Antoine Boyer

scot

Esmerald' Jazz - that's Antoine and Sebastian Boyer - have a new CD entitled "Leske", not yet reviewed anywhere in English, but getting excellent write-ups in France, including at Djangostation and LaGuitare. This is translated from a review on jazzatouteheure.com:

It's a risky bet – taking up a style of music as carefully defined as is Jazz Manouche. There is always the danger of falling into cliche, repetition, caricature, to be trapped by the stereotypes, and finally to end up with bland imitations that don't really serve the music and leave the listener disappointed and wanting more.

The strength of Esmerald'Jazz, on this disc, and in their approach in general, is that they avoid all of these pitfalls. To be sure, their music is ambitious, but is also humble and generous.

Here is a family duet - Sebastien Boyer the father, guitar and accordion, and Antoine Boyer the son, solo guitar - who patiently create and explore their own world of jazz manouche, a whimsical and fantastic world, full of dreams and good humor. This is an ambitious and bold concept, as the style has been so popular for so long, it's almost like fashion, with all the excesses and limitations that too much exposure always brings. Finding the freedom to speak with an original voice in these conditions isn't impossible, but it's certainly rare these days.

The modesty with which the two musicians approach their work is on display throughout the recording. There's no mindless riffing, no meaningless cascades of notes, no show of force. Modesty, however, does not mean timidity. There is power aplenty, inspiration, rhythmic fluidity and pulse, and the expected technical mastery. And, in the choice of tunes as well as in their interpretation, we feel the love and perfect knowledge of this music.

Each piece pays tribute to some aspect of this style of music, and more as an expression of a popular art, rather than as “specialist” music. The feel is by turns danceable, nostalgic and dreamlike, propelled along by Antoine's inspired solos and the warm sound of Sebastian's accordion or guitar accompaniment. To all this, we can add the perfect familial cooperation of the two musicians. We listen and we follow them on their journey with a pleasure that is never marred by any lack of taste, excessive and unwelcome virtuosity or other annoyances. One could almost say they are giving back to the genre its noble simplicity, its evocative power and raw emotion.

It's hot, it's fun, it's live ... and it is also demanding, careful, and rigorous.

The point is, you don't need to be an aficionado of jazz manouche to enjoy it, especially when it's offered with this much generosity and elegance.

-Laurent Chevallier
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The title of the disc - “Leske” - means “for him” in the manouche language and is a composition by Mandino Reinhardt (included here), and also refers to the late Francis-Alfred Moerman, to whom the disc is dedicated. The theme of farewell carries through the entire CD, though certainly not in any gloomy fashion. For example, the penultimate tune is a “Medley pour un Adieu”. This incredible piece of music starts out with “Derwentwater's Farewell” surely the first time a Child Ballad ([url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_Ballads]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_Ballads[/url]) has ever been played in this style, followed by “Anouman” and then “Le Moucheur de Chandelles”. On “Derwentwater...” we hear the accordion being used as pipes, it then shifts to the style of a church organ on “Anouman”, and then to traditional musette style on “Le Moucheur...”. There is this kind of original thinking and playing throughout the CD, in the tune selection, in the arrangements and in the playing. Really, this is a superb recording by a couple of musicians who I think will ultimately have a great deal of influence on future directions in this music. I had the good fortune to play with the Boyers a couple of times last month, all I can say is that 15 year old Antoine Boyer is more amazing in real life than on the records. The Boyers (in quartet with Alain Dubreuil on guitar and J-J Ruhlmann on clarinet) are opening the Samois festival this year, and (as a duet) will be at Djangofest NW in the fall. Don't miss these opportunities to hear some extraordinary music.

There are clips from the disc here [url=http://www.myspace.com/esmeraldjazzandfriends]http://www.myspace.com/esmeraldjazzandfriends[/url] and here [url=http://www.djangobooks.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=9013&start=15]viewtopic.php?f=22&t=9013&start=15[/url] . I don't think the CD is available in N America, if you want to buy one PM me and I will try to help out.

stubla

Hes an exceptional talent no doubt about it--- and the CD is great( i do wish they'd used a bass player as well though.)
His variations on "Montagne St Genevieve" is superb--one of THE best versions ever.Watch here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0EsmGTWOak

Stu

redblues

Scot - your enthusiasm is infectious, this album is quite something when you take into account the age of the young lad playing lead, a real pleasure to listen to

@stubla I agree, this album, like the previous is missing a bass player, I would have thought the Boyer's may have realised it by the second album, so was surprised to find no bass player, they could do with one for pure musical balance

Great album nontheless

scot

Here's the link to some youtube video of the Boyer quartet at Samois. This is one of three.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwvqM8MicUM

Phil

Antoine is an amazing guitarist in the pure manouche style; seeing him at Djangofest was a real treat. I bought both their 2 CDs and both are excellent; their new CD "Leske" is as per Ms. Chevalier's review above, a beautiful recording full of grace and passion. I love their rendition of "Sex Appeal" & "Ou es tu mon Amour"

Bob Holo

Leske is phenomenal... seriously... it's phenomenal. I don't know that I can add anything to what Scott said - probably not... but these gents are doing fantastic work. If you played this for a person and said: "Here is a recently surfaced album recorded in 1937 by one of the leading jazz duos in Paris whose work was thought to be unrecorded till this was discovered."

... pretty much anyone would believe that statement. Well, OK - so the recording quality is too good for a recording done in 1937, but you get the point of it. These gents have some serious traditional chops. They're not in it to shred, they're not in it to do the standard 10 songs & collect a paycheck, they're in it to make music, and that shows throughout the album.

Mitch

Hi Guys,

I totally agree with you, to me Antoine is THE young player to follow because he plays music, damned deep-hearted music. I never felt that since Bireli. As we say in french, "the others can go to bed..."

His maturity, sound, feeling is amazing :roll:

Craig Bumgarner

Any one know a (legit) download site for Leske that can be accessed from the US?

CB

Michael Bauer

Both of Antoine's CDs are tremendous, and it was fun for me to hear the growth between the first and second. I am such a fan of Moermann that I was already grateful that someone would pay homage to him musically, and the Leske CD picks right up from there and goes on to feature Antoine growing up even more musically and becoming more his own (young) man. It's sometimes hard for me to realize he's just a kid, really. I hope he can take a happier path in life than did Jimmy and that we can continue to watch him grow. It's talents like this that make me realize I am just pissing into the wind musically. What a gifted young man!

dennis

he and his dad are also really nice guys; the dad speaks perfect english, and has quite a lot to sahre, they would be a perfect addition to Django In June!!! we should andrew lawrence know if you guys aren't afraid to learn from a 15 yr old...

as mitch said, this kid does have technique, but beyond that, he's really playing music!

Michael Bauer

Heck, Denis, if learning from someone younger than me were a problem, I wouldn't know anything. I love the idea of Antoine and his dad at Django in June.

Andrew, if you're reading this and haven't booked anyone yet, keep them in mind for next year or 2013.