Louis Sclavis Recs

Squaredancecalling Steve · November-10th-2005, 09:51 PM

Sclavis has kind of snuck into my attention through various ECM albums, but I have nothing with him as leader or co-leader.

What should I look for?

Jesse · November-10th-2005, 09:53 PM

L'affrontement des pretendants

Sergio Zamora · November-10th-2005, 10:39 PM

Just about anything, really.

All of the ECMs I've heard are heartily recommended, but knowing your taste I think you'd particularly enjoy "Dans La Nuit", a score for a rediscovered silent film.

And of course the two Romano/Texier/Sclavis are essential. I believe a new is out...today, actually.

MRS · November-10th-2005, 10:39 PM

. . .among my twenty or so favorite recordings ever, maybe ten.

jazzgregg · November-11th-2005, 02:18 AM

I'm a huge Sclavis fan as well. I totally agree with the reccomendations so far. All of his ECM stuff is strong, I'd point out a few of my own suggestions not on ECM:
LOUIS SCLAVIS -DANSES ET AUTRES SCÈNES (Label Bleu)
LOUIS SCLAVIS TRIO -CEUX QUI VEILLENT LA NUIT (Label Bleu)
LOUIS SCLAVIS SEPTET -CHAMBER MUSIC (IDA)
and two of Texier's that Sclavis really rips on are:
HENRI TEXIER QUARTET -LA COMPAÑERA
HENRI TEXIER "AZUR" QUARTET -AN INDIAN'S WEEK

As for the Romano /Sclavis/ Texier albums, they are two (wating for the new one in the mail, I'm soooo excited!) of my favorite albums of all time, there aren't enough good words for me to say=).

Enjoy,
G

Ron Thorne · November-11th-2005, 04:10 AM

Oh, my! Here's yet another talent I've yet to explore.

I'm trying. Really. I'm spending as much time and money as I can justify listening to new recordings, but . . .

chaamba · November-11th-2005, 04:25 AM

I am with JazzGreg on Ceux Qui Veillent La Nuit and Chamber Music

Tom K · November-11th-2005, 04:26 AM

Get them all!

Ron Thorne · November-11th-2005, 04:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom K

Get them all!

With all due respect, that's of absolutely no assistance to someone who's already in trouble, money-wise and space-wise.

Pete C · November-11th-2005, 05:43 AM

To narrow it down to two, I'd say definitely L'Affrontement, and one of the Romano/Texier/Sclavis recordings--I might give Suite Africaine the slight edge.

Pete C · November-11th-2005, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sergio Zamora

knowing your taste I think you'd particularly enjoy "Dans La Nuit", a score for a rediscovered silent film.

Considering the Tin Hat preference, yes, but though I like this album it's not one I really return to. I did see it performed with the film, though. The music was better than the film.

Bill Barton · November-17th-2005, 11:51 PM

I'll second Suite Africaine .

Tom K · November-18th-2005, 05:22 AM

Ron Thorne:

You're right, I'm sorry - that was the fan speaking. But yes, How about "Et on ne parle pas du temps", "Suite Africaine", and Henri Texier's "An Indian's Week"?

jaka · November-18th-2005, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom K

Henri Texier's "An Indian's Week"?

One of the man's finest indeed, and he has recorded many great things.

LeMo · November-18th-2005, 08:25 AM

To this ears, only two of his own records are interesting.

- "Ceux qui veillent la nuit" (Label Bleu)

- "L'Affrontement des prétendants" (ECM)

To whom I'll add his free improv duet with Reijseger "Et on ne parle pas du temps" (FMP) (a really corny title, by the way, like most of the titles of his records).

I have a particular dislike for his "Rameau" record on ECM build on an inept concept and who is a total failure.

About the "African" trio with Romano and Texier, I would say that the best things in it are the photos of Guy Le Querrec.

The music is ok at first but became quickly insipid and taste less after very few listening (the first one more than the second, by the way).
They very much sound like "film music" to me, not more than this (the "nice" melody).

Yes, of course, Sclavis is intrinsicly, a good to great musicien but, alas, he is following the path Michel Portal had and in which Portal has mostly lost himself: he is composing music for movies, for theater, ballet, but not for the best of them (cf. the films of Bertrand Tavernier!!!!!)

Sorry to be so negatif, but I don't think his "evolution" as "the second official jazz/ impro French musician internationally known" is particularly promising fot the near future.

Pete C · November-18th-2005, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeMo

I have a particular dislike for his "Rameau" record on ECM build on an inept concept and who is a total failure.

LeMo, though I disagree with your overall assessment of Sclavis, I agree that Les Violences de Rameau is indeed a failure.

Bill Barton, good to see you back.

