| Jazz |
This is the first album slated for a December release to reach us, and if the ones that follow are of the same caliber, we’ll be wearing out a few more pages in Microsoft Word to craft reviews. We can’t say it enough: it fills us with joy to witness so many talented women making waves in the jazz world, each with their distinctive musical universes and firmly established compositional prowess.
Diane Roblin’s dynamic career has earned her a place among the most respected women in Canadian jazz. Renowned for her powerful compositions and expressive keyboard style, her performances are a seamless blend of technical agility and a deep commitment to music’s unifying power. As a composer, pianist, keyboardist, improviser, and bandleader, her bold, genre-transcending work has seen her collaborate with a range of artists, from avant-garde improviser Charles Gayle to the iconic rock group Rough Trade.
Her compositions, both powerful and delicate, carry a clear classical influence, serving as the foundation for sumptuous arrangements and inspired, inspirational track introductions, all delivered by an outstanding ensemble of musicians:
- Diane Roblin – Piano, Rhodes, Keyboards
- Kevin Turcotte – Trumpet, Flugelhorn
- John Johnson – Soprano and Alto Saxophones
- Jeff LaRochelle – Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet
- George Koller – Double Bass & Electric Bass
- Tim Shia – Drums
In the end, one finds themselves marveling as much at the compositions as at the artistry of each musician present. Diane Roblin’s piano often evokes Debussy, with her precise and elegant delivery of notes into the space, adding a poetic touch to the whole. Every element seems designed to uphold an aesthetic where grace and beauty are the ultimate goals of the work. Blending jazz, funk, and impressionist harmonies, her compositions are adventurous yet deeply moving.
At the helm of her powerful six-piece ensemble, Life Force, Roblin traverses dynamic sonic landscapes punctuated by intricate, emotionally resonant improvisations. Bassist and producer George Koller lays down masterful foundations, while Kevin Turcotte’s trumpet and flugelhorn bring agile and inventive phrasing. Jeff LaRochelle adds warmth and depth with his tenor saxophone and bass clarinet, John Johnson enriches the vibrant textures with his woodwinds, and Tim Shia anchors the ensemble with subtle, nuanced drumming, navigating evolving rhythms and complex time signatures.
These six tracks transport the listener through vivid musical tableaux, and while their brevity leaves one longing for more, it’s impossible not to return to this album repeatedly. Like all masterfully crafted works, it reveals fresh surprises with each listen, its splendid and ingenious arrangements commanding both admiration and respect. Diane Roblin’s illustrious career extends beyond Canada to northern Europe, and perhaps her most striking collaboration to date has been with Sarah Weaver in New York.
The press is unanimous in its praise for Diane Roblin’s work:
“Roblin reminds us of her talents, not only as a pianist but also as a composer of new music.”
– TheWholeNote
“…fascinating… offering something truly unique for jazz aficionados.”
– JazzFM91
It comes as no surprise, then, that this album will undoubtedly feature in our “Essential Albums” series for 2024.
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, November 25th 2024
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