(Modern Creative) [WEB] Michael Riessler, Howard Levy, Jean-Louis Matinier - Silver & Black - 2009 [Enja ENJ-9536 2], FLAC (tracks), lossless

Three virtuoso artists (and friends) acknowledged for their very personal ways between genres and styles have come together for a summit meeting. Michael Riessler from Germany, a clarinet player associated with contemporary composers like Kagel, Cage, Lachenmann and Stockhausen while also being an explorer of a “folklore imaginaire”, has established himself in the forefront of today’s global improvisers’ scene. Howard Levy from the States, the world’s most advanced player of the diatonic harmonica, was a featured soloist with Bela Fleck, Paul Simon, Willy Schwarz, Holly Cole, Rabih Abou-Khalil, Dolly Parton, Bobby McFerrin and many more artists between classical and country, Latin and pop. Jean-Louis Matinier from France is the leading accordion player in European jazz, a collaborator of Renaud Garcia-Fons, Louis Sclavis, Gianluigi Trovesi, Anouar Brahem and such, as well as the long-term musical partner of French chansonniere Juliette Gréco.
Sharing a universal musical language that includes (among other things) Bach, blues and world music, Riessler, Levy & Matinier develop a new sound and a new aesthetic concept for their trio effort. The free reeds of the harmonica and accordion go particularly well with Riessler’s buzzing bass clarinet (often played by him with circular breathing), thus giving the ensemble a rare and special timbre of surprise. Starting out from very diverse compositional ideas delivered by all of them, the trio takes off to adventurous and humorous flights of musical fantasy driven by dancing rhythms and fun of playing.
This is what the critics write about the trio:
“On today’s scene there is not much that is more exciting”
~ Süddeutsche Zeitung, Germany
“Three excellent musicians in an extraordinary band. Together they conjure up a fascinating melange of contemporary jazz, modern classical music and imaginary folklore garnished with a shot of earthy blues and gripping South American rhythms. This top trio is characterized by their captivating virtuosity, sparkling playfulness and joyous transcending of any musical borders”
~ Spielboden Dornbirn, Austria