JAZZ – At the Scala de Provence, the Avignon Provence National Orchestra conducted by Fiona Monbet offers a concert “Rhapsody in blue” dedicated to George Gershwin in collaboration with the jazz trio formed by Paul Lay on piano, Donald Kontomanou on drums and Clémens Van der Feen on double bass. Additional passages and rearrangements are designed by Philippe Maniez.
Jazz and symphony: volcanic fusion
George Gershwin was keen to mix musical influences, skillfully and sometimes in an explosive way mixing all the environments for which he composed. This evening’s program is in keeping with this spirit. It is made up of some of the composer’s most notable works such as, Someone to watch over me, It ain’t necessarily so, Summertime (Porgy and Bess) and of course the Rhapsody in bluewhose centenary is being celebrated this year, placed at the center of the concert. Like a vast rhapsody, the concert full of twists and turns includes numerous improvised passages, wild instrumental solos added on the edge, and a subtle fusion between the trio and the large orchestra in a style borrowed from the “big band”. Even Fiona Monbet, at the bend of a variation of the Rhapsody in bluesurprises by picking up his violin for the first time of the evening, including a passage that is as virtuoso as it is supercharged.
The tension rises with an electric trio
Paul Lay’s piano, at 200% throughout the evening, is no less charged. His frenetic playing electrifies the keyboard parts and bounces off that of the orchestra or the trio. Vigor and passion are his watchwords, and he is heard well even above the orchestra. Rhythmic instability, however, sometimes prevents the ear from settling and sometimes leads to slight discrepancies with the rest of the musicians. The show is as visual as it is musical, the interpretation being supported by theatrical gestures made all the more visible by her sequined jacket. He is also the one who presents the program throughout the evening.
Drummer Donald Kontomanou exploits the entire palette of his instrument with a finesse allowing to support the muffled warmth of numerous passages, whether by the caress of the brushes on the snare drum, the more or less resonant ringing of the timpani and the hi-hat or the dull sound of the sticks hitting the circles directly. He even plays a passage with his bare hands. His solos are fluid and well articulated.
Clémens Van der Feen’s double bass stands out a little less. She brings a lively groove to trios and quartets (with Fiona Monbet on violin). However, the performance of the tempos and even the accuracy can be improved at times.
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l’ONAP and fashion Big Band
After slight hesitations at the very beginning of the program, the Orchester National Avignon Provence fully reveals its brilliance in the vast Rhapsody in blue extended with numerous additional passages and improvisations. The patterns are executed in a clean and reproducible manner. The instrumentalists also show their individual qualities, starting with the formidable clarinet solo beginning the Rhapsody in blueexecuted brilliantly. Fiona Monbet (specialist in this classical-jazz fusion repertoire) conducts it without a baton with ample and flexible gestures. She sometimes encourages the soloists with hand signs and enters the most lively passages with light dancing sways. The atmosphere is there. The audience applauds between pieces and sometimes even in the middle, after the most striking feats or the most catchy rhythms which will have made more than one person nod their heads.
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