2023-09-26 13:54:23
The French-speaking pianist Marc Perrenoud and the Parisian trumpeter David Enhco join forces in “CHET”, an album dedicated to the American musician Chet Baker. To be discovered on stage at the Alhambra in Geneva this Tuesday evening then at the Octagon in Pully on Thursday.
Marc Perrenoud is a prolific Swiss pianist. Solo, with orchestras, in trio or via his Aksham formation, shared with his teammate the Parisian trumpeter David Enhco, he has played in the biggest jazz festivals around the world. As for David Enhco, his talents as a trumpet player earned him two Victoires du jazz in 2018. He is also the founder of the orchestra The Amazing Keystone Big Band and plays with his brother in the duo Enhco Brothers.
Together, the two jazz musicians decided to record a disc simply titled “CHET” inspired by Chet Baker (1929-1988), an American trumpeter and singer who was as talented on stage as he was chaotic in his private life.
Trumpet and singing
“The first record I was given was by Chet Baker. At the time, I didn’t know who I was listening to, but I was very touched by this very warm trumpet tone which is very close to the voice , remembers David Enhco, interviewed by RTS. His records guided me throughout my learning. Even today, I feel close to his lyrical side.”
A lyricism due to the fact that he considered himself above all as a trumpeter. But Chet Baker was also a singer. His album “Chet Baker Sings”, where he sings and plays the trumpet, propelled him to the rank of jazz star at the age of 25, in 1954. The duo, however, chose to make “Chet ” exclusively instrumental, to favor the emotions and intimacy specific to Chet Baker’s playing. “Once we play a melody, we improvise throughout the rest of the song. It’s like a dialogue in real time, but without being able to use words. Instead, we use emotions. It’s this language which seems beautiful to me in jazz”, adds David Enhco.
>> Listen, David Enhco and Marc Perrenoud play “My Funny Valentine”
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Dark interludes
Among the plethora of well-known standards populating “Chet”, such as “My Funny Valentine”, “Yesterdays” or even “Just Friends” slip three interludes composed by David Enhco, offering a darker portrait of the musician. “All the songs we played are love songs, which in my opinion represent the bright side of Chet Baker, the one we see on stage. The interludes represent his personal life, his addictions, his relationships with women, the time spent in prison.”
At first Marc Perrenoud is not convinced by the idea, but the music ends up making him change his mind. “Compared to the standards that we had chosen, these dark and acidic interludes give an interesting relief to the album, he explains. There is a sort of binary in Chet Baker. He is handsome man, but his face goes falling apart due to his tragic life and drugs. These elements are present in his music. There aren’t a lot of notes, but that almost makes them harder to choose and play with confidence. It’s a fascinating and romantic character.”
More portrait than homage
Although Chet Baker has a few compositions to his credit, he was above all a performer. How can we best honor it? “Playing Chet Baker once more is not really interesting. However, I admire his sober way of playing which hits people right on the mark, as if he were whispering in their ear. It’s this is what we are looking for through this album. It is not so much a tribute, but a portrait because we focus precisely on these details which are, in our opinion, Chet Baker”, concludes David Enhco.
Radio topic and comments collected by Anne Laure Gannac
Adaptation web: Myriam Semaani
David Enhco and Marc Perrenoud, “CHET” (Moose).
In concert: “CHET -Tribute to Chet Baker”, Alhambra, Geneva, September 26 and at the Octagon, Pully, September 28, 2023.
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