À travers le temps…

Review

Chantal De Villiers, the courageous saxophonist

“To introduce today’s topic, we’ll borrow from our dear friend La Palice: the new album by saxophonist and composer Chantal De Villiers is calmer, gentler than her last. It had to be. Indeed, it was recorded with great pianists, and only pianists – the fine François Bourassa, the classic Burt De Villiers and the “petersonizing” Taurey Butler – whereas the previous one was recorded in a quartet.

The title of this album, made, we insist, of duets, is À travers le temps. It was released by the label that Chantal De Villiers founded with saxophonist Rémi Bolduc, Productions Art and Soul. Our artist’s program? It’s just like the pianists: great, because it combines well-chosen standards with original pieces that, in all seriousness, stand up to comparison.

Now that the table is set, it’s time to stir the pot. But what else? When you think of piano-saxophone duets, you immediately think of Art Pepper with George Cables, Houston Person with Bill Charlap, Ran Blake with Ricky Ford, Lee Konitz with Harold Danko, and others we’ve forgotten, but certainly not the next one, which is nothing less than the gold standard (as in gold standard) of the genre: Stan Getz with Kenny Barron. These blowers had the courage or the folly, as the case may be, to do the most difficult thing of all: perform Dear Old Stockholm and other choice pieces (bis) while camping on the edge of a precipice. And not the Cotentin, but the Niagara.

Chantal De Villiers also had the courage. Not only that… In fact, you have to understand – yes, we know, the tone is a little imperative, but it takes what it takes, as Queneau used to say – that in opting for the duo, Villiers had to deal with a very high coefficient of difficulty, as she knew full well that her last course would be compared to that of the aforementioned gentlemen.

Having said that, let’s put it like we heard it: we enjoyed it from start to finish. At the end, we were in awe of everything she had just served up. What we noted on her previous album is confirmed: this woman is bursting with talent. Better still, she should serve as an example, because unlike many CEGEP- or university-trained saxophonists, Chantal De Villiers has a sound! Her sound and no one else’s.

There’s something about this album that reminds us of Richie Kamuca, Benny Golson and Harold Land. Something gentle, with here and there the sonic rough edges needed to avoid the trap of preciousness. Of course, her companions are no strangers to this state of reality that distinguishes À travers le temps.

Each accompanies Chantal De Villiers on three pieces. Following chronological order, Bourassa is as subtle and detail-oriented as ever, Burt De Villiers gets straight to the point in the manner of Jimmy Rowles, while Butler has learned from Oscar Peterson: he’s imperial!

The conclusion is simple: readers, if you’re not satisfied with this album, we’ll refund your money!” ~ Le Devoir – Serge Truffaut, May 5, 2018 (translated from french)