Céline Voccia Trio

Perfect balance expressed on Abîme relates properly to the teamwork among French pianist Céline Voccia and Germans, bassist Jan Roder and drummer Michael Griener. That’s because the dexterous and dramatic evolution of these seven tracks is invested with the demonstrated ebb, flow and effervescent currents of profound improvising. Each of the players works with everyone from Rudi Mahall to Matthias Bauer; and the three careen through varieties of pitches and tempos, skirting sloppiness with the skill of acrobats who balance on a shaking tightrope without ever falling.

Tellingly, as on “Miroirs Envolés”, the trio can build up a thesis from a deliberate mix of singular key slaps from the piano, that dip into low notes and detour to higher pitches as bass string strum and the drummer sounds metallic clips. By the climax, with the tempo eventually ascending from allegro to presto, Voccia builds a sonic structure of notes piled upon notes to an elevated finale. These dynamic interchanges are consistent during the CD’s evolution, especially on a track like “Ascension”, made up in equal part of roistering keyboard patterning, extended double bass string pulsations, rim shots and cymbal whooshes. A colorist rather than a beat smacker, Griener touch is sometimes discerning enough to suggest tap dancing. Never neglecting the pulse, Roder also buzzes and scratches the strings to add to dramatic build ups of thematic material. Using internal string rubs in response to hollow drum shots and string rumbles is as comfortable for Voccia as producing powerful key pushes and resounding crescendos.

Skilled affiliation reach a peak on the nearly 14-minute concluding “Rémanence”. Surging from an introduction that mixes chiming piano strings, twanging double bass strings and rustling drum clanks, the piece showcases soundboard echoes and key stops at the same time when Voccia creates a parallel melody. With drum taps and string tremor backing, the pianist creates a new theme as the multi-note key jiggling refer to the improvisation that began the album. A decisive trio disc that’s rhythmically sound, descriptively innovative with a touch of free-flowing melodia.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Ravin 2. Miroirs Envolés 3. Lamentations 4. Néant 5. Ascension 6. Dislocation 7. Rémanence.

Personnel: Céline Voccia (piano); Jan Roder (bass) and Michael Griener (drums)