L'Etau

Keith Tippett piano & prepared piano. Michel Pilz bass clarinet. Paul Rogers doublebass seven strings. Jean-Noël Cognard drums & percussion. Unprecedented encounter between two talented free-improv musicians and two equally marvellous melodists: Keith Tippett on piano, prepared piano and Michel Pilz on bass clarinet. The quartet could be described as a union between two partnerships and is completed by Paul Rogers' unique playing on his seven-stringed double bass and Jean-Noël Cognard's atypical approach to drums and percussion, keen to take risks, as is already demonstrated on the previous releases of the label, Bloc Thyristors. The vinyls 0140-50 were recorded in March 2013 at the Auditorium de Châtenay Malabry - studio Pierre Schaeffer, presenting diverse combinations of quartet/trio/duo/solo. An exploration of the intricacy of acoustic instruments which describes the ranges of listening, bonds, energy, interaction and intimate improvisations. To close this session, a concert at Instants Chavirés is presented in its entirety on vinyls 0160-70, completing an all-round superb work of a reduced team, nonetheless tenacious in their defence of the pleasure of sharing. Recording and mixing: Patrick Müller. Graphics: Mika Pusse. Booklet: text and photos, Philippe Renaud (Improjazz).