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Creation/Evolution

Pol Belardi's Force

Creation/Evolution

Price: € 14.95
Format: CD
Label: Double Moon Records
UPC: 0608917118124
Catnr: DMCHR 71181
Release date: 10 March 2017
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Label
Double Moon Records
UPC
0608917118124
Catalogue number
DMCHR 71181
Release date
10 March 2017

"I would think anyone who likes the idea of a jazz composercentric music will launch into the music positively. I do recommend it as a substantial offering, perhaps more modern contemporary than avant garde, but such distinctions are not important if the music is worthy. It is! Listen."

Gapplegate, 25-7-2017
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Artist(s)
Composer(s)
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About the album

Luxembourg has no longer been a tax haven for the nouveau rich or a dwarf state for quite some time. The President of the European Commission is currently from the Grand Duchy with its only 115,000 citizens and also has one of the most vital jazz scenes in Europe. The multi-instrumentalist Pol Belardi plays a major role in this and also attracts international attention to the amazingly creative biotope that has developed there in the triangle between Germany, FRance and Belgium over the past 15 years. Belardi is representative of his fellow countrymen without any musical blinkers and his curious interest in all styles and influences, with which he was more or less predestined to see beyond his own horizon. The fact that the 17 year-old electric bass player, who can also play piano, vibraphone and drums, also applies this attitude to jazz helps this genre to develop a fresh, modern, international and future-oriented perspective, especially in times of increasing self-confinement and withdrawing into a shell. Actually Pol Belardi, David Fettman, Jérôme Klein and Niels Engel should in no way produce a jazz album in the classic sense given their seemingly diametric interests. The four advance with such wide-open ears through the world that you could expect all sorts of things. Their listening interest starts at the most with classic jazz, but extends to classical music and has at least elements of pop, rock, hip hop and electronic music on an equal basis. However, the fact that 'Creation/Evolution is so close to experimental, modern jazz is still surprising. The pieces are charged in a concentrated manner, supposedly quiet and not at all extroverted on a subliminal, tingling level that breatehs the great psirit of jazz through every note with its improvisational daring. The typical Luxembourg cosmopolitanism outlook characterizes the ten characteristic original pieces, which Belardi naturally also adapts to his complex arrangements. Scents of the great composers of classical music shine through as well as the lyrical touch of a singer-songwriter, the groove of funk, the infectious virus of catchy pop hits and the xperimental breadth of experiemental avant-garde and create a delightful contrast in every respect. As guests, the guitarist Riaz Khabirpour and the Kaiser Quartet juggling with elegant virtuosity between late romanticism and contemporary music refine the colorful range of sounds. And the best thing is: a whole range of presentation options exist life for the new program, either with the Kaiser string players, the guitarist Khabirpour of just pure Force.
Luxemburg hat längst nichts mehr vom früheren Habitus einer Steueroase für Neureiche oder eines Zwergstaates. Das Großherzogtum mit seinen gerade einmal 115 000 Bürgern stellt aktuell den Präsidenten der EU-Kommission und verfügt obendrein über eine der vitalsten Jazzszenen Europas. Darin nimmt der Multiinstrumentalist Pol Belardi eine tragende Rolle ein und wirft auch international ein gleißendes Licht auf das erstaunliche Kreativbiotop, das da in den vergangenen 15 Jahren im Dreieck zwischen Deutschland, Frankreich und Belgien entstanden ist. Belardi steht mit seinem scheuklappenlosen Musizieren, seinem neugierigen Interesse an allen Stilen und Einflüssen repräsentativ für seine Landsleute, denen es quasi in die Wiege gelegt wurde, über den eigenen Horizont hinauszuschauen. Dass der 27-jährige E-Bassist, der außerdem noch Piano, Vibrafon und Schlagzeug bedienen kann, diese Haltung auch noch auf den Jazz herunterbricht, hilft diesem Genre gerade in Zeiten eines zunehmenden Sich-Einmauerns und Abkapselns zu einer frischen, modernen, völkerübergreifenden, zukunftsorientierten Perspektive.

