Pianist of great talent, Georges Granville was however slow to conceive his first album. Encouraged by his friends and fellow travelers, he presents today Outlook, a tasty introduction to his sound universe tinged with jazz, bèlè, fiery rhythms and silky melodies. Supported by two high-level instrumentalists, Arnaud Dolmen (drums) and Michel Alibo (double bass), the virtuoso enchants and inspires us.
Over the years, we have seen the birth of a generation of impeccable Caribbean jazzmen. Admittedly, the expressive force of their cultural identity transpires in their works, but it would be unfair to retain only this heritage specificity. Listening to a musician requires an open mind that does not necessarily seek the traceability of its origins. When we take the time to appreciate the delicately chiseled playing of Georges Granville, we not only perceive the Caribbean source of his swing, we detect the echo of the great masters of modern piano, Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett, Lyle Mays… The art of the trio imposes, moreover, a demanding rigor that only the most daring manage to overcome. It is then necessary to know how to choose the right traveling companions. After 25 years of hectic life on stage or in the studio, Georges Granville knew how to surround himself.
Bassist Michel Alibo is a reference in “The Epic of Black Music”. Its jazz-funk tone has given color to the musical landscape of our time. His flamboyant performances alongside Manu Dibango, Salif Keïta, Mario Canonge, his stylistic prowess within the Sixun group, his round and generous musicality, all these elements have forged an immediately identifiable texture that Georges Granville would be wrong to deprive himself of. Note also that Michel Alibo continues to perfect his technique on the double bass, an instrument essential to the relevance of a jazz trio.
Drummer Arnaud Dolmen is a rhythm acrobat. Already hailed by a “Victoire du Jazz”, he is the author of two highly commendable albums, Tonbe Leve And Adjusting. His young career has allowed him to cross paths with many personalities including Mario Canonge, Naïssam Jalal, Laurent De Wilde, Jacques Schwarz-Bart, in particular, and his percussive finesse raises him to the rank of the great agitators of the jazz tempo. With Georges Granville, he prints an irresistible cadence that maintains this enjoyable melodic tension ideal for a trio.
These three troublemakers have combined their experience and know-how to produce a sparkling record that surprises, seduces, excites and appeals to our attentive ears. Little icing on the cake, Georges Granville has allowed himself to tastefully adapt a Beatles classic: And I Love Her. This perilous rereading should hit the mark! You will have irrefutable proof of this, on June 6, 2023, at the Triton, a historic jazz club, located in Les Lilas, near Paris.
⇒ The website of George Granville.