Orchestre National du Jazz

Likely the first in what hopes should be many more examinations of the music of American keyboardist/composer Carla Bley (1936-2023), With Carla stands out for many reasons. It’s not just that the 17-piece Orchestre National du Jazz (ONJ) is a larger ensemble than those for which she usually wrote, or that the all-French band is interpreting American music. It’s that the 10 tracks have been arranged mostly by ONJ reedist Rémi Sciuto and in a couple of cases ONJ artistic director flutist Sylvaine Hélary not as overly reverent homages but with new structure and emphasis that reflect Bley’s comprehensive reach and, in part, her sense of humor.

Bley of course was known for compositions often as quirky as the were moving and earnest. Besides her own groups Bley’s tunes were interpreted by The Liberation Orchestra, numerous small groups; and with poet Paul Haines, as the Escalator over the Hill jazz opera. Sciuto, who plays alto and baritone saxophones, clarinet and musical saw [!] here is versatile enough to have composed music for theatre and even circuses as well as playing with stylists as different as Louis Sclavis and Michel Legrand. Hélary is another musician with varied experience having worked in theatre and in groups with the likes of Michel Edelin and Eve Risser. Since the ONJ artistic director and personnel change completely every four years, her tenure since 2024 involves a completely new orchestral ensemble.

Recorded live each of With Carla’s CDs include a Sciuto-composed interlude that ties together the Bley compositions into two suites. Cellist Juliette Serrad’s brief vocal adds veracity to the band’s interpretation of the jazz opera’s “India”, though its more notable for a shaking tenor saxophone solo and organ pulses that cut through the string heavy arrangement. Meanwhile “Exaltation” with its descending saxophone arcs surrounding Antonin Rayon’s contrapuntal organ expression is a anthemic church-like piece by early 20^th Century US composer Charles Ruggles. Recorded by a Bley band, introduces the ONJ’s version of her “Religious Experience” composition, links to Sciuto’s “Hypothèses” which precedes it with initial organ pumps and consolidated brass intensity.

However the essence of Sciuto’s canny arrangements the ONJ variations on the work occur on purely instrumental originals like “Musique Mecanique” and “Wrong Key Donkey”. The latter balances on an a capella pumping groove by tubaist Fanny Meteier, to which first the brass, reed sections and then the rest of the band affiliates. After vibist Illya Amar adds ringing mallet rolls, trombonist Jessica Simon’s portamento smears help bring out the lightness of the theme which is reprised often, in spite of brass squeaks and metal bar clips push the interpretation out further.

The introductory and longest track on the session “Musique Mecanique” is a pseudo-waltz that equally suggests Jazz improv and Weimer Era cabaret music. On one hand rounded grace notes from Quentin Ghomari’s trumpet meet transverse puffs from the flutists cushioned by the four person string section, on the other, Sébastien Boisseau’s double bass thumps toughen the whorls and wails that underline Hélary’s flute solo. Picking up speed the piece attains memorable swing riffs before recapping the head with triumphant tutti cries.

With additional room throughout to emphasize Sciuto’s soloing that wavers between lead alto correctness and Cool school breaths as well as Rayon’s keyboard(s) skill on both his instruments as well as sequences carved out for many of the other ONJ players, grit and gentleness make equal entrances. Since resolved conflict and refractive harmony initiate many of the themes  exchanges, With Carla is the most creative Bley program recorded that doesn’t feature Bley herself.

Not only is it another instance of this ONJ variant’s illustrious skill, but it also sets out a challenge for other oeuvre interpretations in the future.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: CD 1: 1. Musique Mecanique 2. Préludvi* 3. Útviklingssang* 4. Ups And Downs 5. …And Ups Again 6. In India CD 2: 1. Wrong Key Donkey 2. Hypothèses…3. Exaltation 4. Religious Experience 5. Major 6. End of Vienna

Personnel: Sylvain Bardiau (trumpet): Quentin Ghomari (trumpet, flugelhorn); Jessica Simon (trombone); Mathilde Fèvre (French horn); Fanny Meteier (tuba); Rémi Sciuto (alto, baritone saxophones, clarinet, musical saw); Léa Ciechelski (alto saxophone, flute); Hugues Mayot (tenor saxophone, bass clarinet); Sylvaine Hélary (flute); Anne Le Pape, Laure Franz (violins); Guillaume Roy (viola); Juliette Serrad (cello, voice); Antonin Rayon (piano, organ); Sébastien Boisseau, Mathias Allamane* (bass); Franck Vaillant (drums) and Illya Amar (vibraphone, percussion)