Blue Tangerine
In the spring of 2016, Sandro Zerafa, guitar player, composer and artistic director of the Malta Jazz Festival, asked me if I could write a repertoire for an ensemble composed equally of Maltese and French musicians. This initiative was part of an exchange program between our two countries. I agreed, and for this purpose, decided to use the music of Hermeto Pascoal. I arranged some themes of the great Brazilian musician whom I always admired. In addition, I wrote an arrangement for a «choro» by Pixinguinha as well as several original compositions specifically conceived for this group.
The first time we met was only four days before the festival’s closing concert, on July 22nd, 2016. Since the very first rehearsal, some sort of alchemy was created and we all immediately enjoyed the pleasure of playing together. The concert was very well received and by mutual agreement, we decided to push the adventure further. First, we invited the Maltese musicians to Paris for a series of concerts, then we returned to Malta to play again at the Malta Jazz Festival in July 2018. After these two years of experiences, we obtained a grant from the “Arts Council Malta ” to record the CD you now hold in your hands.
Since our first concert, the repertoire never stopped evolving, especially to highlight the beautiful voice of Angela Vella Zarb. This is the case on April whose lyrics she wrote, or on Nem Um Talvez, a composition by Hermeto Pascoal recorded for the first time by Miles Davis in 1970 (Live Evil).
Our trombonist Michel Berelowitch wrote the highly successful Indi Gogo track. To these original songs, I wanted to add two “choros” by Pixinguinha: Proezas de Solon and Um to Zero; little drops of charm and lightness. Also included is one of my favorite pieces by Hermeto (and not so well known) that we have played from the beginning, De Sabado pra Dominguinhos.
Paulistano which opens the album is dedicated to the people of Sao Paulo where I spent my adolescence. Even if the result is very different from what I originally planned, Macondo was written thinking of the small village of One Hundred Years of Solitude, Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s masterpiece. Kaïat is dedicated to my friend Jo Kaïat, in memory of the many evenings spent listening to stories of his life in Africa.
Reviews on... -> Jazz News - Culture Jazz (2019) - Culture Jazz (2020) - Audiophile Magazine
Diffusion sur "Tout nouveau tout FIP" du 11/11/19 au 15/12/19 et sur FIP jazz pendant la semaine du 18 au 24/11/19
1 Paulistano (Vincent Jacqz)
2 April (Angela Vella Zarb - Vincent Jacqz)
3 Um a Zero (Pixinguinha - Benedito Lacerda)
4 Indi Gogo (Michel Berelowitch)
5 Macondo (Vincent Jacqz)
6 Nem Um Talvez (Hermeto Pascoal)
7 Nix Mangiari (Joseph Camilleri)
8 Kaïat (Vincent Jacqz)
9 Proezas de Solon (Pixinguinha - Benedito Lacerda)
10 Blue Tangerine (Vincent Jacqz)
11 De Sabado pra Dominguinhos (Hermeto Pascoal)
Angela Vella Zarb: vocals
Florent Hinschberger: trumpet and flugelhorn
Michel Berelowitch: trombone
Benoit Crauste: alto sax
Philippe Lopes de Sa: ténor and soprano sax
Karl Galea: guitar
Dean Montanaro: bass
Nils Wekstein: percussions
Joseph « Bibi » Camilleri: drums
Vincent Jacqz: piano, arrangements, musical direction