1. Michelangelo 70
2. Teulada
3. Ten
Years Ago
4. Rue
de Maubeuge
5. Tango
pour Claude
6. Poème
7. Coloriage
8. Giselle
9. Take
Eleven
10.Taraf
Richard
Galliano - Accordion
Frank Vaganée
- Lead alto and soprano sax, flute, artistic director
Dieter
Limbourg - Alto and soprano sax, clarinet, flute
Kurt Van
Herck - Tenor sax, flute, clarinet
Bart Defoort
- Tenor sax, clarinet
Bo Van
der Werf - Baritone sax, bass clarinet
Serge Plume
- Lead trumpet and flugelhorn
Nico Schepers,
Pierre Drevet, Jeroen Van Malderen - Trumpets,
flugelhorns
Marc Godfroid
- Lead trombone
Lode Mertens,
Ben Fleerakkers - Trombones
Laurent
Hendrick - Bass trombone
Jos Machtel
- Bass
Klaas Balijon
- Drums
I seem to have reviewed an awful lot
of Richard Galliano albums recently. I don't mean they are awful -
I just mean they are very numerous. He must be one of the hardest-working
musicians around. Yet every Galliano album is worth hearing, because
he is so talented and he plays with such a diversity of groups.
This is his first album with a big band
- the highly-esteemed Brussels Jazz Orchestra, which accompanies him
magnificently as well as supplying some noteworthy soloists - such
as saxist Frank Vaganée and trombonist Marc Godfroid. Richard Galliano
allows these musicians their space but Galliano is understandably
the main soloist on every track - as well as the composer of all the
tunes except Michelangelo 70 (written by Astor Piazolla).
Richard also arranged half the tracks
on the CD, the other half being arranged by Bert Joris. Both arrangers
manage successfully the difficult task of integrating the accordion
into the context of a big band. The styles range widely: from tangos
to such swingers as Teulada, gently bouncy tunes (e.g. Rue
de Maubeuge and Take Eleven) and quietly
reflective pieces like Giselle and the title-track. There is
even an Eastern atmosphere to the final Taraf, with Frank Vaganée's
alto sax weaving around as if he is snake-charmer.
All the musicianship is impeccable and this is yet
another triumphant album from Richard Galliano.
Tony Augarde
CD Reviews
