| Jazz |
If there are two accordionists that I truly admire in France, they are Maxime Perrin and… Frédéric Viale, for different reasons, but both have a deep awareness of their instrument’s strengths and limitations. They are able to deliver albums with maximum risk-taking, as is the case here. Indeed, releasing a 19-track solo accordion album requires one to fully appreciate the feat involved, especially since this album, *Caméléon*, begins with a version of the song “Frou Frou”—a track interpreted by many “realist” singers like Berthe Sylva in the early 20th century. However, Viale’s version is far from that, offering a poetic and jazz-infused arrangement, admirably crafted by our talented Frédéric Viale.
Clearly, this album reflects the passions of its creator, with arrangements laid out like jewels on a crown of brilliant covers and original compositions, such as *Caméléon*, in which we see all of Viale’s talent as a composer. This album is all the more fascinating because it completely disregards stylistic and genre boundaries. The progression of tracks follows a purely artistic logic, with each piece serving as the perfect stage for the next, allowing Viale to showcase his unique poetic style. His sound is instantly recognizable, always managing to amuse, surprise, and at times even brush against the wings of Piazzolla—when necessary, without ever seeking to imitate him. Frédéric Viale does this with his own unique elegance. Imagine, for a moment, managing 19 tracks with just one instrument, the accordion—it requires not only years of practice but also a profound vision of one’s art to pull it off, without the support of other instruments, revealing the artist’s carefully controlled and deeply respectful vulnerability.
For now, I haven’t yet heard accordionists like this in the U.S., where the instrument is often used in folk contexts and played as it was in France in the early 20th century. But as luck would have it, Frédéric Viale will be in New York on March 20, 21, and 22 for *Piaf The Show*. If you’re nearby, it will be the perfect time to enjoy it. In the meantime, from October, you’ll be able to get your hands on *Caméléon*. This album portrays a show where you can easily imagine the artist alone on stage, under a white halo of light against a black background, performing with real fervor—a show that will likely be unforgettable, filled with sincerity, love for the art, the sound, and the compositions. By the end of these 19 tracks, you’ll realize how quickly time has passed, and then you’ll return to it. With each listen, you’ll discover the thousand little ideas the accordionist has slipped in here and there, leaving behind a bit of his poetic soul through his compositions and arrangements. Whether performing solo or with a group, Frédéric carefully crafts every aspect of his art, which is greatly appreciated, both by his audience and by us critics, who, after listening to hundreds of albums a year, become harder to impress. Yet with this kind of album, we realize that it is often with simplicity and without grand effects that an artist’s work stands out best.
*Caméléon* is one of those albums we place at the top of our “Essential” list, and we thank Frédéric Viale for his kindness and for not forgetting us, even though we are now thousands of kilometers away.
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, September 6th 2024
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