News: October 2006
Posted November 13, 2006The website of French tv station TV5 produces a series of coverages of different cities in the world with a focus on their cultural aspects and activities. The latest destination is Paris, and Métisse Music is accompanying this Parisian walk musically. This is an opportunity for (re)discover some of our artists that have strong French connections, and even some music that has not yet been released (John Greaves), so if you are curious, please don’t hesitate to check it out ! Here is the connection: select “Musiques d’Aujourd’hui” at the bottom of the home page:
TV5 Paris
Brian Eno has composed most of the music for a new ballet by renowned French choreographer Philippe Découflé, called “Sombrero”. It premieres in Nimes on October 12, then moves to Italy, and will be back in France, at La Rochelle, in November. Paris dates are scheduled at the Théâtre de Chaillot in May and June 2007, and the ballet will be part of the Biennale de Danse de Lyon in October 2007.
Brian Eno’s groundbreaking ‘77 Million Paintings’ – a “visual music” programme using television and computer screens to create constantly evolving paintings – should be in the stores in France in October.
‘77 Million Paintings’ continues Eno’s exploration of the aesthetic possibilities of generative software. “I think of these things as visual music,” he says. “The screen is not being used to tell a story – which is what screens normally do – but to show a painting. This is a painting that changes all the time, in fact it changes into other paintings and there are 77 million of these, produced by the permutations of several overlaid images, so it’s unlikely you’ll see the same thing twice or, if you do, it won’t last very long.”
Although more known for his musical output, Eno has also had a long career as a visual artist and has worked with generative light compositions in the same way that he has worked with generative music on such classic albums as ‘Music For Airports’ (1978) and ‘Neroli’ (1993). His visual work has been exhibited in galleries across the globe – see partial list below – and installations of ‘77 Million Paintings’ will be going to the Biennales of both Venice and Milan this year.
Lightwave, electro-acoustic duo based in Paris, are working on the concept of a sound installation at the Quai François Mauriac in Paris, to show the way to a sub-aquatic concert conceived by contemporary French composer Michel Redolfi . It will take place at the newly opened public swimming pool floating on the Seine in front of the National Library François Mittérand. The occasion will be the “nuit blanche”, the night without sleep, when many Paris institutions, concert halls and exhibition spaces will be open and presenting diverse music and other events, all through the night of October 7/8.
The Limoges Jazz Festival ,which will be revived by the city with the help of Jean-Michel Leygonie will see TOP, Jacky Terrasson Okegwo/Leon Parker, the legendary trio, perform in this first new edition in November (10-19). The legendary trio have been touring Europe this summer and will record a new album for release, probably, toward the end of 2007.
The label Laborie will present its jazz signatures during a week at the Paris Club “Le Duc des Lombard” starting on October 17, promoted by spots on the TSF station. Yaron Herman, signed to Laborie, will close this cycle of concerts with a solo performance on Saturday, October 21.
The label Américan Clavé, created by the legendary producer Kip Hanrahan, is again available all over Europe, thanks to the initiative of German jazz label Enja Records.
The first three releases, handled in France by Harmonia Mundi, are: “Bad Mouth”, an absolutely compelling new release by Conjure, an ensemble including David Murray, Fernando Saunders, Anthony Cox and many other splendid musicians, as well as the voice and texts of poet Ishmael Reed; the soundtrack of the documentary about Cuban poet Piri Thomas “Every Child is born a Poet”; and the fiery “Robby and Negro at the Third World War” lead by the outstanding drummers Robby Ameen and Horacio Hernandez.
The German based ACT label ACT, now distributed by Harmonia Mundi in France, does not slow down: there are about a dozen new productions to be released in France during the next three months. Amongst them, the tenth album by the extraordinary and very popular e.s.t. trio: the latest CD of American, French based pianist Eric Watson with his trio; the very impressive “Europeana”, an orchestrated “jazzphony” created by Michael Gibbs and Joachim Kühn and featuring the cream of European jazz; a magnificent new album by Swedish singer Victoria Tolstoy, the great granddaughter of the Russian writer; and cellist and bass player Lars Danielsson’s “Mélange Bleu” project involving Bugge Wesseltoft and Nils Petter Molvaer. Much good music to savour.
In the “world music” context, Asphalt Tango, the Berlin label specializing in music from Eastern Europe, is coming up with some great releases for France through their new French distributor Abeille Musique. Two tracks from both Motion Trio and Kal can be found of the October sampler of the music monthly Vibrations.
Chango Spasiuk’s original Piranha recording “Tarefero De Mis Pagos. Sounds from the Red Land” (CD-PIR1895) has been nominated for the prestigious Latin Grammy Award in the category “Best Folk Album”. Cross fingers !
Percussionist Manuel Wandji is preparing a journey to New York in October, joining the jazz vocalist and composer from Cameroon,Gino Sitson, now based in the US. More French dates will follow for Wandji and his great musicians in November.
The latest synchronisation feats include a song by Clement Dodd and Jackie Mittoo for a club internet tv campaign; “Soy Libre” by Argentinian great Atahualpa Yupanqui in a tv movie for Arte directed by Jean-Baptiste Huber. The Nike world Cup campaign including a song by Brasilian group Barbatuques; and more under negotiation…
In the pop field, there is some Métisse Music action as well: After “HIPS DON’T LIE” recorded by Shakira, which was an enormous summer/world cup hit , we will be representing a share of George Michael’s next single (yes!), a duet with Mutya of the Sugarbabes out in September “THIS IS NOT REAL LOVE”... Who would have thunk it…! The song will be on a double album, a triple album and a DVD to be released in the UK and elsewhere in November, as well.