(Contemporary Jazz) Vincent Peirani with Michael Wollny & Michel Benita - Thrill Box - 2013, MP3, 320 kbps

"Thrill Box" is the debut solo release from young French accordionist Vincent Peirani, named in reference to his instrument, the accordion. Peirani's unique approach is full of surprises: he can make his accordion sound like an organ, a piano, a wind instrument or a human voice. He also sings in unison with the accordion, revealing an excellent voice. But "Thrill Box" is, above all, a trio album, and equal praise is deserved by pianist Michael Wollny and bassist Michel Benita. As well, guest soprano saxophonist Emile Parisien and Peirani’s old friend Michel Portal on bass clarinet and bandoneon appear on a couple of tracks each.
The accordion has grown to become an important voice in the new, distinctively European styles of jazz. It has proved to be capable of a vast expressive range, with a seemingly infinite repertoire of textures and tone colours. Peirani is the latest virtuoso to turn the old squeeze-box into a thrill-box. His own compositions often build from the tiniest threads of sound into whole musical landscapes, and he manages to find something new in a whole variety of other material, from folk songs to Thelonious Monk. His trio is completed by pianist Michael Wollny and bassist Michel Benita, plus some interesting guests.