Francois
Bourassa (piano), André Leroux (tenor & soprano saxophones), Guy Boisvert
(double bass) & Greg Ritchie (drums)
(Review by Russell, photos by Ken Drew).
Pianist Francois Bourassa sported
a black t-shirt bearing the legend Effendi.
The genial Canadian clearly took the opportunity to promote the Toronto-based
record label on which his 2011 CD Idiosyncrasie
was released.
The two sets heard at the Lit & Phil featured material from
the CD and an earlier album – Rasstones.
The live experience differed markedly to the recorded output. Frequently
smiling, Bourassa played rattling good, swinging piano, encouraging, then
responding to, the in-the-pocket bass and drums of long-time cohorts Guy
Boisvert and Greg Ritchie. Isola from
Idiosyncrasie started proceedings and
the quartet confirmed that they could play, then some! Bourassa has known and
worked with his band mates for years and it showed. André Leroux opened his
account on tenor with conviction, possessing ‘front man’ presence. Chant Poo from Rasstones saw him switch to soprano, weaving in and out of
Bourassa’s clock work nursery rhyme. A three-part suite – the ‘German’ – from
the 2011 release held the audience rapt; big tenor and scintillating, swinging
piano trio playing drawing loud applause. The second set heard Haiku-Darmstadt and from Rasstones the deceptive Nationz – a ballad beginning, developing
into a robust up-tempo group workout. Bourassa’s quartet proved to be a
well-honed unit focusing on group improvisation with the bonus of Leroux taking
command from time to time, an extended tenor-drums (Greg Ritchie) exchange a
particular highlight. CD sales were brisk, most going during the interval, the
rest by the end of the night. As so often is the case, the live experience won
out. A good gig with a decent crowd in, all in all a good night of contemporary
jazz.
Russell.
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