Jacques Chanier Discography of CDs

Jacques Chanier CD discography Boston, MA.-area jazz pianist Jacques Chanier minces a forceful approach with supremely melodic compositions on his second release, Quilt. However, bassist Thomson Kneeland's electronic manipulations on a few pieces surface more as experimentation, as opposed to anything that might seem substantive. These iterations are evidenced during tracks such as "Announcement," where sequences of EFX-based gurgling noises interfere with Chanier's soft but rather nondescript tinkering. Putting that notion aside, drummer Brooke Sofferman's crisp interaction with his bandmates gives credence to his rising prominence within New England jazz circles. Simply put, this band smokes! And other than a few pleasant ballads, Chanier leads his musical associates with the authority and presence of a General leading his troops into battle. On the composition titled "Y Note," the pianist overlays a succinctly stated melody atop the rhythm section's Latin pulse. Here, Chanier eventually expands the melody into a series of rapidly paced improvisational forays. And despite a few lulls in the action, Chanier is an exciting jazz pianist, who demonstrates an acute penchant for dynamics amid a perceptible, classically oriented swagger. ~ Glenn Astarita Live Recording Recorded at P.B.S. Studios, Westwood, Massachusetts on August 6-7, 2002. Jacques Chanier Trio: Jacques Chanier (piano); Thomson Kneeland (bass, electronics, samples); Brooke Sofferman (drums, percussion). Personnel: Jacques Chanier (piano); Thomson Kneeland (acoustic bass, electronics); Brooke Sofferman (drums, rainsticks, shaker, percussion). Recording information: P.B.S. Studios, Westwood, MA (08/06/2002-08/07/2002).

Jacques Chanier CD discography Drummer Brooke Sofferman's 1999 debut, Modesty's Odyssey, garnered him many plaudits as a promising up-and-comer in the world of adventurous post-bop. The Green Between does nothing if not reinforce this sentiment. This time augmenting his group from 1999 with pianist Jacques Chanier and trumpeter Phil Grenadier, Sofferman has achieved an even more lush sound. His compositions epitomize the aesthetics of the post-bop school: odd time signatures, complex harmonic structures, and muscular, intellectualized playing that borders on the avant-garde. Strikingly though, Sufferman avoids the most common pitfall of this genre, whereby melody is sacrificed for harmony. His themes are hummable and often paired with characteristically oddball rhythms, such as the reggae-infused "Across the Crebix" or the funky, Ornette Coleman-like rhumba of "Crownestula." Truly a group of Bostonians, most if not all of Sufferman's cohorts teach at either Berklee or the New England Conservatory. Consequently, the soloing is first-rate thrill-seeking exemplified by tenor sax legend Jerry Bergonzi, ...

Jacques Chanier albums Recorded live at the Willow Club, Sommerville, Massachusetts. Technology definitely has its place in music -- in fact, everyone from South-Central L.A. hip-hoppers to Algerian rai artists has done marvelous things with it. But there's always something to be said for spontaneity and for music that's played in real time. Henry Cook knows how exciting spontaneity and honest-to-God musicianship can be, and those things play an indispensable role on Dimensional Odyssey. Recorded live at the Willow Jazz Club in Somerville, MA in 1994, this post-bop CD finds the saxman/flutist leading a very cohesive acoustic sextet that includes Bobby Ward on drums, Cecil Brooks on trumpet, Jacques Chanier on ...