrils of « Ishindenshinun » ascending and descending along the melodic scale creating a storytelling voicing in the chord expressions creased by a Spanish flare. The graceful gait of the chord scheme along « Los Ultimos Pajaros » is propelled by sprinting chord patterns and sleek improvisations that retract and soar trajecting intermittantly. The bossa nova stylizing of « Atoll das Rocas » changes to a bop-inspired rhythm in « Bop’s Memories » reminiscent of the gypsy tones of Django Reinhardt and the bluesy entwines of Richard Hart.
Jean-Pierre Chassé is a one of kind guitarist. His sense of melodic phrasing and timing for penetrative improvisations puts him in the ilk of Paco. His tracks weave into each other without disruption moving with the ease of the Alps flowing across the borders of Frances, Switzerland and Italy. Motivated by passion, Pilgrim of the Strings gives definition to ambient jazz with comfy atmospherics that allude to evenings cruising along the Mediterranean. (JazzTimes) / Read the review by Susan Frances.
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