Review: Daniel Roure, Le Temps d’un Jazz Daniel Roure, Le Temps d’un Jazz 28 Aug, 2014 Kelly O’Neil danielroure Relying on the linguistics of music as the international language is not entirely necessary to fully appreciate Daniel Roure’s Le Temps d’un Jazz.
The Marseille native has been immersed in jazz and French music his entire life. It is no surprise that his composing and performing prowess feels completely natural. Roure surrounds himself with a bevy of other talented Europeans who also share his enthusiasm and profundity for jazz. Other Marseille inhabitants include bassist Fabien Giacchi and drummer Alamel Gilles, both whom demonstrate stellar abilities to keep the strictest relaxed tempos. A huge asset to Roure’s collaboration is trombonist Francesco Castellani. The Italian born horn player has exquisite tone and is extremely lyrical and versatile on his instrument. Roure provides the vocals and piano work on the album as wells as penning half the music. His brother Jacques is the lyricist and arranger. The opening title track, loosely translated, “Time to Jazz” immediately transports the listener to a quiet outdoor café day-dreamily sipping an espresso whilst a clove cigarette smolders in an ashtray on the table. Roure imbues his warm mature voice into the easily flowing tune. His first piano solo is bright but not flashy, nicely complimenting and dancing around the melody. Guitarist Paul Pioli plays the second solo imitating Roure’s style. “J’ai Vu” or “I Saw” features well executed noodling by the piano and guitar cleanly aligning with the walking bass. A testament to Roure’s talents is his inclusion on the Vintage France album produced by Putumayo World Music, with the song “Les Baleines Bleues” or “The Blue Whale” featuring considerable range from both the vocals and trombone. “Un Petit Bateau” or “A Small Boat” is a pictorial song where an image is musically conjured from the opening falling whistle, like a swooping bird, to the calm clear tones of the trombone elucidating open water, to the jumping melody of the tossed little boat. The piano and vocals sing the chorus in a tight staccato and is joined by the trombone in the final recapitulation. The Roure brothers have also creatively tried their hand at arrangements of classic American Jazz Songbook compositions. Irving Berlin’s “Cheek to Cheek” is emanated in “Déjà”. The stand up bass is finally given a solo in this number. Another early 1930’s tune “Rosetta” is reworked into “Je Lis Là” where the lively influence of swing music is apparent. Roure effortlessly scats around a cute little syncopated piano ditty. He repeats this same musical idea on the ivories in “Que Faisaient Nos Professeurs” taken from “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love”. A drum solo is heard bolstering the guitar in Henry Mancini’s “The Days of Wine and Roses” in the Roure’s reworked “Sais Tu”. Ending on a high note is “Dans Les Bois” from Duke Ellington’s 1931 hit “It Don’t Mean a Thing” featuring Roure adroitly jumping around the quick familiar melody. Le Temps d’un Jazz is a fun work of nostalgia that holds dual affinities to both jazz and world music lovers. Daniel Roure and his compatriots are an absolute joy to listen to. Reviewers Name: Kelly O’Neil Rating: 5 stars
