Personnel:
Michael Felberbaum (g), Pierre De Bethmann (p, Fender Rhodes), Darryl Hall (b), Karl Jannuska (d)
Reference: FSNT-275
Bar code: 8427328422758
Since he moved to Paris in 1990, guitarist and composer Michael Felberbaum has been collaborating with numerous jazz musicians, contributing to decisive projects, the most recent including a duo with trombonist Daniel Casimir, « Ilium » with Pierre De Bethmann, the Toufic Farroukh Absolut Orkestra, Manu Dibango, Steve Lehman, Stéphane Persiani, Steve Potts, Sylvain Beuf, François Theberge, and also a trio with Emmanuel Bex and Aldo Romano. Today he is back as a leader with his second album featuring Pierre De Bethmann, Darryl Hall and Karl Jannuska.
"...Michael Felberbaum asserts himself as a tremendous composer."
- Jean-Baptiste Olivier - Le Monde de la Musique
"... the guitar's radiant wisdom and melodic depth at times evoke Bill Frisell..."
- Jérôme Plasseraud - Jazz Magazine
"Que Michael Felberbaum ait alterné avec Kurt Rosenwinkel auprès de Mark Turner au Wallys de Boston avant son installation à Paris en 1991 ne nous étonne pas. Pas plus que de le voir adoubé sur le label Fresh Sound New Talent par Jordi Pujol. Des moyens et un patrimoine de guitar hero sont à lombre dune discrétion et dune musicalité tout en nuances quon a pu découvrir auprès de François Théberge, Emmanuel Bex, Steve Potts et Pierre de Bethmann. Ce dernier rend la visite à son guitariste, prenabt la place autrefois occupée dans le quartette par le saxophone de Matthieu Donarier (« Sharp Water », Nocturne). On aurait tort den être désappointé. Entre piano et guitare, les amours sont certes frictionnelles et lon ne déteste pas quun vent vienne faire de lair entre les deux. Pourtant finesse des réglages, des voicings , des arrangements, des relations daccompagnateur à soliste nest ce pas elle qui avait attiré notre attention sur sa guitare ? Idées formelles très « New York tournant de siècle » mais lélégance des architectures et l¡intelligence des fondations harmoniques abritent un anirisme mélodique qui culmine dans Phosphor-Essence (digne du Wayne Shorter des années 1970-80) et avec létourdissante boîte à musique de Tal Tales. Si lon vous dit que la réplique est donnée au fidèle batteur Karl Jannuska par le contrebassiste Darryl Hall, vous navez plus grande raison dhésiter à écouter cet album."
-Franck Bergerot (Jazzman)
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Playing clubs in Rome at the age of fifteen, learning and performing with many U.S. artists, and leading his own bands in ParisMichael Felberbaum knows a thing or two about modern jazz guitar.
Not only does he know a little something, but you can hear it in his playing with music that is filled with panache, potency, and touch, on the stimulating Sweet Salt.
The usual guitar influences could be referenced (Pat Metheny, John Scofield, et al.), but Felberbaum stretches towards the boundaries of contemporaries like Ben Monder, Adam Rogers, and Mike Moreno, establishing new plugged-in destinations.
Felberbaums project for this release successfully links intelligence and emotion with music that evinces contemporary stories such as Tal Tales, a simple melody that expands episodically, and All Fall, a pastoral rural-like tune that dawns like a sunrise over a beautiful vista, unfolding into a modern swinging set with colorful lines and searing instrumentals.
But theres also an edgy street-wise attitude that permeates the music with calculated, labyrinthine patterns, glued together by a most serious band: Pierre De Bethmann plays with a Herbie Hancock-like progressiveness, whether attacking the ivories or providing inquisitive touches on Fender Rhodes. Intricate harmonies are supported by the sturdiness of bassist Darryl Hall and drummer Karl Jannuska, both put the hump on the funky Camel and the metro-cool in Phosphor-Essence.
From undulating, complex tempos (London), to slower contemplative works (A Brief Interval), theres not a weak piece in the set, all warranting multiple spins. Add Michael Felberbaum to the growing list of talented French guitarists such as Misja Fitzgerald-Michel, Sylvain Luc, and Biréli Lagrène.
-Mark F. Turner (All About Jazz)
