| Piano |
The composer and pianist Xavier Faro, a member of the excellent group Meajam, is releasing his album Sagittarius, as always with a melodic care and a poetic scope that is his hallmark. We enter through “the Garden,” with no time to settle in, “Sagittarius” opens up to us with a gentle melancholy that transports us to “Ghetto”, as many journeys constructed like short films that engage us, amuse us, or make us contemplative, for Xavier has a deep sense of dramaturgy.
It is probably no coincidence that dramaturgy is at the center of this work, as Xavier also works for the theater, where he designs music. Like many artists today, he draws on multiple artistic sources, which enriches his compositions. This album can be approached from several angles of interpretation, the most obvious being musical, the most characteristic being dramaturgical, poetic, and literary. Look at the titles of the album, which follow like chapters, showcasing a singular writing style that goes well beyond the strings of his piano.
This album is to be considered a precious gem, as it has many qualities that make it suitable for listening while working, for a real listening experience, or with friends. You will also be surprised at times to feel like two pianos are superimposed, a phonetic effect due to absolutely brilliant arrangements that reinforce the poetic reading of the work.
For our American friends, here is a brief excerpt from his biography: Musician, pianist, and composer, Xavier Faro has been experimenting with and sharing musical notes and forms on the Toulouse stage for over twenty years. His first encounters with many musicians from this region and beyond, notably the drummer Tomas Gouband, the saxophonist Alain Angeli, and then a time with the Voix Mêlées orchestra initiated by FNEIJMA and directed by the guitarist Louis Winsberg, will mark his subsequent engagements.
His passion for the piano and composition takes over, and he decides to found the quartet MEAJAM, which will highlight his work as a composer and his multiple influences. Sensible to jazz, film music, pop, and with a temporary interest in electronic music, his musical universe will gradually refine, and MEAJAM will release two albums. First “Dans l’herbe” in February 2014, on the Cristal Records label with drummer Baptiste Dechabaneix, bassist Emmanuel Forster, and Alain Angeli on tenor and soprano saxophones. The album is an ode to nature and the landscapes of Quercy, where Xavier is originally from. Then in March 2019, the group with a new rhythm section composed of Laurent Meyer on drums and Fabrice Camboulive on bass, released its second opus “L’envol”: a reflection on exile and freedom.
In any case, this album is highly recommended by Bayou Blue Radio and Paris-Move, who classify it in the series of “Indispensables.”
Xavier Faro: “To compose a repertoire for solo piano is to realize the dream of a kid who has never let go of the white and black keys; the experience and sharing with other musicians allow him to construct this project without a net: to draw alone sketches with this instrument of protean possibilities.”
Thierry De Clemensat
Correspondent in USA
Bayou Blue News – Bayou Blue Radio – Paris-Move
PARIS-MOVE, April 19th 2023
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