Pianist Francesca Han’s career journey spans three continents, from her early successes in South Korea, via residence, studies and concerts in New York and Japan, to her current home in France where this recording was made. It is her second album of trumpet and piano duets, after 2014’s Dream Episodes with Alex Sipiagin, and also her second album with trumpeter Ralph Alessi, who played on her 2012 quartet album, Illusion.
Each player provides four strong compositions, and various zones of focus are alternated and skilfully blended during this fine set. As well as a traditional melody, there is also an impressive spontaneous solo piano improvisation – Présent (with a surprising and witty two-bar quote from the song My Ideal) – and a memorable interpretation of Monk’s Pannonica closes the album.
While largely consonant, Han’s playing is highly exploratory and harmonically adventurous, sometimes resembling the more reflective sides of Abdullah Ibrahim or Paul Bley.
The titles of Han’s compositions also reflect her journeys, from Tokyo’s Apollo jazz bar to the Camargue wetlands near Arles in France, while Chrysanthemum is dedicated to pianist Masabumi Kikuchi. The Korean folk-song Arirang, which Han is likely to have known all her life, is another memorable performance and a fine illustration of both performers’ interactive skills.
Alessi’s trumpet playing is agile and resourceful, with continual melodic invention perfect for this duet recording. His ballad, Humdrum (another standout track) showcases the duo’s lyrical depth. The poise, timbral sophistication, fearless use of space and understated adventurousness of both players imbues this whole album with a quiet authority.
Discography
Apollo/Tokyo; Sage Advice; Arirang; Camargue; Humdrum; They Agree; Throwing Like a Girl; Diagonal Lady; Présent (improvisation); Chrysanthemum (for Kikuchi); Pannonica (47.19)
Han (p); Alessi (t). Pernes-les-Fontaines, France, 29 October 2021.
Hanji HJCD001
