Romain Collin

Jun 19 2019

Album of the Day: Romain Collin – “Tiny Lights”

 

Artist:  Romain Collin

Album:  Tiny Lights

Label:  XM Records

Style:  Electro-acoustic

Favorite Track:  “Overflow”

Music from:  New York City

What I like about it:  This is something completely new from Romain Collin, but the change is not terribly shocking.  The pianist has previously displayed a proclivity for diving deep into a melody, and focusing not just on the depth of its waters, but also the way flickers of sunlight were captured on its rippled surface.  I like how Tiny Lights simply sees that approach to its logical conclusion, and how the dramatic surges of melodic intent are less about an evolving sound and more about Collin wanting to reflect changes through the shapes of the initial splash upon contact.  I like how the pianist amps up the use of electronic effects on some pieces, where before he might have gone more with restraint.  I also like the addition of strings and electric guitar and the huge waves they elicit, but I also like the small touches, like the gentle, tuneful whistle on tracks “Los Angeles” and “Reprise.”  Perhaps most of all, I love the experience of being there as a musician explores new and existing paths over the course of their life, and how those manifest in the thrilling landmarks of new recordings.

Your album personnel:  Romain Collin (piano, moog Taurus, vocal effects), Matthew Stevens (electric guitar), Obed Calvaire (acoustic and electronic drums, kazuma jinnouchi string arrangements) and guests: City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.

Available at:  Amazon

Be sure to check out the artist’s site.

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Nov 19 2015

Recommended: Romain Collin – “Press Enter”

 

Romain Collin - "Press Enter"The melodic point of view delivered by Press Enter is so sharp and rings with such a resounding clarity that no matter how often pianist Romain Collin switches things up with each successive tune, it snaps right into place with the songs that preceded it.  Most albums have a flow, a development of perspective from one track to the next, but an album like this one does away with the linear progression as the sole method of travel.  Instead, Collin has fashioned a slowly rotating gem, and then shines a light on every little facet of the omnipresent whole.  It’s the type of construct that can bring everything within its embrace or, in the specific instance of Press Enter, it possesses the gravitational pull to bring even a tranquil rendition of Monk’s “‘Round Midnight” into the fold and sound right at home with Collin’s modern compositions.

The album leads out with “99” and a rapid-fire attack from drummer Kendrick Scott, but the melody just floats effortlessly in the middle of it all, in a sense detached from everything occurring in its wake and, in a much stronger sense, shaping everything the melody touches.  It’s that same reason why the subtler introspective tones of “Raw, Scorched and Untethered,” the abundantly cheerful “The Kids” and the dreamy “Holocene” all seem to radiate a melodic expression that originates from an unseen center of things.  This is more than just fitting pieces together for album cohesion… this is a rare instance where an artist is able to display an album’s melodic depths while simultaneously bringing each of its facets to the surface.  It’s not a series of album tracks, it’s an unbroken three dimensional circle, where the final song loops seamlessly back into the first.

Drummer Kendrick Scott makes his presence felt, and his hard etchings on the album’s tempo is essential to providing the context in which the album’s melodies are able to grow and thrive.  No less essential is the work of bassist Luques Curtis and cellist Laura Metcalf to provide the softer shadows to counterbalance the hard bright light that drummer Scott shines on the path of the songs.

Collin had given strong hints of this level of craftsmanship on his solid 2012 release The Calling, but, conceptually, Press Enter manifests with a far greater presence.  It’s a huge step up.

Your album personnel: Romain Collin (piano, electronics & effects), Luques Curtis (double bass), Kendrick Scott (drums) and guests: Laura Metcalf (cello), Mino Cinelu (percussion), Grey McMurray (guitar) and Megan Rose (vocals).

Released on ACT Music.

Listen to another album track on Soundcloud.

Jazz from NYC.

Available at:  Amazon

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Apr 5 2014

The North – “Slow Down (This Isn’t the Mainland)”

 

The North - "Slow Down (This Isn't the Mainland)"So, The North opens up Slow Down (This Isn’t the Mainland) as a nice enough modern piano trio recording.  Easy-to-like melodies come out strong with a firm handshake and wide smile, and rhythms maintain a nice conversational chatter… nothing that gets too intricate as to incite a cerebral reaction and nothing too agitated as to become cluttered with unnecessary inflections and personal tics.  And that’s how it proceeds for the first three tracks on this debut album of the trio of Romain Collin, Shawn Conley, and Abe Lagrimas, Jr.

