Last Night...

In late december, I attended an unusual (from me) concert at the Maison de la Radio in Paris. I meant to write about it immediately afterwards, but of course, life came in the way and I didn't find the time. Yesterday, I had lunch with JJM and of course we discussed the event, so here are, better late than never, my impressions.

I don't normally listen to a lot of classical or orchestral music. Perhaps my favourite composer is Gershwin, especially his Piano Concerto in F, An American in Paris and Rhapsody in Blue. When French diatonic maestro Jean-Jacques Milteau contacted me a few weeks back to tell me that himself, guitarist Manu Galvin and drummer André Charlier would be performing with the French National Orchestra (ONF) for a charity, I said I'd try to come, but I didn't expect too much of it. I guess my dissapointment with the smoochie arrangements on Stevie Wonder's orchestral harp album Alfie tainted my expectations. I don't like smooch.

The charity that was to benefit from the proceeds is Musique et Santé (Music & Health), a French association whose aim is to give music a more prominent role in hospitals and amongst those in poor health, both in a therapeutic role (and there is, in this respect, a lot to be said for the harmonica) and as a relief from suffering and loneliness through concerts, chorals, etc. I know this charity well because Jean-Jacques has already recorded a superb children's album called Manque Pas d'Air for them.

Anyway, all this to say that I didn't come with high expectations, and possibly my motivation was helping the charity more than enjoying the music. I invited my parents and my father in law, musing that they would probably like it better than I would, and that it was all for a good cause anyway. Man, was I wrong...

The first thing that struck me as soon as the music started, and which I should have known of course, is that a full orchestra is a damn impressive sound, and that a stereo, no matter how good, can never convey the subtle power of such a huge formation. The vibration of the chellos, the deep droning of the double basses, the layers of arrangement, all this often sounds flat in your living room. Not so live...

It's a tricky exercice, for a musician who is more known for his chops playing improvisational music to find a common ground with thirty or so musicians whose trade is to play written music. The repertoire that was announced was a mix of traditional tunes from all round the world and jazz themes, hence, perhaps, my original worries. Here is what they played :

• Ode to Billy Joe
• Saint Louis Blues
• Midnight Cowboy
• Suzanna > Tennessee Waltz
• Ryan's > Mickey the Moulder > The Sailor & the Maid
• Reunion
• Tour de Taille
• Molihua > Full of Joy
• Mercy, mercy, mercy
• Soweto
• Taj Mahal > The Fairview Grande
• Encore : What a wonderful world

The thing that really made a difference to me is the arrangements. Far from being the smoochy violins I was expecting, the music was modern, quirky, and even somewhat deconstructed at times. Jean-Jacques would usually open with the theme played straight over the regular harmonisation, and then the theme would reappear played by the orchestra over a reharmonized sequence that put it in a totally different perspective. Then there would be sections over which JJ or Manu could improvise. There was a lot of dynamics and a great variety in styles and textures, and the credit for all this work goes to arranger Rémi Biet, formerly of the French National Jazz Orchestra.

Highlights of the evening were the Irish medley, during which the first violin played all the themes in unison with Jean-Jacques, grinning like a first violin is not normally allowed to grin, Manu's solo break during Mercy, mercy, mercy in which he quoted at least three classical pieces, to the amusement and amazement of the classical musicians around him and a special moment for me which was the medley of Chinese popular songs which didn't mean much to me but spoke to my parents, who lived five years in China and still go there often.

In the end it was a great evening. I enjoyed myself thoroughly, perhaps more so than at Jean-Jacques' regular concerts, simply because the context was different, and there was lot to look at and listen to. As an added bonus, my parents loved it and my father in law couldn't stop raving about it for weeks afterwards !

Which goes to show: never loose your open mind...