Michel Donato: Autour De Bill Evans

Frank Lozano -saxophones François Bourassa -piano Michel Donato -contrebasse Pierre Tanguay - batterie

Wholenote Discoveries - December 2011/Jaunary 2012
More great music emanates from Montreal on Autour de Bill Evans, an all-star quartet showcasing the current cornerstones of that city’s superior jazz history. The group led by excellent pianist François Bourassa tackles the repertoire of Bill Evans, the lyrical master who died in 1980, although of the disc’s 11 tunes just four are Evans originals. This tribute pushes the right buttons, sounds classic yet up-to-date and highlights the considerable talents of the team, with saxman Frank Lozano adept at capturing Evans’ melodic strengths, bass Michel Donato’s rich deep tones proving a super-strong anchor, drummer Pierre Tanguay exercising his precise subtleties and the leader his expansive imagination and crafted harmonies. The band’s easy cohesion and flair for innovation within the tradition will ensure this album is a candidate for top ten year-ending lists. *Effendi has recently issued four more classy discs by Montreal headliners, groups led by Lozano (Destin), pianist Josh Rager (Kananaskis), saxophonist Alexandre Cote (Transitions) and bassist Alain Bédard (Homos Pugnax). Geoff Chapman
Through his extensive career, Bill Evans recorded with many different musicians. Both as leader and sideman. Regardless of the context, his sound was, and still is, unmistakably unique. Asked about this, he said he never set out to invent his sound, but instead wanted to approach music as sincerely and honestly as possible. "Jazz is not a what, it's a how" was the philosophy which freed the feeling of his music from its content. The music on this CD, recorded in a single day, is a good example of the openness inspired by this feeling. Based on a cross-section of Bill Evans' repertoire, it was chosen above all with the joy of playing in mind.

Price: $20.98