«Des mots, des cris » / « Words, Cries »
30/05 Bergen, Nattjazz
www.nattjazz.no
Le quartet de Charlène Martin
«Des mots, des cris » / « Words, Cries »
ImprOpératiContempoRock
« Words, Cries », written words, the words and the sounds, meaningful, generous, melodious, playful, sensitive, poetic; and movement and life … the voice, experimenting on registers (and ways): a singer and interpreter but also a vocalist and improviser. The first voice/way closer to playing an instrument (solo, or free): exact, virtuoso, powerful or chiselling sounds, acrobatic and adventurous; the second voice/way closer to performing (Jazz standards or songs): the voice carrying words, sensuous, fragile.
This project proposes to merge these two approaches, asserting an “ImprOperatiContempoRock” style by taking advantage of an original instrumentation (voice/clarinet, bass/guitar/drums and various other objects) in order to build unexpected bridges and converse with the instruments. The thread is the text itself: either new or popular—“songs”—, poetical prose … moulding words as clay made of sound and sense, making each single piece a journey, a landscape in its own right…
PRESS EXCERPTS
“An artistic approach based on the notion of freedom […] A group playing a subtle combination of jazz, rock and contemporary music […] in search of the meaning and music of words while cultivating the animal, rough and playful aspect of this truly unusual project.”
(Arnaud Bénureau – Pil, 23-01-2007 )
“The four musicians have found the right balance between composition and improvisation, articulating a musical language both original and electrifying.”
(Christian Steutet – AMR, Geneva , 24-02-2005 )
“A sharp, playful, poetic music”
(Fara C. “L’Humanité”, 06-12-2003 )
With
Charlène Martin : vocals.
Eric Groleau : drums, objects.
Olivier Benoît : guitar, objects.
Vincent Boisseau : clarinet, bass clarinet.
Texts by Charlène Martin, Michèle Ninassi, Claude Barthélémy (1).
Musics by Charlène Martin, Claude Barthélémy (1), Kurt Weil (1).
With the support of Sacem – Bourse individuelle d’aide à la composition.
http://www.myspace.com/lecridecharlene
http://www.circum-music.com/musiciens/musiciens_martin.htm
Charlène Martin
Vocalist and composer
b. 11/10/1969
Studied classical music (CNR, Poitiers [Academy of music]) then jazz music (Ateliers Musicaux Syrinx, Poitiers ) from 1977 to 1990. Then, performed with various musical groups in Poitou-Charentes region as a soloist, singing all styles of music (from Bossa-nova to jazz-fusion). Since 1998, started composing while developing her vocal potentialities and working on improvisation techniques.
1999-2002, performed with the following groups :
« Charlène Martin Parkahuit » , « Suite en sites » (improvisation: voice and dance), Andy Emler and “Ars Nova” Ensemble , Jean-François Pauvros , Claude Barthélémy , Claude Tchamitchian , «l’Instinct de conversation » (improvised vocal duo).
2003 onwards, has performed with :
« Orphée » Yves Robert , « Tout un monde Riant » guest soloist of the ONJ/Claude Barthélémy , « Chansons tombées du ciel » guest soloist of the ONJ/Claude Barthélémy, « l’Instinct de conversation » Pièces détachées/Cie Carcara , Creation of « Le quartet de Charlène Martin » in 2003 with Vincent Boisseau , Olivier Benoît , Eric Groleau (Carré bleu, D’jazz o bistro, Petit Faucheux, La malterie, AMR, AJMI, Pannonica) . « Soleils Fondus », guest soloist of the ONJ and Ars Nova 2004, « Accords et à cris » Sylvie Puiroux in 2004, « Circum Grand Orchestra » (since November 2004), « D’ici là » Bertrand Binet/Cie Carcara ( since 2005), « SNARK » with JF Pauvros, F Galliay, E Perraut , « La fabrique de liens » with Proserpine 2005, Quintet Claude Barthélémy (RhinoJazz, France Musique, Combs la ville…) 2005-2006.
Since 1992, alongside her career as a soloist vocalist in contemporary jazz music, she has also set up several pedagogical projects.
Discography
« Caminho » (2000), « Le cri de la chèvre » le quartet de Charlène Martin (2003), « La fête de l’eau » ONJ/Claude Barthélémy (2004), « Circum Grand Orchestra » (2005)
Press excerpts
“Three tracts are enough for Charlène Martin to persuade us of the range of her voice register from a quasi realistic interpretation to explorations which are as much experimental as expert.”
(CD “La fête de l’eau ONJ – Fara C. in L’Humanité – 27 november 2004 )
“Charlène Martin explores the resources of her voice in the most extreme fields and farthest corners. From the highest-pitched notes down to the deepest murmurings, from cry to rattle close to sigh, she reveals unsuspected poetry.”
(Fara C. in L’Humanité – 5 June 2004 )
“Charlène Martin, Claude Barthélémy’s new favourite singer, a fabulous voice…”
(Claude Léger, in Le Progrès, Lyon , 9 October 2005 ).