Hervé Biju Duval

Television composer Frank Duval scored several hits in Germany, including 1979's "Todesengel" and the following year's "Angel of Mine." Born in Berlin in 1940, he studied as an actor and dancer, but also sang with his sister, Maria. By the '60s, Duval was also composing music, both orchestral and pop, and his debut soundtrack – for an episode of the German serial Tatort – aired in 1977. Much busier with composition work during the late '70s, Duval also released some of his recordings through Teldec. From his 1979 debut Die Schönsten Melodien Aus Derrick und der Alte, "Todesengel" became a moderate hit.

Pianist Hervé Sellin offers us a jazz recomposition of the works of Fauré and Ravel.

Duval is joined by Herb Robertson, Bob Hovey & Jay Rosen on a very coherent & varied free jazz album. To justify the title, the four musicians play an incredible array of instruments, including bass, electronics, trumpet, whistles, voices, flute harp, trombone, foreign language, turntable, drums, percussion, bells, shark, and even an egg beater.

Cecil Taylor & Dominic Duval - The Last Dance Volumes 1 & 2 (2009) {2CD Set Cadence Jazz CJR 1229~30}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 317 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 222 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 18 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2009 Cadence Jazz Records / CIMP |CJR 1229~30
Jazz / Avant-Garde Jazz / Modern Creative / Piano / Bass

Dance is a crucial factor, both in this music and in Cecil Taylor's life at large. His mother was a dancer, and he often described his technique as a way to reproduce choreography's leaps and movements on the keyboard. Moreover, bassist Dominic Duval refers to these improvisations — recorded at 2003's San Francisco Jazz Fest — as "a truly integrated dance in which there are two dancers, dancing and singing together in harmony and with love and respect for each other". This relationship dates back to 1995, this double CD marking the first time in which the artists' output as a bass/piano duo is released.

A great choice of tunes and an outstanding supporting cast mark this album from the outset. With performers of the caliber of Steve Swell and Dominic Duval behind her, vocalist Mary LaRose (not to be confused with the equally impressive jazz vocalist Dena de Rose) spins a tight yet expansive story, one that goes deep into the belly of the melodies, distorting them just enough to make them feel fresh. LaRose is a modernist, yet she values old-fashioned tunefulness and emotion. Trombone, sax, and acoustic bass may at first blush seem like an odd combination to back a jazz singer, but with her elastic vocal chords, the mix is nearly perfect…

For nearly two decades, Brazilian-born and Brooklyn-based saxist Ivo Perelman has been evolving his own path of improvised jazz, playing solo, in duos, trios & quartets with a number of downtown's best musicians. One of Ivo's most constant companions is contrabassist Dom Duval who has recorded on perhaps a dozen of Ivo's previous duo & trio CD's. Violinist Rosie Hertlein has also recorded and performed with Ivo on occasion and is yet another local talent who has knocked me out whenever I've heard her play although she remains beneath the radar screen of recognition…