Tropical Jazz Trio - Tropical Jazz Trio (2019)

In New Orleans, descendants of slaves from Africa, without their musical instruments, invented drums because drums were forbidden to them. They served to ring the revolt in the plantations. In the Caribbean, from Cuba to Venezuela to Guadeloupe, they were allowed. With a barrel of rum, the big quarter, the Guadeloupeans created the Gwo Ka whose Roger Raspail is a recognized Master and Sonny Troupé, the worthy continuator. Playing on skins with bare hands, it does not sound like playing chopsticks and brooms on a battery that has fixed the moving elements of military fanfares (drums and cymbals). American Jazz is becoming tropical in the French West Indies, a stage between America, Europe and Africa. This trio comes out of the classical jazz rhythm (piano, double bass, drums). Without leaving it, he transforms it. This is the essence of Jazz, Métis music.

Finally, the Tropical Jazz Trio releases an album. After forty years of complicity in different sets, the three friends have nothing to prove. The proof. The album has no other title than the name of their group. Tropical Jazz Trio. Music flows from them as a living source. Obviously, it is devilishly rhythmic. Listen to the "Pytang Pytang Bang" (10) by Roger Raspail and Franck Curier and, unless otherwise formally opposed, dance now!

However, such refined musicians never neglect the melody. Starting with the opening track "Morena's reveries" (1) dedicated by Alain Jean-Marie to the singer Morena Fattorini. This is the signature piece of Alain Jean-Marie. See video under this article. From the outset, the tone is given. It plays at a very high international level.

Without a fight, our three friends mix their compositions with Jazz standards. "Fleurette africaine" (4) (Duke Ellington), "Senor Blues" and "The Cape Verdean Blues" (6, 12) by pianist Horace Silver whose father was from Cape Verde. Cape Verde in the United States of America, a step in the West Indies was needed. This is what the Tropical Jazz Trio demonstrates. See audio extract above this article.

 They even play, arranged by Alain Jean-Marie, "Limelight", in French "The lights of the city" composed by Charlie Chaplin for his film (11).

These gentlemen know the song. They conclude with two French songs, one tropicalized from birth, "Couleur café" by Serge Gainsbourg (13) and a song with an eternal spring, like this music and its performers, "Le temps des cerises" (14 ).

The beautiful will have madness in mind and sun lovers in the heart. That's what the song says. This is the message of the Tropical Jazz Trio. So much freshness and wisdom, science and emotion, measurement and cadence, it is a gift that does not refuse, demanding readers, selective readers.