artist : CΘline Bonacina Trio
title : Way Of Life
label : ACT
cat# : ACT94982
genre : Jazz
street date : 2010-06-21
tracks : 13
bitrate : 194 kbps avg. 44.1/Joint Stereo
size : 74.40 mb
source : CD
type : Retail
url : http://www.actmusic.com
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It was a recommendation of ACT guitarist NguyΩn LΩ that first brought the
French baritone saxophonist CΘline Bonacina to the attention of label boss
Siggi Loch. Once again the exchange and sense of community within the "ACT
Family" has provided the impetus for an exceptional musical discovery. In
this way Esbj÷rn Svensson, for example, played in Nils LandgrenÆs Funk
Unit before his international career with e.s.t. whilst Korean singer,
Youn Sun Nah, came to ACT through her work with Ulf Wakenius and Lars
Danielsson. NguyΩn LΩ first met CΘline Bonacina in 2008 at a festival.
ôShe told me that my album Bakida (ACT 9275-2) had had a strong influence
on her musical development. Then, two years later, she asked me to play on
a few tracks of her new album Way of Life. Since then, my involvement in
the album has grown continuously from guitarist to sound engineer to
co-producer. That the album is now being released by ACT makes me
especially happy for CΘline.ô
CΘline Bonacina studied in Belfort, Besanτon and Paris. She won numerous
prizes for her saxophone playing and gained her first jazz experience in
Parisian big bands. She worked with artists such as the Cuban pianist Omar
Sosa and the saxophonist Andy Sheppard. CΘline BonacinaÆs debut album, Vue
dÆen Haut, was widely acclaimed by the French jazz press and its success
lead to appearences at French jazz festivals. One of the most well known
of these, Jazz ß Vienne, voted her, in 2009, the winner of its Jazz
Competition û the prize a festival performance in 2010 and production of
her new album Way of Life.
"I couldnÆt stop admiring the vitality and beauty of her music and
constantly discovering new forms of diversity and exceptional expression
in her,ô enthused NguyΩn LΩ about CΘline Bonacina. ôThis young woman has
the will and urge to break through boundaries and set herself apart from
the masses and this also made her choose such an impressive instrument as
the baritone saxophone on which she plays on most the tracks of the album.
During our work together I was always discovering new facets of her
artistic personality. There is such a contrast between CΘlineÆs graceful
appearance, her gentle and spiritual yet also slightly impish manner, and
the fire which burns in every single one of her sounds.ô
To play with immense complexity whilst, at the same time, always
maintaining the ôgroundingö in a strong groove with enthralling, almost
danceable rhythms û this is the appeal and the emotion of the music on Way
of Life. Bonacina acquired this musical ability particularly during her
seven-year-stay on the French RΘunion Island in the Indian Ocean and her
contact with the music of this region. The driving funk of "Wake Up", the
Afrobeat pulse underlying "Ekena" and a bouncy dub and reggae "Course pour
Suite" determine the rhythm of this album. When united to an irrepressible
joyfulness in music making and energy the result is a refreshing
renouncing of understatement at a time when a certain melancholy is
creeping into jazz.
Strong musical characters complement CΘline Bonacina: the drummer, Hary
Ratsimbazafy, from Madagascar, provides an irresistible beat û elegant but
powerful. This is smoothly combined with the E bass of Nicolas Garnier who
gives the music a touch of classic rock and fusion. On four tracks the
power trio is reinforced further by NguyΩn LΩ on the E guitar which, once
again, shows him to be, after the quieter, world music sounds of his last
album Saiyuki (ACT 9483-2), more powerful whilst, at the same time, also
contributing delicate and unexpected brilliant nuances to the music.
In the albumÆs liner notes, NguyΩn LΩ writes: Way of Life is an
illuminated path on which opposites and extremes come together in a
seemingly effortless and natural way: strong melodies interchange with
wild, screeching outbreaks and a deep, grounded distortion; stirred-up
unrest charged with driving rhythms. I hope that all listeners have as
much enjoyment with Way of Life as I had in discovering the album and
working on it. May you have a great and long career, CΘline!ô
Line Up:
CΘline Bonacina / baritone, alto & soprano saxophone, vocals
Nicolas Garnier / electric bass
Hary Ratsimbazafy / drums & percussions, vocals
NguyΩn LΩ / electric guitar (on 3, 7, 11, 12)
http://www.actmusic.com
http://www.celine-bonacina.com
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01 ZigZag Blues 3:21
02 Course Pour Suite 4:17
03 Ra Bentr'ol 6:05
04 Wake Up 3:52
05 Free Woman 4:56
06 Travel Story 4:44
07 Ekena 4:54
08 Deep Red 1:34
09 RAB 1:58
10 Histoire De 2:53
11 Jungle 5:02
12 Entre Deux RΩves 7:47
13 T⌠ty Come Bach 0:52
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