Artist: Andy Emler MegaOctet
Album: NO RUSH!
Label: La Buissonne Studios
Year Of Release: 2023
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Tracklist:
01. Ouv’ la case
02. No rush
03. Think or sink
04. Fondamental 6
05. Three thoughts for two
06. Minicrobe 2
07. Just a beginning
08. Good timing
Personnel:
Andy Emler, piano, direction
Laurent Blondiau, trumpet
Philippe Sellam, alto saxophone
Guillaume Orti, alto saxophone
Laurent Dehors, tenor saxophone, bass clarinet
François Thuillier, tuba, saxophone horn
François Verly, percussion, marimba, tabla
Eric Echampard, drums
Claude Tchamitchian, double bass
Nguyên Lê, guitar
No Rush!’ is the ninth studio recording of the Andy Emler MegaOctet, a small, big band of musicians in the form of an exceptional laboratory of human alchemy and sound.
“No Rush! Let’s take our time, listen, and compose.” For Andy Emler, this moment of intense loneliness (Covid lockdown) was the occasion to listen to 20th Century Music (Arnold Schönberg, Witold Lutoslawsky, György Ligeti, Maurice Ohana, Philippe Manoury, Tristan Murail, Bernard Cavanna, etc.), followed by an intense phase of inspired composing. The result is a suite composed especially for nine virtuoso musicians, including the return of return of guitarist Nguyên Lê who participated in the first version of MegaOctet in 1989.
Once again, Andy Emler is here as pianist, composer, arranger, director, and conductor; the catalyst of inspiration, and the energy and enthusiasm of the participating musicians. No Rush! takes its time. It is architectural, adventures, full of passion, humour, songfulness. A benchmark for contemporary orchestral jazz writing by any measure!
