The Jazzcat

Additional Photos

Jean-Michele is an

outstanding French pianist who ends his West Coast tour here at the

Jazz Bakery. He and his trio were one of the many groups who performed

at the 47^th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival this past weekend

and, from what I heard, he was extraordinary. I was not able to see him

perform because I was the Master of Ceremonies on one of the stages at

the festival. However, people kept ranting and raving on how great his

performance was so, I had to see him at the Bakery.

 

I had a flight back to Monterey at 10:20pm but, I was at the Jazz Bakery at 8pm

ready to experience the trio, even if I could only catch a few tunes,

it would be worth it! Jean-Michel started of the performance with just

solo piano. He plays and mixes a range of different styles from the

vibrantly bright to dark and mysterious with brutally smashing and

stimulating tones from the outside, always leaving one particular sound

as a common denominator. Jean-Michel plays like a continuously flowing

book of short stories. As his stories unfold, with out missing a note,

two supporting characters join him on stage, Francois Moutin on Bass

and Ari Hoenig on Drums. The journey of magical intrigue continues.

 

The Jean-Michel Pilc

trio is extremely percussive. If you like French cuisine, they are the

Chocolate Soufflé and Crème Brule on your desert platter. Three minds

blending music together with on the spot creations that build an Empire State Building

on a solid foundation of provocative thought. Jean-Michel reaches

inside the piano and plucks the strings to create that beautifully odd

muted sound while producing a whistle that would make any bird fly out

of their nest in search of love!

 

The music is a high

energy, non-stop, continuously creative BANG! The musicians

non-verbally communicate between each other speaking in the tongues of

creative freedom. Taking the road less traveled with each rock, bump

and pothole perfectly planned and executed with the finest precision.

The next thing you know, the storm is over, the black cloud has

dissipated and the sunshine continues to warm our souls.  

LeRoy Downs