Anne Ducros, Piano, Piano - 1h 2m 4s

Tracks & Durations

1. Four	4:26
2. God Bless The Child	4:45
3. You Go To My Head	6:25
4. Les Feuilles Mortes	4:59
5. Never Let Me Go	5:20
6. Gnossienne n°1	6:56
7. I Thought About You	4:21
8. My Foolish Heart	5:35
9. Moon And Sand	5:14
10. Just In Time	3:59
11. Body And Soul	4:40
12. Naima	5:14

Note: The information about this album is acquired from the publicly available resources and we are not responsible for their accuracy.

Review

Singing mostly in English, with a soupcon of scat, French artist Anne Ducros makes a likable impression with this assortment of jazz standards, her first American release. Make that likable impressions: The setting and pianist keep changing, from duos with Chick Corea and Rene Urtreger to trios with Jacky Terrasson and Enrico Pieranunzi to tenor saxophone-sparked quartets with her regular keboardist, Benoit de Mesnay. As with many foreign jazz singers for whom English does not come naturally, it proves a recurring obstacle: For all the buoyant charm she brings to Miles Davis' bop-era classic "Four," the performance is thrown by her pronouncing "three" as ""tree" and uttering "when you puts them together." But Ducros' shimmering command of jazz grammar go a long way toward overcoming her shaky English, and when she cuts loose in her native tongue, on "Les Feuilles Mortes" ("Autumn Leaves") with Corea, her soaring-swooping phrasing and deep-bodied tones induce smiles. So does her unusual, Arabic-tinged treatment of Erik Satie's "Gnossienne No. 1," featuring Olivier Louvel on saz (Turkish lute). Without losing its connection to the rest of the songs, its spiritual intensity makes for a welcome departure. --Lloyd SachsProduced by Anne Ducros and Renato Lombardo, "PIANO, piano" is a stellar program of American jazz standards which feature such great guest pianists as Chick Corea, Jacky Terrasson, Enrico Pieranunzi, and Rene Urtreger, and Ducros' quintet of Benoit de Mesmay (piano and Fender Rhodes), Sal La Rocca (double bass), Manhu Roche and Karl Jannuska (drums), and Bob Franceschini (saxophone) supporting her lovely vocals. Ducros brings a fresh perspective to such widely revered jazz standards as "My Foolish Heart," "Body and Soul," "God Bless The Child," "Never Let Me Go," "You Go To My Head," "Just In Time," and "Naima." On "Gnossienne N° 1", Anne also displays her arrangement skills in her unique interpretation of Erik Satie's classic, featuring Oliver Louvel on saz (Turkish lute).

Ducros' voice is supple, smooth and inviting on both "You Go To My Head," and "Moon and Sand." She receives the perfect accompaniment from Enrico Pieranunzi's delicate, beautiful comping as she reveals the discipline and dedication upon which she has built her extraordinary reputation. Ducros' warm, romantic voice pairs art and life in a passionate belief of jazz and emotion.

Even though she premieres each song with a distinct new identity, Anne's ensembles retain much of the original composer's melodic and harmonic appeal. The renowned pianist Chick Corea accompanies Ducros on three songs including "Les Feuilles Mortes," which is sung in French. Here, Ducros showcases her highly acclaimed scatting and vocalese stylings, which also reflect the broader artistic scope of her range and phrasings. On "My Foolish Heart," the two create a refined complement of harmonic drama to once again broaden Ducros' passionate reading of this beloved Great American Songbook standard.

Ducros' highly acclaimed countryman, pianist Jacky Terrasson accepted Ducros' invitation to join forces for the first time on "PIANO, piano" and their stunning performance on both "God Bless The Child," and "Never Let Me Go," reach the highest level of artistry and the artistic process. Their rendition of "God Bless The Child," exudes their sense of collaboration - getting ideas from each and inspiring each other's musicianship. "Never Let Me Go" seems to come from both within and across the considerable expertise both have gained in their art forms.

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