| Classique, Jazz |
It is impossible not to be captivated by Impressions, a recording where classical music and jazz unite in perfect harmony—where beauty, poetry, and melancholy unfold on the palette of a painter. Isabelle Olivier, wielding her harp like a brush, plays with a spectrum of luminous colors, crafting a project of rare originality. To refuse such an offering would be sheer folly. With this new album, Olivier delves into Impressionism, exploring its echoes both in music and the visual arts, drawing inspiration from a myriad of influences.
“Leaping from traditional repertoire to an avant-gardism that transcends time and space, the musicians blend groove and improvisation, performing with a measured fluidity that only the most seasoned hands can achieve.” —Denise Sullivan, DownBeat (review of OASIS)
“Olivier’s approach is distinguished by a constant willingness to take risks and a profound desire to collaborate with musicians and artists from diverse backgrounds.” —Joel Chevassus, 6Moons.com
One may analyze this music endlessly, yet at its core, it is a profoundly contemporary endeavor, masterfully guiding us into a world where the harp—an instrument long confined to the classical tradition—reveals an unprecedented vision of itself. While past attempts have sought to break the harp free from its conventional mold, never before has it been reimagined with such a contemporary sensibility, one that verges on genius.
The Impressionists revolutionized the art world by favoring emotional and spiritual perception over strict representation. A native of France, Isabelle Olivier has always felt a deep affinity for Impressionism, finding its resonance in her other artistic passions—particularly jazz and classical music.
With Impressions, the harpist paints a bold soundscape, layering the vibrant hues of her many influences. Inspired by Impressions, the seminal composition by saxophonist John Coltrane, she navigates the confluences of jazz and Impressionism with the instinct of a painter, attuned to complementary colors, forms, and textures.
“I conceive of Impressionism as a fusion of elegance, minimalism, spectral notions, sensations, and atmospheres—things one feels but cannot always explain.” —Isabelle Olivier
And this is precisely what we love here: a true artistic vision, fully embraced by Isabelle Olivier, rendering her work utterly unique. Unless one harbors an aversion to the harp itself, this album is nothing short of transcendent. Impressions showcases a multifaceted ensemble, bringing together her sons—pianist and accordionist Tom Olivier-Beuf and electronic musician Raphaël Olivier—alongside a string quartet (violinists Mathias Naon and Anne Le Pape, violist Cyprien Busolini, and cellist Jean-Philippe Feiss) and drummer Baptiste Thiebault. In addition to compositions inspired by Impressionism, the album features collective improvisations that evoke impressionistic ideas—from the ethereal Fog on the Lake to the pointillist A Pizzicato Life.
Yet another of our Essential Albums—one you will take pride in sharing with friends, and rightfully so.
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, February 25th 2025
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