Licks for kicks: Baptiste Trotignon – photo Naïve
Composed with what is described as a “strict” one-hour-per-track rule to preserve raw intuition, according to the issuing label – whatever the process the outcome is sunny and optimistic.
A live version of ‘The Ladder’ performed at the Marciac jazz festival in France just ahead of release – above. Trotignon is with Art is Simple bass guitarist Jérôme Regard and drummer Raphaël Pannier.
The cast of musicians on the album with Trotignon are Jérôme Regard and Laurent Vernerey on bass guitar; Raphaël Pannier, Raphaël Chassin and Tony Rabeson on drums; Romain Pilon on guitar occasionally adding an Americana twang to proceedings; Meivelyan Jacquot on percussion and Trotignan’s daughter Rosalie on vocals.
The high profile 52-year-old French jazz and classical pianist and composer Baptiste Trotignon’s previous work includes Fluide (2000), Solo (2003), Song, Song, Song (2012) and Brexit Music (2023).
It’s certainly pleasant enough and may sit well with you if particularly you are a Brad Mehldau or Yaron Herman fan. I’d pick out ‘Aldo’ and ‘The Ladder’ as the key tracks. The album is full of appealing licks and tiny fragments that you feel could be developed more but are nevertheless tantalising. ‘Azul’ is more let his hair down, with silky tremolos and a certain exuberance that also works well. A bluesy gospelness is never far away. The sublimated Satie side of the album comes through sometimes – particularly on ‘Le temps s’arrête’ which I definitely enjoyed that bit more. Pilon’s contribution to ‘Avant I’heure’ is another part of the album that is worth replaying a good deal.
