Bavards

Michel F. Côté, Québec's most eclectic percussionist, had decided to put his Bruire ensemble on hold after three records on Ambiances Magnétiques to form a new band. This time, he proposed a trio with Bernard Falaise (Miriodor, Les Projectionnistes) on guitar and Alexandre St-Onge on bass. Klaxon Gueule (something like Yelling Horn) was at first a talkative trio — as indicated by the title of this album, Bavards. The first disc of the short two-CD set contains 12 improvisations with humorous titles like "Aptitude Algébrique Innée" ("Innate Algebraic Aptitude") and "Friandise Cannibale" ("Cannibal Candy"). To the nervous drums of Côté and the busy bass of St-Onge, Falaise adds noisy textures with sharp angles, creating an electric and noisy free jazz. The second CD showcases Klaxon Gueule with saxophonist Christopher Cauley on six quartet improvs. Here, the music is more in the orthodox free improvisation realm. The contagious energy of the musicians makes Bavards a real treat. This was recorded at a time when St-Onge still approached the bass in a conventional way and the trio played jazz-anchored improv. The situation would change drastically with Klaxon Gueule's second CD, eloquently titled Muets (Silent), an exploration of textural string-scratching, feedback-controlling free improv. ~ François Couture, Rovi