Rémi Bolduc Quartet Fable
(Disques Silence Records)
reviewed by Dan Noseworthy

Rémi Bolduc’s first disc as leader is quite an impressive debut. For those of you who are not familiar with Bolduc, he has probably played with just about anybody who is anybody in this town, and for good reason- the man reads and plays like something else. For those of you who are familiar with Bolduc, but have only heard him in his role as sideman, this is Bolduc in his own element, doing his own thing, and he proves that he is far more than an exceptionally gifted improviser and gun-for-hire (though many musicians would be happy to be that). He is also a talented modern jazz composer and bandleader in his own right.

Everybody is influenced by somebody, and the influence of the music of such players as bassist Dave Holland and of M-Base alto saxophonist Steve Coleman (whom Rémi has studied with) is apparent in this recording. Though far from suggesting that Bolduc’s music is a copy of their styles, this is mentioned merely to point out the direction in which his music is moving. He has followed their musical lead, but has quite successfully made it his music.

For this CD Bolduc invited two old musical (and personal) friends- New York guitarist Ben Monder and Canadian drummer Owen Howard. To round out the rhythm section, he hired his own gun (nay, a cannon)- New York bassist Marc Johnson. From the results, I would say that this was a meeting of kindred spirits.

Five of the seven selections for this outing are Bolduc’s compositions, with the two exceptions being Monder’s kickass contribution, Watch Your Head, and the standard I Should Care (check out the wonderfully loose and harmonically exquisite solo guitar intro). All of the cuts are beautifully crafted compositions, but I particularly like the title track, Lego, and Bolduc’s tribute to his son, Samuel.

The melodies are wonderfully and jaggedly lyrical, the forms and changes are well-designed to provide a rich environment and source of material for improvisation, and the ensemble work is rhythmically driving and extremely tight.

This CD will be a welcome addition to your record library and is an excellent example of the homegrown creative juices flowing among us here in Montreal. Oh, and go catch Bolduc live while you can, before he becomes more widely recognized and is snatched away from us, before his club appearances in Montreal become a fable of the past.

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

Plus de: Rémi Bolduc; Fable