Eigentlich sollten Pol Belardi, David Fettman (Altsaxofon), Jérôme Klein (Piano) und Niels Engel (Drums) angesichts ihrer scheinbar diametralen Interessen überhaupt kein Jazzalbum im klassischen Sinn abliefern. Die vier marschieren mit dermaßen weit geöffneten Ohren durch die Welt, dass man alles Mögliche erwarten könnte. Ihr Hörinteresse beginnt höchstens beim klassischen Jazz, erstreckt sich aber bis zur Klassik und lässt zumindest gleichberechtigt die Elemente Pop, Rock, Hip Hop und Elektronik daneben aufscheinen. Dass „Creation/Evolution“, das mittlerweile dritte Album von Force, freilich dermaßen nah beim experimentellen, modernen Jazz liegen würde, überrascht dennoch. Die Stücke chargieren konzentriert, vermeintlich ruhig und keineswegs extrovertiert auf einem unterschwellig prickelnden Level, der den großen Geist des Jazz, dessen improvisatorischen Wagemut durch jede Note atmet.
Die typische luxemburgische Weltoffenheit prägt die zehn charakteristischen Originals, die Belardi natürlich auch seiner vielschichtigen Instrumentierung anpasst. Da schimmern Aromen der großen Komponisten der Klassik ebenso durch, wie die lyrischen Note der Singer-Songwriter, der Groove des Funk, während der ansteckende Ohrwurmvirus mancher Pophits oder die experimentelle Weite der experimentellen Avantgarde einen in jeder Hinsicht reizvollen Kontrast bilden. Als Gäste verfeinern dabei der Gitarrist Riaz Khabirpour sowie das elegant-virtuos zwischen Spätromantik und Neuer Musik jonglierende Kaiser Quartett das farbenreiche Klangmenü. Und das Schönste dabei: Live gibt es für das neue Programm gleiche eine ganze Palette von Präsentationsmöglichkeiten. Entweder mit den Kaiser-Streichern oder Gitarrist Khabirpour oder aber nur Force pur.
Für Pol Belardi, der aus dem kleinen luxemburgischen Dörfchen Tétange stammt, in Brüssel sowie Amsterdam studierte und 2014 seinen Master auf der Bassgitarre mit „summa cum laude“ abschloss, geht mit „Creation/Evolution“ ein lang gehegter Wunschtraum in Erfüllung. „Ich wollte schon immer meine zahlreichen Interessen, meine Polyvalenz, und meine Kreativität unter einen Hut bringen.“ Was sich bislang zwangsläufig auf mehrere Projekte und gezielte Instrumenten-Schwerpunkte in seinem elfköpfigen Ensemble Urban Voyage, im Elektro-Groove-Trio DillenDub, bei Landsmann Pascal Schumacher, der deutschen Band MetroMara, der niederländischen Combo Little Known Facts oder Nelson Ogliastri’s Birth and Death of a Star ausbreitete, findet hier ein Prisma. Endlich!

Artist(s)

Pol Belardi (bass)

From the moment Pol played his first note on an instrument, sometime in the 90’s in a small town in Luxembourg called Tétange, his curiosity was awakened to create music. After extensive tutelage at local schools in classical percussion, piano, drums and theory, a fair amount of classical orchestra as well as rock band experience and a good first imprint in the local scene, he set sails to study in Brussels and Amsterdam, earning a master’s degree “cum laude” in bass guitar in 2014. He has forged himself a strong credo consisting of two main ingredients: polyvalence and creativity. His numerous projects vary in both conception of style and the instrument(s) he plays, and since the first childhood composition try-outs (which...
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From the moment Pol played his first note on an instrument, sometime in the 90’s in a small town in Luxembourg called Tétange, his curiosity was awakened to create music. After extensive tutelage at local schools in classical percussion, piano, drums and theory, a fair amount of classical orchestra as well as rock band experience and a good first imprint in the local scene, he set sails to study in Brussels and Amsterdam, earning a master’s degree “cum laude” in bass guitar in 2014. He has forged himself a strong credo consisting of two main ingredients: polyvalence and creativity.
His numerous projects vary in both conception of style and the instrument(s) he plays, and since the first childhood composition try-outs (which were mainly transcribing and rearranging video-game music), he has grown to a prolific composer who is not afraid of taking advantage of his diverse musical background.
Now back in Luxembourg, in the heart of Europe, Pol leads his own bands Force (a modern jazz quartet/quintet) and Urban Voyage, an 11-piece crossover mammoth project based in Amsterdam. In addition to that, he is a member of DillenDub, a co-lead electro-groove-jazz trio.
He is also a welcomed sideman on the bass guitar for Pascal Schumacher, MetroMara (DE), Little Known Facts (NL) as well as on the vibraphone for Nelson Ogliastri’s Birth and Death of a Star and many other projects.
Willing to share his experience with studious young music lovers, Pol is teaching in local music schools, and to keep up to date on what is happening in an around Luxembourg, he regularly hosts a radio show at Radio 100,7 FM.
Achievements: 2012 – Prix de la Musique, Rotary Esch-sur-Alzette (Promotion Nr. 2) – XL-Jazz Brussels with The Unrevealed Society – Jong Jazztalent Gent with The Unrevealed Society – Composition contest by Orchestre National de Jazz du Luxembourg (Spring is one of the winning compositions) – Prinses Christina Jazz Concours Amsterdam with Floris Kappeyne Trio 2013 – Criss Cross Europe (selected by music:lx) 2014 – Winner of Keep an Eye “The Records” Amsterdam with Pol Belardi’s Urban Voyage – Price of the Stiftung zur Förderung junger Künstler in Mamer, Luxembourg
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David Fettmann (saxophone)

