CD review: Kavita Shah and Francois Moutin Interplay 2018 at Bogui Jazz: Video

Virtuosity, spontaneity and lyricism through a repertoire of standards and original music adapted to the unique instrumentation of the acoustic bass and the voice. The New York singer Kavita Shah, Best Graduate Vocalist for and the bassist François Moutin present their album “Interplay”, published by Dot Time Records. Interplay will be presented in Spain at the Madrid-based Bogui Jazz, on October 13 at 9:00 p.m.

The project François Moutin & Kavita Shah Duo is a meeting of minds and spirits, which embraces virtuosity, spontaneity and lyricism through a repertoire of standards and original music adapted to the unique instrumentation of the acoustic bass and the voice. His album “Interplay”, released in February 2018 on Dot Time Records, features 11 tracks ranging from classics like “La Vie en Rose” by Edith Piaf to instrumental songs like “Blah Blah” by Daphnis Prieto and original compositions by Shah and Moutin The album also features special guests Sheila Jordan in the voice, considered by many to be the pioneer of bass and vocal duos, and the legendary French pianist Martial Solal. The result is a journey of improvisation between pieces inspired by letters and without words. “Interplay” was recently nominated for a Victoire de la Musique (French Grammy Award) as Jazz Album of the Year.

François Moutin, a virtuoso bassist, was born in Paris and received a Ph.D. in Physics at the age of 24 years before choosing to become a professional musician. He has been a member of the Martial Solal Trio for three decades and, since he was 29 years old, he has co-directed a series of projects with his twin brother Louis, such as the Moutin Reunion Quartet and the Moutin Factory Quintet, which is currently active. Compose and tour regularly with this group in Europe and the United States. He has performed at all major European jazz festivals and toured in more than 30 countries around the world. In addition, François has worked with musicians such as Jean-Michel Pilc, André Ceccarelli, Antoine Hervé, Randy Brecker, Dave Liebman, Toots Thielemans, James Moody, Terri Lyne Carrington, Michel Legrand, Birelli Lagrene, Jimmy Heath, Monty Alexander, Lew Soloff, Billy Hart, Ari Hoenig, Mike Stern, Adam Rogers, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Vijay Iyer, Amir El Saffar and Jack DeJohnette.

Kavita Shah is a New York vocalist and composer who does a job in a deep commitment to the jazz language while addressing and advancing her global sensibility. Acclaimed by the NPR for possessing an “amazing dexterity for musical languages”, Kavita incorporates her ethnographic work on Latin American, West African and South Asian traditions into her music.

Like François, Kavita studied Romance Languages ​​and Literatures at Harvard before pursuing a Master’s Degree in Jazz Music at the Manhattan School of Music. In 2012, Best Graduate Vocalist was chosen by Downbeat; In 2013, he won the ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composers Award. His debut in 2014, “Visions”, co-produced by Lionel Loueke, was released with great acclaim by the critics, and his premiere of “Folk Songs of Naboréa” at the Park Avenue Armory in 2017 was highlighted as one of the 10 best concerts of jazz of the year by Nate Chinen. Shah regularly performs his music in the main concert halls, festivals and clubs around the world.

Tracklist:

1. You Go to My Head (05:47)
2. La Vie En Rose (03:45)
3. Coming Yesterday (feat. Martial Solal) (06:47)
4. Bliss (03:31)
5. Falling in Love (feat. Sheila Jordan) (06:23)
6. Aigue Marine (feat. Martial Solal) (03:21)
7. Blah Blah (04:48)
8. Utopian Vision (03:37)
9. Interplay (06:04)
10. The Provider’s Gone (03:04)
11. Peace (feat. Sheila Jordan) (06:00)

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