The cello-virtuoso Vincent Courtois will be on an extensive tour in the Baltics and Finland From October 14th to November 2nd. Starting by a solo concert at the Vilnius Jazz Festival, the French cellist will continue with five more solo concerts in Latvia, Estonia and Finland. On October 22nd he will be joined in Helsinki by the saxophonists Daniel Erdmann and Robin Fincker. This acclaimed French-German trio will hit the roads of Finland and Estonia to perform a total of eleven concerts, presenting two programs: Bandes originales, a reminiscence of film music by outstanding composers; Love of Life, inspired by writings of Jack London.
Vincent Courtois at Jazzèbre festival, Perpignan 2017 – photo by Joan Corte
WEST, the album from cellist Vincent Courtois for the La Buissonne label (2015), is the work of an accomplished composer. It appears as a testimony to the uncompromising poetic choices of a musician who has decided to exile voluntarily, to retreat within himself in order to create great new horizons for his audience. The solo concerts of this Baltic tour will be based on the music of this album.
“I feel that my music has become more precise, evolving towards an ideal point or place – great spaces, melodic silences, monumental landscapes one can travel on intimate routes, thanks to mysterious hidden maps” comments Vincent Courtois.
More about WEST -album on vincent-courtois.com (open section “Bio”)
from left to right: Robin Fincker, Daniel Erdmann, Vincent Courtois (c) Tina Merandon
Vincent Courtois trio Bandes originales (Label La Buissonne, October 2017)
This is not a film score album. Not even an album with cover versions. Not at all. On the contrary, it is a journey, a sort of free and rigorous wandering in a world which is both alien and familiar to us. So, could it be Cinema? Yes, no doubt about it… But Cinema which has been remembered, revisited, rephrased.
With recurring themes, bringing forth secret sensations coming from a distant inside. Hiroshima my Love, Bright Sun, E.T., The Thomas Crown Affair, All the Mornings of the World, The Red Ball, The Green Ray, Take The Money and Run, Sleeping Paris, films from everywhere and elsewhere…Anything but a Pantheon, but rather the result of a swaying dreamy meditation. So films, revisited and corrected by a trio with unique sounds. A cello (Vincent Courtois), two saxophones (Daniel Erdmann, Robin Fincker), three reasons to be seeped in this intimate round dance, apparently austere but, in reality, shimmering and glimmering. No fad. No dramatic flourishes. No opportunism. Just unreleased sounds. A music that recreates itself in our ears and recalls memories, in the present time, without nostalgia.
So listen to Giovanni Fusco, Nino Rota, Michel Legrand, John Williams, Marin Marais, Marvin Hamlisch in their new attire. Get on board with the trio formed by Vincent Courtois, Daniel Erdmann and Robin Fincker. They love cinema, music, history, geography, adventure … You are bound to love them!
Vincent Courtois trio Love of Life, inspired by writtings from Jack London / created at the Budapest Music Centre in May 2018
“J’ai découvert Jack London assez tard, en automne 2016 ; d’abord les Chroniques des mers du Sud puis l’initiatique et incontournable Martin Eden. L’œuvre dense et souvent autobiographique de cet écrivain américain, si riche et si puissante, n’a alors cessé de me suivre d’accompagner mon quotidien, mes voyages, et donc la musique que je joue. C’est bien là, j’imagine, la véritable force de Jack London : une sensible et intime faculté d’avec ses vies de rencontrer la nôtre, de devenir cet ami, cet ancêtre éloigné, ce frangin, ce camarade de qui chaque jour on attend de nouveaux récits. Love of Life, The Road, To Build a Fire, The Sea Wolf, The Dream of Debs, Goliath, ou The South of Slot, autant de nouvelles, romans et recueils qui ont inspiré directement un nouveau répertoire pour célébrer le septième anniversaire de mon trio, lui offrant le plaisir à son tour de partager et de raconter.”
Vincent Courtois, May 2018 (translation into English coming soon)
Vincent Courtois West Solo / from October 14th to 21st
14/10 Vilnius Jazz Festival / LIT
16/10 Ogre, Music Centre / LAT
17/10 Saldus, Music school / LAT
18/10 Abgunste Manor / LAT
19/10 Viljandi, Ancient Music Centre / EST
21/10 Riihimäki, Art Museum of Riihimäki /FIN
Vincent Courtois trio /from October 22nd to November 2nd
FINLAND
22/10/2018 Helsinki, Koko Jazz Club **/ guest: Kari Ikonen, piano
ESTONIA in collaboration with Uus Kontsert and The French Institute of Estonia
23/10/2018 Käina, Cultural Centre *
24/10/2018 Võru, Kannel *
25/10/2018 Kuressaare Cultural Centre *
26/10/2018 Tallinn, Philly Joe’s / Jazzkaar « Autumn Jazz » **
27/10/2018 Abja, Cultural Centre **
28/10/2018 Türi, Cultural Centre **
FINLAND kiertueen tiedote suomeksi
29/10/2018 Turku, Turun seudun musiikkiopisto **
30/10/2018 Salo, Veturitalli **
31/10/2018 Joensuu, Pakkahuone **
01/11/2018 Jyväskylä, The Local Culture Hostel & Café **
02/11/2018 Oulainen, Kulmajazz / Oulaisten Musiikkiviikot *
* Bandes originales
** Bandes originales + Love of life
Tour production: La compagnie de l’imprévu (France) | vincent-courtois.com
Tour booking and tour managing: Vapaat äänet – Charles Gil
Tour support: Adami, Institut Francais, Sacem, Spedidam
In cooperation with the AJC – Association Jazzé Croisé
Vincent Courtois « West » | album on La Buissonne records
http://www.labuissonne.com/Site/uk/album_label.php?num_album=476
Vincent Courtois trio Bandes originales, La Buissonne Records (October 2017)
https://labellabuissonne.bandcamp.com/album/bandes-originales