"...highly polished improvisers, responding to the unexpected as the vital current in their playing, yet maintaining extraordinary poise." - Julian Cowley, The Wire
In 2010 Paris-based pianist Delbecq received the ultimate accolade from the French recording world, the Grand Prix Internationale du Disque in jazz, for his simultaneous releases The Sixth Jump (trio) and Circles and Calligrams (solo piano), his 9th and 10th for Songlines. Vancouver-based clarinetist Houle led Songlines' first CD in 1992, and in 1998 created a John Carter tribute, In the Vernacular, featuring Dave Douglas and Mark Dresser. The duo's third recording for Songlines (following Nancali, 1997, and Dice Thrown, 2002) offers the opportunity to take stock of two distinctive composer-performers whose work together has its own very particular synergy.
Houle and Delbecq have both pioneered extended techniques on their instruments. Delbecq is known for his extensive use of piano preparations, developing a style inspired equally by Cage and Ligeti, African pygmy polyphony, and Steve Coleman, Steve Lacy and other jazz greats. His process transforms the piano's natural resources into an evolving weave of textures and colours, improvised rhythmic-melodic 'fabrics' combining regular notes and prepared pitch-timbres. Houle studied with Evan Parker, adapting the saxophonist's innovations to the clarinet and integrating classical technique with blue notes and quarter tones, circular breathing, sound effects, playing without a mouthpiece, etc.
Songlines
delbecq.net,
francoishoule.ca.
