Vincent Peirani – Living Being IV (Time Reflections)

On this fourth opus from his group Living Being, Vincent Peirani confirms (if proof were needed) his various talents.

First and foremost, he is a composer who possesses the accomplished art of producing lilting melodies, for we know that singing is one of the musician’s aspirations, although he has not yet put it into practice.

And this art is present in the ambitious three-movement suite that gives this CD its title.

Then there’s his talent as an arranger, as each theme is skillfully crafted through a pertinent and enthusiastic use of the sounds of his four companions, with whom the leader has been familiar for ages. Lastly, Peirani‘s talent as an improviser who doesn’t particularly stand out from that of his companions, since it’s clear that for him it’s the group sound that prevails. This ensemble sound is sculpted not only by the specific timbre of each of the partners, but also by their ability to insert their solos into this remarkably dense, vibrant sound mass. There’s no end of praise for the timbral qualities of Peirani‘s accordion, clearly one of the major voices on the instrument.

His faithful accomplice Emile Parisien also possesses one of the most personal timbres on the soprano saxophone. As for the members of the rhythm section, who are less involved as soloists, they contribute amply to this totally original group sound, which never ceases to delight our ears.

Maintaining the same line-up for ten years is no easy task. But its evolution is so satisfying that it’s easy to understand why Peirani devotes so much time and energy to it – alongside other projects.

Living Being is indeed a unique group in the European jazz landscape, and its members, under Vincent Peirani‘s leadership, express an incomparable poetic sensibility that makes it a journey one never tires of following.