BAPTISTE TROTIGNON - Share

Baptiste Trotignon can play the piano...no, scrub that, Baptiste Trotignon plays the piano very well...no, scratch that...Baptiste Trotignon belongs in the stella region of piano players. It's a bit unfortunate that his pose on the cover of this mixed trio and quintet recording makes you think he knows it too with its posed nonchalance but don't be fooled - this is a very, very good CD - actually my current favourite. He lets each song's story gently unfold, holding back his phenomenal technique until the emotional point needs to be made. His flowing improvised lines then swirl around between repeated hypnotic figures and runaway flights of fingers that sound like he's screwed in a sixth digit to his right hand - in other words, he's not afraid to milk the juice until the crescendo. Also a classic french romantic, at other times he'll sit back just marvelling in the strength of the melody, trying to find its inner muse like on Vibe where there's virtually no improvisation - just a reverence for the beautiful harmelody (my term) as it builds and builds. The very fast Red Light District sees him in full flood in a bluesy Hancock like improvisation that sounds like a fiercer than usual Le Mistral just entered the room. Mention must be made of this rhythm section - the drummer weaving such interesting textures and back beats as to make him along with the bassist equal partners. Mark Turner and Tom Harrell also appear on several beautifully constructed tracks like the bustling Dexter and Flow but rest assured this is no 'invite the American names for a few tracks to validate the talent' no sir - although not strictly coming under the terms and conditions of this blog, I'll listen to Baptiste in any situation, he's that good.

Do you remember going to your first proper concert when you were young and suddenly having a realisation of how incredibly finely tuned and 'calibrated' the musicians were in terms of their technique and allowing emotions to surface naturally through the music, not through nodding heads or bravura? Ah, Monsieur Trotignon - you're most welcome, do come in.