|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
| Title: @-quartet |
| Artist: Didier Verna |
| (c): (C) 2006 Didier Verna |
| (p): (P) 2006 Didier Verna |
| Genre: |
Record Label: |
Price: |
Release date: |
| Jazz Fusion |
Didier Verna |
8.91 $ |
2006-09-29 |
|
| |
|
 |
|
DVL Productions:
From the press...
"I hear a well articulated playing, in the tradition, masterized."
-- Alex Duthil / Jazzman
"Nice example of autoproduction. [...] Supported notably by Gilles Naturel's double bass, Didier Verna plays indeed straight ahead Jazz clearly influenced by Pat Metheny from whom he has the roundness of sound and the limpidity of phrases."
-- Citizen Jazz
" Congrats ! Very very good album. I like it a lot."
-- Glenn Ferris
"Some beautiful Jazz guitar."
-- Antoine Hervé
"Nice sounds, great playing !"
-- Greg Lyons
"I think that this is great quality jazz music."
-- Yves Carbonne |
DVL Productions:
From Darryl Gregory / Indie Music
Didier Verna is in quartet mode with his new CD @-quartet. Verna steps out in front with his beautifully melodic guitar playing and leads his gang of four through nine tracks of seemingly effortless arrangements of original jazz. The difficulty lies in how to categorize his take on jazz. In the opening track, there is definitely a bossa feel, and yet we also have that feeling of West Coast smoothness in some tracks, and then there is the jumpy-intricate improvs of be-bop. Since I’m a big fan of eclecticism in art, I choose not to categorize, but for the sake of a review all I can say is get the CD and enjoy.
In true quartet fashion, the players each bring their unique voice to the group and something greater than the parts arises. Guillaume Naud’s piano playing is in the right places and complimentary to Verna’s melodic direction. Their interaction is evident throughout, but especially on track four, “Song for L." Gilles Naturel’s bass walks and sings, and his time is right in the pocket. A good jazz drummer always amazes me. David Georgelet definitely has that amazement factor down, not because he is fancy or intricate, but because he plays like a vocalist - he knows how to make the kit sing and follow not only the rhythmic structure, but the melody line as well.
Only a part time musician (Verna’s other gig is as a computer researcher) this CD definitely has a full time sound. You’d think that these guys have been on the road for years -- their sound is that tight and complimentary. Definitely a great addition to any jazz collection.
-- Darryl Gregory / indie-music.com |
DVL Productions:
From Matt Krammer (CDBaby customer):
great CD of original straight ahead contemporary jazz
This is a very good CD (I gave it the highest rating). The songs are original and good, and the musicianship outstanding. It is not overplayed, it is not underplayed, everything fits together well. Verna has two of the songs available as mp3 files on his site, check them out (the rest of the CD, except for one or two songs, is similar in sound). The sound is modern but not too abstract, very listenable and flowing, it is more straight-ahead than fusion. The solos are terrific, Verna is an outstanding jazz guitarist. His tone/sound is more like Metheny than Scofield, but his lines are his own. I'm looking forward to his next CD.
- Matt Krammer |
DVL Productions:
Bel exemple d'autoproduction. [...] Épaulé notamment par la contrebasse de Gilles Naturel, Didier Verna joue certes un jazz classique, où se sentent des influences certaines de Pat Metheny dont il a la rondeur de son et la limpidité des phrases. [...] |
George W. Carroll --:
Talk about leaving an impression... Didier Verna is a jazz guitarist dealing in melodic & harmonic invention. His Metheny-esque improvisational delivery is compromising, intellectual, non rigorous with a superb technique, connected with an extraordinary command of his music. In fact Verna's music is brilliantly interpreted & compelling in it's content. His music portrays images & sounds of his influences which have been by default... Quiite positive! |
John Luciano:
@-Quartet (At Quartet) is a very promising debut recording from a part-time musician and self-professed UZEB fan. By day, Didier Verna is a computer researcher but he’s left the computers and synths at the office and has delivered a very accessible acoustic album. @-Quartet is a great example of what contemporary jazz should be. It’s certainly not smooth jazz. Although it’s acoustic, I have a hard time defining it as straight ahead and that’s the beauty of jazz, isn’t it? These nine compositions are fresh, melodically challenging and engaging. Upon first listen a number of guitarists on the scene came to mind, but Didier definitely has his own voice. Rather than fall into the comparison trap, I’d ask you to take a chance on this very talented musician and make your own comparisons. Two tracks that really stood out for me are "Les Maleties," which took me back to early Spyro Gyra, circa Morning Dance-Catching The Sun, for the guitar piano interplay, and "Paris-Nice" which has a nice aggressive feel to it.
John Luciano -- Contemporary Jazz |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
