Jean Beaudet Musiques Intérieures
(DSM)
Reviewed by Dan Noseworthy

Since arriving here in 1979, Jean Beaudet has performed nationally and internationally, received recognition and support from the Canada Council and le Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, been nominated for JUNO and ADISQ awards, and in 1994 was named Jazz Keyboardist of the Year by Toronto magazine The Jazz Report. His creativity and fluidity, both inside and outside, has gained him recognition and respect as one of Montreal’s leading jazz pianists.

Musiques Intérieures, on the relatively new and promising DSM label, is Beaudet’s second release as a leader, a long overdue follow-up to his first for Justin Time in 1988. Hopefully, we will not have to wait another 10 years for the next instalment.

This time around, Beaudet has chosen to record in trio with bassist Daniel Lessard and drummer Michel Ratté, both formidable local musicians. Lessard brings to the session his considerable experience and creativity. Ratté nails the compositions and provides the perfect foil for Beaudet’s ideas. Together, the trio weaves a web of intensely subtle interplay and conveys a conviction which screams out for wider exposure. This is the kind of music I want to hear on the radio while I’m having my morning coffee. And during lunch. And before I go to sleep.

The seven compositions on this CD are all originals from Jean Beaudet, with the exception of Lessard’s Monkish contribution, Tap Dance. These are wonderfully playful compositions, which seem to make up in their totality (though there is no indicated intention of this in the liner notes) a tribute to the masters of several important directions in modern jazz piano. Beaudet has distilled the dark, rich harmonic textures of Evans, the rhythmic and melodic angularity of Monk, the lyricism of Jarrett and the freedom of Taylor.

A childhood friend of mine once told me that she didn’t like jazz, referring to it as "tinkly-tink" music, an impression formed by insidious piano-based hotel cocktail lounge music. To her, that sterile scene represented jazz.

This is definitely not "tinkly-tink" music. This is a jazz recording. Undiluted. It is modern, creative and extrovertly introspective. Montreal has a number of world-class jazz musicians. I would wholeheartedly agree with Len Dobbin’s assessment that Beaudet, Lessard and Ratté belong in that category. A full thumbs-up for the compositions, individual and ensemble playing, and (thanks to Studio Tempo and recording engineer Andre White) the sound/recording quality. Right on, Jean!

Dan Noseworthy is a guitarist and composer. Originally from St. John’s, Newfoundland, he moved to Montreal, Quebec in 1985.

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