Multiquarium Big Band feat. Bireli Lagrene: Remembering Jaco

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Multiquarium Big Band leaders Andre Charlier and Benoit Sourisse contacted guitarist Bireli Lagrene in 2019 to ask if he would like to take part in this tribute to the late ill-fated bass guitarist Jaco Pastorius, inspired by the latter’s own big band album Word Of Mouth. Lagrene had played with JP and seemed like an obvious choice to fulfill the fretless bass role, as he had acquired such an instrument back in the 1970s.

Performing on a project like this one is a far cry from Lagrene’s “gypsy jazz” beginnings and he acquits himself admirably, showing a fleet-fingered aptitude, although the implication is that he laid down his parts separate from the main body of the band, accompanied by the rhythm section only.

The bass guitar is inevitably high up in the mix but this is very much a band album, the ensemble both punchy and well drilled as it tackles compositions either written or performed by Pastorius. Fresh life is given to these established tunes, not through liberty taking but because the musicians were at one with the tribute on hand.

Fans of the ultimate fusion band will be familiar with such items as Barbary Coast from the Black Market album, Teen Town, with its heavy emphasis on the bass (Heavy Weather) and the always attractive Three Views Of A Secret, a Night Passage track. The Introduction, two Interludes and Conclusion present Peter Erskine describing what Pastorius was like to play with and how complex a character he was.

Finally, what a joy to be taken out by the earthier qualities of another JP favourite, Fanny Mae, with vocals by Yannick Boudruche. (The double vinyl edition adds four more tracks: three improvised pieces and The Chicken.)

Discography
Introduction; (Used To Be A) Cha Cha; Barbary Coast; Interlude; Liberty City (intro)/Invitation; Continuum; Kuru/Speak Like A Child; Interlude; Teen Town; Three Views Of A Secret; Palladium; Conclusion; Fanny Mae (57.32)
Stephane Chausse, Lucas Saint-Cricq, Stephane Guillaume, Frederic Borey, Frederic Couderc (reeds); Claude Egea, Pierre Drevet, Erick Poirier, Yves Le Carboulec (t, flh); Denis Leloup, Damien Verherve, Phillipe Georges (tb); Didier Havet (btb, tu); Pierre Perchaud (g); Benoit Sourisse (p, org, elp); Andre Charlier (d); Nicolas Charlier (pc); Bireli Lagrene (elb); Peter Erskine (narr); Yannick Boudruche (v). Studio Gemini, Paris, France, June 2019.
Naïve/Believe NJ7194

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multiquarium-big-band-feat-bireli-lagrene-remembering-jaco...this is very much a band album, the ensemble both punchy and well drilled as it tackles compositions either written or performed by Pastorius. Fresh life is given to these established tunes.