But then fourth track “Join Us Jackson” begins, and the trio suddenly takes it down a gear, and they express their thoughts with a greater care, taking time to draw out the totality of the melody one breath at a time.  It creates a provocative shift, though nuanced it may be, and from there, this likable recording really settles in.

“Join Us Jackson” has the satisfying brevity of a well-crafted pop tune, delivered with the solemn thoughtfulness of a gospel blues.  Brushes insinuate a swaying motion, punctuated by the occasional tap of sticks.  Piano brings the small but intense light of a brightly burning candle in darkness, with a slowly unwinding melody as a plume of smoke rising up from its flame.  Bass is the shadow that accentuates the melody’s shape and direction.  This is when the trio stamps their mark on the album.

“Dowsett Avenue” moves at a casual pace, too, though the soulful melody asks, and receives, a bit of a groove to bounce ideas off of, resulting in a slow shuffling cadence, nice and easy.  The rendition of Monk’s “Light Blue,” as it turns out, is an odd transition piece from “Dowsett Avenue,” a contrast in styles though not necessarily of expression… the blues speak up on both, and the exaggerated stagger of “Light Blue” is an interesting shift from the casual stroll of the previous track.  Unfortunately, it clashes with the album’s overall progression and stands out all by its lonesome… the kind of thing that cracks a recording built on a foundation of thoughtful melodic expressions.

This contrast becomes further evidenced by “Yann’s Flight,” which returns to an introspective state, even as it occasionally bursts into evocative form.  The cover of Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” is made a melancholy little jingle.  Collin wraps himself tightly around the melody, and the resulting sound of how it shifts and settles in his embrace illustrates how a little change can go a long way, and how simple sublime statements resonate just as powerfully as the most bombastic displays of sonic force.

“Northern Dreams” broods like mad.  Piano and drums slowly pace the room while bass arco whips around them, warping notes… the insinuation of a melody only secondary to establishing a mood.  It’s an approach that works well when sandwiched between the gratifying melodic treatment offered up by the Dylan cover and the album-closer “Stay With Me,” a love song that expresses as much heartbreak as it does hope… a sublime ending to an album that has many such moments.

Your album personnel: Romain Collin (piano), Shawn Conley (bass), and Abe Lagrimas, Jr. (drums).

The album is Self-Produced, released on the trio’s label Dowsett Records.

Available at:  Amazon

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Jan 4 2013

Tiny Reviews: Romain Collin, Francesco Diodati, Senri Oe, Nobuki Takamen, The Clerks

Tiny Reviews, featuring:  Romain Collin The Calling, Francesco Diodati Need Something Strong, Senri Oe Boys Mature Slow, Nobuki Takamen Three Wishes, The Clerks The Minor Fall EP.

 

Romain Collin – The Calling

Romain Collin - "The Calling"Interesting piano trio album from pianist Romain Collin.  He hints at the New Piano Trio sound with some small effects here and there, and the addition of a guest cello actually acts as de facto effect in the way cello is utilized as waves of harmony.  And there’s certainly some of the tempo tweaking that one would expect from a modern piano trio recording.  But Collin’s flairs for the dramatic sound more referential of the sweeping theatrics of McCoy Tyner’s 1980’s Milestone recordings than the jazz-rock fusion of modern-era Esbjorn Svensson Trio.  What that means for the listener is that this is an album that will provide a sense of flight, but instead of a steady charge up to a rapid ascension, Collin instead attains elevation with deceptively effortless flaps of the wings and then just soars and soars and soars.  It bucks a popular trend in modern jazz piano trio approach, and that in and of itself deserves recognition.  Also, it’s some solid jazz piano music.

Your album personnel:  Romain Collin (piano), Luques Curtis (double bass), Kendrick Scott (drums), and guests:  John Shannon (guitar) and Adrian Daurov (cello).

