#1363 『Billy Hart & The WDR Big Band arranged & conducted by Christophe Schweizer / The Broader Picture』

2016年12月29日2019年6月2日伏谷佳代

Text by 伏谷佳代　Kayo Fushiya

ENJA9745 2 (Amazon)

Credit;
Christophe Schweizer (conducted and arranged)
Billy Hart (dr/composition)

Wim Both (tp/flh) lead
Rob Bruynen (tp/flh)
Andy Haderer (tp/flh) lead
Ruud Breuls (tp/flh)
John Marchall (tp/flh)

Ludwig Nuss (tb)
Andy Hunter (tb)
Raphael Klemm (tb)
Mattis Cederberg (btb/tuba)

Johan Hoerlen (as/ss/fl/a-fl/cl)
Karolina Strassmayer (as/fl/picc/cl)
Paul Heller (ts/bcl)
Olivier Peters (ts/cl/ss)
Jens Neufang (bs/bcl/contra-alto cl)

Frank Chastenier (p)
Paul Shigihara (g)
John Goldsby (b)

1. Teule’s Redemption〜The Generations Suite (15:12)
2. Layla-Joy (7:50)
3. Song for Balkis (12:57)
4. Reneda (6:43)
5. Lullaby for Imke (11:05)
6. Tolli’s Dance (9:10)
7. Naaj (8:54)
8. Imke’s March (7:43)

All arrangements © Billy Hart, Christope Schweizer/ GEMA/SUISA/SESAC

Recorded April 27-30, 2015 at WDR Cologne Studios
Mixed July 30-31, 2015 and January 26, 2016 at WDR Cologne Studios
Executive Producer: Lucas Schmid
Recording Producer: Christian Cluxen
Recording Engineer: Reinhold Nickel
Recording Assistant& Editing: Thomas Kupilas
Mastering: Dirk Franken
Production Coordination: Annette Hauber

Artwork by Franziska Erdle, Gold Unlimited
Photographs © Ines Kaiser

自己のクァルテット名義の”Grand Grace”(2015)において、潮の満ち干きにも似たスケールの大きな音楽を聴かせてくれたクリストフ・シュヴァイツァー(tb)によるプロジェクト。遡ること20年以上前、マネス音楽大学で薫陶をうけたという生きたレジェンド、ビリー・ハート(ds)を迎え、ビッグ・バンド編成でその音楽人生を鮮やかに浮き彫りにする。バックを務めるのは名門・WDR、各楽器のソロではドイツ・ジャズの第一線で活躍する面々が揃う。ハートといえば、サム&デイヴなどソウル界の重鎮に始まり、ジャズのあらゆるビッグネームたちと共演を重ねてきた。その壮大な音楽観の片鱗を切り取るだけでも、並の力量では済まされまい。シュヴァイツァーのアレンジは、大編成だけが実現できる、突き抜けるような高いヴォルテージのなか、幾重にも入り組んだアプローチはミクロレヴェルのあらゆる瞬間を繊細に活かすことを忘れない。知と情、動と静、覚醒と優美などが絶妙なバランスのうえに一致する。最低3管以上の抜かりないホーン・セクションは、ハートをはじめFrank Chastenier (p)、John Goldsby (b)、Paul Shigihara (g)、Paul Heller(ts/bcl)といった卓越したソロイスツが投げかける導線と呼応し、有機的な拡がりで空間を揺さぶる。響きへの研ぎ澄まされたセンスがそのまま音楽の風穴となっている。特筆すべきは、”Teule’s Redemption” (track1)、”Song for Balkis” (track3)、”Lullaby for Imke” (track6)など思索的で長大、往年のフリーの要素を濃厚に漂わせる楽曲においても独り善がりの暑苦しさがないところ。終盤の2曲ではストレート・アヘッドなハートのドラミングが堪能できる。ビリー・ハートとクリストフ・シュヴァイツァーのふたりに共通する美点は、そのツボを押さえた大局的な音楽展開はもちろんのこと、音楽の血であり肉であるソウルフルなフィーリングが極めて自然に湧出する点にある。切り口は知的で多彩だが、いかなる時も音楽としてブレがない。あくまで「今」の音楽として、偉大なるドラマーの軌跡をさらりと提示するビッグ・バンドの力量もさすがというべきだろう。(12月14日記　伏谷佳代)

In 2015 the trombonist Christophe Schweizer and his quartet, Young Rich & Famous, released Grand Grace, a large-scale album with musical high and low tides, and this new album, The Broader Picture, is certainly another Schweizer’s big project. When looking back, it is more than 20 years since he welcomed his mentor and legendary drummer Billy Hart, under whom he studied in Mannes School of Music, and through a big band ensemble vividly threw his musical life into relief. In this album, backed by the elite WDR Big Band, the solos are played by notable musicians, on the front line of today’s German jazz scene. Hart has been with us for a long time, starting from performances with Sam & Dave and other luminaries of the soul world, he has worked through and kept playing with every possible big name in jazz. If we cut away and catch a glimpse of his spectacular sense of music, it is obvious his ability is way beyond the ordinary. In Schweizer’s arrangements with the sort of high voltage break-through intensity only possible with a large ensemble, we also find layer upon layer of intricate approaches never forgetting to sensitively make the most of all kinds of micro level moments. Intelligence and emotion, motion and stillness, awakening and elegance: these elements meet in an exquisite balance of form. The confident horn section with a minimum three players responds to the leads thrown by Hart and the other fabulous soloists such as Frank Chastenier (p), John Goldsby (b), Paul Shigihara (g), Paul Heller (ts/bcl) and shakes the space with an organic expansiveness. Each player’s keen aesthetics for sound is like an air vent channeling the music. Even in such meditative and long pieces as ‘Teule’s Redemption’ (Track 1), ‘Song for Balkis’ (Track 3) and ‘Tolli’s Dance’ (Track 6), it is striking that no self-satisfied smugness is found while densely projecting his earlier free musical elements. In the final two tracks, listeners can totally enjoy straight-ahead drumming. The quality virtues common to the two players, Billy Hart and Christophe Schweizer, are of course their broader musical development while catching the essentials, and also how a soulful feeling – the flesh and blood of music – emerges very naturally. Their perspectives are thoughtful and varied, but there is no musical wobbling at any time. As driving consistent contemporary music, the big band showcases the trajectory of this great drummer without any fuss; such competence is just what you’d expect. (Kayo Fushiya, on 14th December)