ALAIN BÉDARD AUGUSTE QUARTET

PARTICULES SONORES

Effendi Records

Alain Bédard, bass; Michel Lambert, drums; Marie Fatima Rudolf, piano; Mario Allard, Soprano, tenor, alto & baritone saxophone.

One of Canada’s best known jazz ensembles is the long-running  Auguste Quartet led by bassist, Alain Bédard.  They grew from the active jazz scene in French-speaking Quebec. The quartet is signed to Effendi Records, a label Bédard founded. That label is celebrating their 25^th anniversary.

Both Bédard, percussionist Michel Lambert, and pianist, Marie Fatima Rudolf have composed and contributed music for this project. They open with “Compte-Rendu III” written by Bédard.  It features Mario Allard on soprano saxophone. According to the ensemble’s press package, it’s a tune based on a rotating modular melodic system.  The tune is long, over eight minutes.  After a lengthy saxophone solo, the spotlight swivels to Rudolf on piano.  Towards the end of the tune, Alain Bédard steps forward on his bass to improvise on the theme.

The title of the quartet’s album is “Particules Sonores.”  The title celebrates how a sound wave is produced.  First, it interacts with particles of matter. The energy created is transported and diffused, becoming “sound particles” (Particules Sonores).

Track two is composed by Bédard.  It was written in tribute to a friend who happens to love Chanel perfumes, so it’s titled “Profumo Chaneleone.”  This moderate tempo arrangement gives Michel Lambert an opportunity to shine on his trap drums.  It’s a very modern jazz composition.

On “Terrain Neutre” Marie Fatima Rudolf is the main soloist.  She is also the composer.  There is consistent dissonance between the bass line and the melody.  This is clearly an artistic decision, but a little off-putting to my ear.

A song titled “A Goose Story” was composed by the bass man.  It’s nine minutes of very improvised music.  Although this music is well-played and interesting, I kept waiting for one composition that really perpetrated “swing.”  I longed for a tune where the tempo made me snap my fingers and tap my toes.  Much of this music sounds quite orchestrated, as though a much larger group was going to interpret these songs in a very dramatic way.  This is obvious during “A Goose Story” where tempos and moods change.  But on the short piece titled “Bamboozled” I finally got my wish.  It swings! They lay a groove down that makes my feet tap.  Another melodic and Latin flavored tune is titled, “Il Cappello di mia Sorella.”  It was a nicely arranged, happy tune. I believe it translates to “My Sisters Hat.” That made me chuckle.  Also, I enjoyed “Celestes for RR” that celebrate Straight-ahead jazz.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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