Released on the Palmetto Records label.

You can stream, and purchase, the album at Palmetto’s site.

Available at eMusic.  Available at Amazon: CD | MP3

 

Francesco Diodati – Need Something Strong

Francesco Diodate - "Need Something Strong"This a good example of why it’s not such a good idea to judge a book by its opening chapter.  Guitarist Francesco Diodati opens Need Something Strong with a perfectly acceptable modern guitar piece, but nothing that would distinguish it from the crowd.  But then the second track, “Struggle,” utilizes some subtle looping and effects to create a droning undercurrent, and the hop and bop of the previous track has settled into a smoother ride.  Then third track “Loop Bed” brings the acoustic guitar to the mix, and effects are more evident, and the band adopts a gentle sway that holds even when the volume rises.  This kind of pattern continues through this engaging album, cycling through compositions that feature modern fusion, post-bop, and doses of an Italian Jazz sound that behaves as a concoction of Nordic ambient and regional Italian folk.  Generalized, it’s a lively type of dreamy music.  And Diodati’s pattern of featuring these different sounds keeps the ear perpetually wondering what’s coming next, and the repeated motifs provide some welcome, familiar resting points.  Good stuff, and very worth exploring.

Your album personnel:  Francesco Diodati (electric & acoustic guitars), Francesco Bigoni (tenor sax, clarinet), Francesco Ponticelli (electric bass, double bass), and Ermanno Baron (drums, whistle).

Released on the Auand Records label.

Available at eMusic.  Available at Amazon: MP3

 

Other Albums of Note:

 

Senri Oe – Boys Mature Slow

Title refers to Japanese pop star Oe’s decision to walk away from stardom and move to New York to study jazz at 47 years of age.  Leading this quartet of piano, trombone, trumpet, bass, and drums, it appears to have worked out pretty well.  Plenty of chipper straight-ahead jazz.  Decent solos, decent interplay between quintet members, and good ol’ fun music to kick back and listen to.

Your album personnel: Senri Oe (piano), Obed Calvaire (drums), Jim Robertson (bass), Jonathan Powell (trumpet), and Joe Beaty (trombone).

Released on Oe’s PND Records label.

Available at eMusic.

 

Nobuki Takamen – Three Wishes

Nobuki Takamen - "Three Wishes"Straight-forward guitar, bass, drums trio.  Guest piano on two tracks, and it brings a favorable element to a song like “Greenwich Village Sometimes.”  Plenty of hoppin’ tunes.  Nothing groundbreaking, but definitely a nice selection for the jazz guitar fans.  Takamen’s cover of “Scarborough Fair” is what initially caught my ear.

Your album personnel:  Nobuki Takamen (guitar), Toshiyuki Tanahashi (bass), Naoki Aikawa, Akihito Yoshikawa (drums), and guest:  Hitoshi Kanda (piano).

Released on the Summit Records label.

Jazz from NYC.

Available at eMusic.

 

The Clerks – The Minor Fall EP

The Clerks - "The Minor Fall EP"Likable quintet date by The Clerks.  Heavy on the saxophones, with a rhythm section bolstered by guitar.  Modern jazz compositions that wend their way along while providing snappy accompaniment.  Best moments fall between the statements of melody, as if preferring the journeys over the destinations.

Your album personnel:  Thibault Chevaillier (guitar), Pierre Bernier (tenor & soprano saxes), Julien Pontvianne (tenor sax), Joachim Govin (bass), and Gautier Garrigue (drums).

You can stream all six album songs on their youtube channel.

The album is Self-Produced.

Jazz from the Paris, France scene.

Available at eMusic.

 

*****

The Romain Collin and Francesco Diodati reviews are original to Bird is the Worm, but portions of the other reviews were originally used in my Jazz Picks weekly article for eMusic, so here’s some language protecting their rights to that reprinted material as the one to hire me to write about new jazz arrivals to their site…

“New Arrivals Jazz Picks,“ and “New Arrivals Jazz Picks“ reprints courtesy of eMusic.com, Inc.
© 2012  eMusic.com, Inc.

As always, my sincere thanks to eMusic for the gig.  Cheers.

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