Felix · November-18th-2005, 06:59 PM

I prefer Sclavis in a simpler setting, as opposed to a "concept" album (soundtrack, whatever...). My favorites:

-L'Affrontement des Prétendants
-both Romano/Sclavis/Texier discs (and I hear there's a third one out... if we ever see it this side of the ocean!)
-Ceux qui veillent la nuit

and I also like Clarinettes.

John L · November-18th-2005, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Felix

and I also like Clarinettes.

That is my favorite of the Sclavis albums that I have heard.

I once saw him live when he played only his mouth piece for 30 minutes. I didn't get the joke.

Felix · November-18th-2005, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John L

I once saw him live when he played only his mouth piece for 30 minutes. I didn't get the joke.

I saw him live last year, with Michel Portal, Henri Texier and Daniel Humair. What a great concert that was! I'd love to hear an album with that band...

Bill Barton · November-18th-2005, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete C

LeMo, though I disagree with your overall assessment of Sclavis, I agree that Les Violences de Rameau is indeed a failure.

Bill Barton, good to see you back.

Hi, Pete! Thanks. I'll probably be only an occasional visitor rather than an addict as I was in some times past... "Hello, my name is Bill Barton, and I'm a recovering Jazz Corner-aholic."

And, for the record, I still like Suite Africaine a lot, contrary to the above negative opinions on the disc. I do, however, agree with the positive assessment of the photography booklet; it's practically worth the price of the collection by itself.

jazzgregg · November-18th-2005, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Felix

I saw him live last year, with Michel Portal, Henri Texier and Daniel Humair. What a great concert that was! I'd love to hear an album with that band...

I saw that show! It was the greatest day of my life, no question.

G

Pete C · November-18th-2005, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazzgregg

I saw that show! It was the greatest day of my life, no question.

G

I assume you guys are talking about the show at the Spectrum. I loved it too. Not the greatest say of my life, but a nice one (I saw Joao Bosco & Gonzalo Rubalcaba earlier that evening).

Pete C · November-18th-2005, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Felix

and I hear there's a third one out... if we ever see it this side of the ocean!

Felix, if they show up in any stores in North America, it'll likely be Archimbault, since they carry Label Bleu. It's very hard to find the stuff from U.S. retailers.

I couldn't find a bigger image of the African Flashback cover than the one on the Label Bleu site.

Before I had any of the discs, I saw the trio in NY (the year Suite Africaine came out). I think I started the standing ovation.

jazzgregg · November-18th-2005, 10:35 PM

Pete,
Yeah, it was at the Spectrum. All of those guys are such huge influences of mine. (as is Aldo Romano who I saw later that same week!). I spent a while talking to Sclavis (and had a cigarette with him) and Humair afterwords. They were both incredibly nice.

I took my MOM to the show and she came out saying that she never wanted to hear live music again because she didn't think it could be that good! lol She told Sclavis this as well!

I'm currently waiting on the new Romano/Sclavis/Texier cd. I keep looking for the FedEx guy...and getting angry when he doesn't come...
*sigh*

G

Pete C · November-18th-2005, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazzgregg

I took my MOM to the show and she came out saying that she never wanted to hear live music again because she didn't think it could be that good! lol She told Sclavis this as well!

I went with a friend who has little jazz listening experience, but open ears. I was pleasantly surprised that he was blown away.

Felix · November-19th-2005, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete C

Felix, if they show up in any stores in North America, it'll likely be Archimbault, since they carry Label Bleu. It's very hard to find the stuff from U.S. retailers.

Archambault will undoubtedly have it eventually, but their prices on the recent Label Bleu stuff are sometimes ridiculous. They sell Portal's Dockings for a smashing 38 canadian dollars!!! There's an official canadian distributor for the label, Festival on the West Coast, but when I worked at HMV downtown, I had the hardest time getting the rep to give me release dates on the jazz stuff, and sometimes the albums wouldn't be released at all... I guess they picked up the label mostly from the world music part (Indigo).

jazzgregg · November-19th-2005, 02:09 PM

I've been to Archambault many times but now I usually just order my Label Bleu stuff from the internet, from Label Bleu itself, if possible. Dockings is brilliant and although I WOULD pay 40 Canadian bucks for it, I didn't=)

G

LeMo · November-19th-2005, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Felix

They sell Portal's Dockings for a smashing 38 canadian dollars!!!

You can find "Dockings" in second shop on line for few €.
Try parisjazzcorner.com, I'm quite shure you will find quite quickly one there.

Felix · November-20th-2005, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeMo

You can find "Dockings" in second shop on line for few €.
Try parisjazzcorner.com, I'm quite shure you will find quite quickly one there.

Oh, I already have it. Found it second-hand for probably around 10-12 dollars. I was only using it as an example.

and, gregg, I also WOULD pay 40 bucks for it!