After the success of Rollin’, Erik Truffaz, the innovative French trumpet player, returns with Clap!, the second album in his Cinema Stories series. Following his ability to transcend the original film scores in Rollin’, Truffaz once again manages to substitute his own sonic landscapes for the images conjured up by the original soundtracks. In Clap!, his mastery of blending jazz improvisation with iconic film music takes listeners on a thrilling, emotional ride that simultaneously evokes and reinvents the worlds of cinema.
As director Bruno Nuyten so eloquently describes: “Beyond the memories of the films that are mentioned, Erik Truffaz’s interpretation opens the imagination to other films that have never been made.” This insight reflects the essence of Clap!—Truffaz is not merely covering film music; he is creating a new narrative, one that reimagines the cinematic stories through his trumpet’s haunting, lyrical voice.
A Reinterpretation of Cinematic Memories
In Clap!, Truffaz continues his exploration of soundtracks from classic films, but this time, he takes a more varied approach, pulling from a wide range of genres and moods. Each track on the album reinterprets an iconic piece of film music, transforming it into something both familiar and completely new.
The opening track, “Les Choses de la Vie,” originally composed by Philippe Sarde for the film Les Choses de la Vie, sets the stage with Truffaz’s signature sound—a rich, melodic trumpet line that evokes the intimacy of the film’s contemplative nature. His rendition is soft and meditative, creating a sense of nostalgia and reflection while maintaining a distinct jazz sensibility.
Next up is “In Heaven,” a tribute to Peter Ivers’ haunting theme for David Lynch’s surreal masterpiece Eraserhead. Truffaz’s interpretation builds tension and mystery, turning the original eerie, unsettling melody into an expansive, atmospheric piece that invites listeners to step into the strange world of Lynch’s iconic film.
Truffaz continues his reinterpretation of iconic film music with the groove-laden “L’Alpagueur,” originally composed by Michel Colombier for the French thriller L’Alpagueur. The track is playful, its rhythms bubbling with energy, and Truffaz’s trumpet dances effortlessly over the infectious beats. This track captures the spirit of the film’s tension but adds a layer of coolness and sophistication.
A Journey Through Jazz and Filmic Imagination
One of the standout pieces on the album is “Thème de Camille” from Jean-Luc Godard’s Le Mépris (Composed by Georges Delerue). Truffaz’s rendition of this beautiful, melancholic theme is filled with longing and introspection. The trumpet’s rich, rounded tones echo the emotional depth of the film, adding a new layer of intimacy and reflection.
“Requiem pour un Con,” originally composed by Michel Colombier and Serge Gainsbourg for the film of the same name, is another striking piece. Truffaz takes the original’s funky, playful groove and transforms it into a smoother, more contemplative jazz exploration, shifting the mood from mischievous to reflective.
The album also includes “Lonesome Cowboy,” a classic tune from Amour Frénétique (composed by Roy C. Bennett and Sid Tepper) that Truffaz plays with a deep, mournful quality. His interpretation, while paying homage to the original, adds a layer of sadness and solitude, turning it into an introspective jazz ballad.
Another emotional highlight is “Thème de Gerbier,” originally composed by Eric Demarsan for L’Armée des Ombres, a film known for its tense and dramatic narrative. Truffaz’s trumpet here has an almost cinematic quality, moving seamlessly between dark and light, as if telling a story of resistance and perseverance.
Finally, Clap! concludes with “L’Oiseau” from Belle et Sébastien, composed by Eric Demarsan and Daniel White. Truffaz infuses this sweet, sentimental theme with a gentle, warm energy, transforming it into a rich, jazz-inflected exploration of innocence and beauty.
Tracklist:
- Les Choses de la Vie (Les Choses de la Vie, Philippe Sarde)
- In Heaven (Eraserhead, Peter Ivers, David Lynch)
- L’Alpagueur (L’Alpagueur, Michel Colombier)
- Thème de Camille (Le Mépris, Georges Delerue)
- Requiem pour un Con (Requiem pour un Con, Michel Colombier, Serge Gainsbourg)
- Lonesome Cowboy (Amour Frénétique, Roy C. Bennett, Sid Tepper)
- Thème de Gerbier (L’Armée des Ombres, Eric Demarsan)
- L’Oiseau (Belle et Sébastien, Eric Demarsan, Daniel White)
A Symphony of Reimagination
What makes Clap! such a captivating album is Truffaz’s ability to conjure up entirely new worlds from existing film scores. Each track feels like a film in itself, a self-contained narrative that takes the listener on a journey through emotion, memory, and imagination. Truffaz’s trumpet, at once soulful and evocative, replaces the visuals of cinema with sound, allowing the music to conjure new images, new stories, and new possibilities.
Clap! is more than just an album of jazz interpretations—it is an invitation to imagine the unmade films, the untold stories, and the emotional landscapes that live in the space between music and memory. For Truffaz, the music is the film, and in this way, Clap! feels like a visual experience, despite the absence of a single frame.
Whether you’re a cinephile, a jazz enthusiast, or simply someone who enjoys music that transcends boundaries, Clap! is an album that will open up new worlds to explore and new emotions to feel. It’s an inspiring, immersive journey that highlights Erik Truffaz’s unique ability to bridge the worlds of jazz and cinema.
Out now, Clap!—the second installment in Truffaz’s Cinema Stories series.