Mark Priore - The many facets of a day (2023)

"Atmosphere?…". Each moment of the day has an “atmospheric mouth”, and these are the faces that pianist Mark Priore shows in his first CD “The many facets of a day”. Thanks to a series of twelve titles which also allow you to travel through the history of the jazz he loves, and also to evoke a little of his spiritual life.

And the dawning day appears, in the light and freshness offered by Le cri de Caroline, a joyful and tonic “rag” by James P. Johnson: Carolina Shout, to celebrate this first moment. “The echo of this spring” continues and can still be heard in the theme of Vernon Duke Taking a chance on love which pays homage to both Fred Hersch and Herbie Hancock. But since a day is a "miniature of the atmospheres of life", the clouds come and accumulate in Prior Vita I. Mark's first somewhat gloomy meditation, which by its title refers both to reminiscences of a past life and to the life of the clan. Then the rain can finally settle down, soft, repetitive, nurturing. This is the fourth title: It is raining, preparing deliverance. And with the Chanson d'Alfio, hope is reborn.

Mark Priore's CD is in fact very constructed: time is our ally in the project and the jazzman's anticipation. Mark “takes the quarter”: these are the themes 3-6-10, Prior Vita I, Prior Vita II, Prior Vita III distributed on the page. The hour is thus regularly marked by a very personal composition; the second is more classic: discipline saves. And the third with its two melancholic notes à la Satie, leads us through a series of broken cadences and happy modulations, from the most atrocious nightmare to rediscovered peace.

Meanwhile, all the science of Mark, the “sonodidact” was heard. Whether in Turbilhao de beijos (ah the romance, the fever of these kisses!), in the integration of a Petersonian motif given in two octaves with what discretion, what taste! In the midst of these outpourings; or in the art of playing this famous theme from the great Oscar, You look good to me. The absence of Ray Brown on the double bass, allows Mark's left hand to deploy its freedom, before the chorus of the right. And Sunset blues - very gospel, the blues! - pays homage to Elton John, and indicates the descent of the sun, in a series of modulations which however let appear a dominant tonality.

“Atmosphere; mood ; climax; Stimmung; agreement”, all these almost synonymous terms, essential in aesthetics, are thus illustrated in the deployment of this day which ends with two luminous themes: Colors for Fred Hersch and Theme for H.Miyasaki where Impressionism is celebrated.

We are amazed by the clarity of the subject, the controlled progression of the concepts: each theme has its atmosphere, its pianistic processes, its style, without this preventing the flow of atmospheres, in a continuity that avoids any confusion and a letting go. a take which testifies to a very great spiritual and pianistic maturity.

We have of course noted the remarkable work of Paul Berne and Jean Paul Pellegrinelli on the sound, who knew how to diversify their shots according to the desired atmosphere.