David Fettmann has a Master's Degree in Jazz (from the Lemmens Institute in Leuven, Belgium), a Bachelor in Music (from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, Netherlands) and a diploma in jazz from the National Conservatory in Nice, France. He also won first prize in the category jazz saxophone there. He was alto saxophonist in the ONJL (Orchestre National Jazz Luxembourg) from 2005 to 2012, with which he accompanied George Duke, Dee Bridgewater, Paquito D’Rivera, Richard Bona, Patti Austin, Helge Schneider and Didier Lockwood, among others. Fettmann also belongs to the 'Orchestre de Jazz de la Musique de l’Armée de l’Air' and the 'Electro Deluxe Big Band'.   The organist Guillaume Naud graduated from the renowned Parisian jazz institute CIM, has worked with renowned...
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David Fettmann has a Master's Degree in Jazz (from the Lemmens Institute in Leuven, Belgium), a Bachelor in Music (from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, Netherlands) and a diploma in jazz from the National Conservatory in Nice, France. He also won first prize in the category jazz saxophone there. He was alto saxophonist in the ONJL (Orchestre National Jazz Luxembourg) from 2005 to 2012, with which he accompanied George Duke, Dee Bridgewater, Paquito D’Rivera, Richard Bona, Patti Austin, Helge Schneider and Didier Lockwood, among others. Fettmann also belongs to the "Orchestre de Jazz de la Musique de l’Armée de l’Air" and the "Electro Deluxe Big Band".
The organist Guillaume Naud graduated from the renowned Parisian jazz institute CIM, has worked with renowned musicians such as Michel Legrand, Youn Sun Nah and Stéphane Belmondo and has released several albums under his own name. The 42 year old is considered an extremely sensitive accompanier and expressive soloist.
The two Frenchmen received US American support from Johnathan Blake, one of the most interesting drummers of the current generation. The journalist John Murph called him the "ultimate modernist" due to his song-like and at the same time irresistibly grooving rhythm. Blake first caught the attention of the public as a permanent member in the bands of Tom Harrell, Kenny Barron, Oliver Lake, Roy Hargrove and David Sanchez. The 38 year old can look back on collaboration with Hans Glawischnig, Alex Sipiagin, Donny McCaslin, Avishai Cohen, Omer Avital, Shauli Einav and Jaleel Shaw as well as approx. 50 releases and his own CD in the meantime.

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Niels Engel (drums)

Composer(s)

Pol Belardi (bass)

From the moment Pol played his first note on an instrument, sometime in the 90’s in a small town in Luxembourg called Tétange, his curiosity was awakened to create music. After extensive tutelage at local schools in classical percussion, piano, drums and theory, a fair amount of classical orchestra as well as rock band experience and a good first imprint in the local scene, he set sails to study in Brussels and Amsterdam, earning a master’s degree “cum laude” in bass guitar in 2014. He has forged himself a strong credo consisting of two main ingredients: polyvalence and creativity. His numerous projects vary in both conception of style and the instrument(s) he plays, and since the first childhood composition try-outs (which...
more
From the moment Pol played his first note on an instrument, sometime in the 90’s in a small town in Luxembourg called Tétange, his curiosity was awakened to create music. After extensive tutelage at local schools in classical percussion, piano, drums and theory, a fair amount of classical orchestra as well as rock band experience and a good first imprint in the local scene, he set sails to study in Brussels and Amsterdam, earning a master’s degree “cum laude” in bass guitar in 2014. He has forged himself a strong credo consisting of two main ingredients: polyvalence and creativity.
His numerous projects vary in both conception of style and the instrument(s) he plays, and since the first childhood composition try-outs (which were mainly transcribing and rearranging video-game music), he has grown to a prolific composer who is not afraid of taking advantage of his diverse musical background.
Now back in Luxembourg, in the heart of Europe, Pol leads his own bands Force (a modern jazz quartet/quintet) and Urban Voyage, an 11-piece crossover mammoth project based in Amsterdam. In addition to that, he is a member of DillenDub, a co-lead electro-groove-jazz trio.
He is also a welcomed sideman on the bass guitar for Pascal Schumacher, MetroMara (DE), Little Known Facts (NL) as well as on the vibraphone for Nelson Ogliastri’s Birth and Death of a Star and many other projects.
Willing to share his experience with studious young music lovers, Pol is teaching in local music schools, and to keep up to date on what is happening in an around Luxembourg, he regularly hosts a radio show at Radio 100,7 FM.
Achievements: 2012 – Prix de la Musique, Rotary Esch-sur-Alzette (Promotion Nr. 2) – XL-Jazz Brussels with The Unrevealed Society – Jong Jazztalent Gent with The Unrevealed Society – Composition contest by Orchestre National de Jazz du Luxembourg (Spring is one of the winning compositions) – Prinses Christina Jazz Concours Amsterdam with Floris Kappeyne Trio 2013 – Criss Cross Europe (selected by music:lx) 2014 – Winner of Keep an Eye “The Records” Amsterdam with Pol Belardi’s Urban Voyage – Price of the Stiftung zur Förderung junger Künstler in Mamer, Luxembourg
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Press

I would think anyone who likes the idea of a jazz composercentric music will launch into the music positively. I do recommend it as a substantial offering, perhaps more modern contemporary than avant garde, but such distinctions are not important if the music is worthy. It is! Listen.
Gapplegate, 25-7-2017

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