Ariane Racicot - Danser avec le feu (2025) Hi Res

It seems to me that movement is a very important component for the creative nature of the Montreal pianist and composer Ariane Rassico. It is no coincidence that she put a profile portrait of herself in rapid motion on the cover of her debut album Envolée (2022). No less expressive is the cover of her new album Danser avec le feu (Dancing with Fire), which will be released at the end of February this year, only here Ariane is captured in dance motion. Never standing still, moving forward - these seem to be Ariane Rassico's creative principles, and they bring results!

Ariane has become the laureate of the Révélation Radio-Canada prize in jazz for 2022/2023. Rassico's creative union with her partners has also strengthened: electric bassist Antoine Rochefort and drummer Guillaume Piccard. The successful concert tour of the Rassico trio with the program of her first album led to the creation of the next project. Rassico combines fusion with elements of Latin and prog rock in her music. The press compares her music with the works of Tigran Hamasyan, Hiromi Uehara and Avishai Cohen. Danser avec le feu gives the opportunity to compare my impressions with these assessments.

The album includes eight new compositions by Ariana. For myself, I noted that first of all she is a good melodist. The themes of her compositions look memorable and very attractive, and this applies to both the tempo pieces, where the influence of rock is really quite noticeable, and the elegant ballad-type pieces. I would especially note the opening and final compositions with similar names, as if looping the program into a suite: Avant la tempête and Après la tempête, as well as Chez-moi and the energetic title piece Dancing With Fire. Rassico has a very assertive piano technique, relatively speaking, closer to his famous compatriot Oscar Peterson than, say, to Bill Evans. Rochefort and Piccard provide a worthy assistance to their leader, giving the overall sound a noticeable drive. In general, Danser avec le feu leaves a very pleasant impression. The movement continues!