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Rating:
An eclectic pianist with a solid classical background and a saxophonist steeped in Coltrane and free jazz, engaged in a free exchange of opinions on 20th-century history. This is the impression Eric Watson and Christof Lauer gave me when I saw them perform this album live in concert in Strasbourg, not far from the "Pôle Nord" where it was recorded live in 2011.
During the concert, it seemed to me that the two musicians were improvising a musical commentary on the most representative images of the dense century we've left behind for about a decade now. This feeling, I believe, was linked to the strong contrast created between the occasionally very classical, introspective piano style and the full, jovial sound of the saxophone. An almost anachronistic sensation was evoked in the exchanges between the two instruments, as if they belonged to different, incompatible eras, intertwining and chasing each other along the timeline.
Lauer's passion for John Coltrane is clearly evident in the first track through a series of repeated references to "A Love Supreme," with further nods scattered throughout the rest of the album. Amid whispers and playful calls, the two instruments guide the listener through landscapes now in shadow, now in full sun. They can be seen exchanging knowing looks and questioning in amazement, only to then launch into a chase, as if reaching for an answer before it resumes its path. At certain moments, the piano then leaves the sax behind, venturing to explore classical territories, far from the warmth of the brass, surrendering to its own thoughts.
A delight to savor.
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