Rohff Reste Concentré

On its third ECM album Vallon again leads the group not with virtuosic solo display but by patient outlining of melody and establishing of frameworks in which layered group improvising can take place. With this group, gentle but insistent rhythms can trigger seismic musical events. Although Vallon (recently nominated for the Swiss Music Prize) is the author of nine of the pieces here, the band members share equal responsibilities for the music's unfolding. The gravitational pull of Patrice Moret's bass and the intense detail supplied by Julian Sartorius's drums and cymbals are crucial to the success of Vallon's artistic concept and the range of emotions the music can convey.

ZAZ has been a household name in French music since her breakout 2010 hit "Je veux," a jazz-swinging folk ditty about doing things her way. More than a decade later, the singer-songwriter’s style of pop has only become more multifaceted. ZAZ peels away the layers on this fifth album, the title of which is an abbreviated nod to her real name, Isabelle Geffroy. On the peppy “Imagine," she dreams of a gentler world, brighter days, and the possibility of writing one's own future, her voice fluttering over strummed guitar with world-weary abandon. "Ce que tu es dans ma vie" is a heartfelt and hopeful ode to her young stepdaughter set against a backdrop of piano, lightly plucked guitars, and a minimal electronic beat. She shows her versatility on "Le jardin des larmes," teaming up with Rammstein singer Till Lindemann for an entrancingly theatrical waltz about a teary love affair. Isa may be ZAZ's most understated and vulnerable album, but it's uplifted by her irrepressible spirit.

Jacky Terrasson's 1999 album, What It Is, represented something of a risk. The young pianist's first three albums were barebones trio affairs that had won him rave reviews, whereas What It Is featured additional instruments and was more slickly produced. Gone, it seemed, was the sparse, acoustic approach that had originally given Terrasson his fame.
But while this new direction yielded mixed results and left some fans a bit befuddled, one had to respect Terrasson's need to grow and evolve as an artist.Terrasson does much better with his follow-up, A Paris, an homage to the city of his youth and early adulthood. While not a return to the simple piano trio format (there are five guest musicians in addition to two alternating rhythm sections), the album has a spontaneous, natural sound that was lacking from the studio-centric What It Is..

Chanson 1993 kicks the album off with a blast of pure pop energy. Enrico Rava was a flawless and timeless record. Not surprising from Enrico Rava and Chanson 1993 together. Since Enrico Rava last CD (Chanson 1993) on Sparrow Records back in 1993, I have felt a massive void in my life. Exciting stuff. Could be a tango is a bit of a show-tune. Bellflower to me is the best you can get from Enrico Rava. This track is a fabulous selection of easy listening, suitable for any age, taste or occasion. What sets Autoritratto apart is Enrico Rava’s innovative and organic way of creating atmospheres. Que rest-t-il de nos amours stands out to me for its audacious melody and sheer beauty. Parlami d’amore mariu is a catchy, up-tempo track that has influence of music streams without leaning too much in that direction.

La jacquerie is a four-act opera commenced by Édouard Lalo in 1889 to a libretto by Édouard Blau and Simone Arnaud. The opera was unfinished when Lalo died in 1892, and it was completed by Arthur Coquard. The first performance was at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo on March 9, 1895.

A celebrity of some importance in France, Eddy Mitchell began his career in the late '50 with the rock & roll group Les Chaussettes Noires ("the Black Socks"). Mitchell went solo after a few hits with the group in the early '60s, and over the ensuing decades embraced several styles of American music.