Piano Piano

Author: Ducros, Anne

Format: Import

Release Date: 07-10-2014

Details: Singing mostly in English, with a soupcon of scat, French artist Anne Ducros makes a likable impression with this assortment of jazz standards, her first American release. Make that likable impressions: The setting and pianist keep changing, from duos with Chick Corea and Rene Urtreger to trios with Jacky Terrasson and Enrico Pieranunzi to tenor saxophone-sparked quartets with her regular keboardist, Benoit de Mesnay. As with many foreign jazz singers for whom English does not come naturally, it proves a recurring obstacle: For all the buoyant charm she brings to Miles Davis' bop-era classic "Four," the performance is thrown by her pronouncing "three" as ""tree" and uttering "when you puts them together." But Ducros' shimmering command of jazz grammar go a long way toward overcoming her shaky English, and when she cuts loose in her native tongue, on "Les Feuilles Mortes" ("Autumn Leaves") with Corea, her soaring-swooping phrasing and deep-bodied tones induce smiles. So does her unusual, Arabic-tinged treatment of Erik Satie's "Gnossienne No. 1," featuring Olivier Louvel on saz (Turkish lute). Without losing its connection to the rest of the songs, its spiritual intensity makes for a welcome departure. --Lloyd Sachs

EAN: 3460503667426

Binding: Audio CD

Item Condition: New