By Fotis Nikolakopoulos
If writing about a solo recording, of any kind of instrumentation, is a
difficult task, one can imagine the difficulties that exist in creating solo
music. Talking about the former, writing about it, always revolves around
the fear that you might not get, understand, realize or whatever, what the
artist has in mind. The former seems to me much more frightening: the artist
must overcome any kind of fear, present the music as it is without the
safety the other contributors always offer. It is the artists’ bare truth
alone.
Jean-Luc Guionnet never seemed to have second thoughts about going into
unknown territories. To be honest here, he seems fearless. Starting as s
free jazz saxophonist, he quickly stepped into the shaky ground of free
improvisation. But not only that, he has been, for some years now,
experimenting outside his respected instrument, the saxophone, building a
trajectory of sounds that are as free as possible.
Here, on this live recording, he uses his alto saxophone as a medium of
exploration. Ok, I understand that the former sentence could sound like one
of those “heavy” descriptions when talking about experimental music. Quite
often stale, sterile sounds are hidden behind descriptions as such. But,
this is not the case. On both tracks, that are live recordings from 2023 and
2024, Guionnet seems to enjoy his struggle…Because it is a struggle, an
exploration of physical endurance. The first track last 36 long minutes
making it clear to the listener that he is in there to exhaust himself,
leave him breathless at the end while building sounds that are personal and
full of emotions.
In addition, made clearer at the second track I believe, he is looking for a
way to explore the dynamics of the room, where space, air and his grasp of
the instrument combine into frenzied attempts. As a listener you have the
notion that you, with your ears, are checking out this space, listening on
how the sounds come to you from different angles.
Solo saxophone recordings have always been a field of very interesting
experimentation by a number of artists. Some of them have made it clear that
there are no boundaries for the capabilities of the saxophone. Along with
the willingness of its creator to do so, this cd is one of them.
@koultouranafigo