Par HARRISON SADIE. / Date parution : 2023-06-01/ Répertoire / Contrebasse et Piano

Swedish bassist, cellist, composer and arranger Lars Danielsson is renowned and admired throughout the International jazz world for his lyrical melodies and strong groove. This collection brings together 20 Impromptus For Piano And 1 Solo Piece For Contrabass, composed by Danielsson in his idiosyncratic style. Born in 1958, Danielsson originally studied classical Cello at the conservatory in Gothenburg before changing to Bass and jazz. He has since become one of the most in-demand bassists in the world, recognised and admired for his rounded sound that's both lyrical and powerful. Having played with a virtually endless list of international stars, including Michael and Randy Brecker, John Scofield and Charles Lloyd, Danielsson's track record as a leader is equally unparalleled, bringing his talent for simple and catchy melodies together with his instinct for putting together groups of musicians. If you're a fan of Lars Danielsson, or you just want some fantastic jazz tunes to play for Solo Piano, with an extra piece for Contrabass, this collection of 20 Impromptus has been selected by the artist himself and is sure to satisfy any progressive pianist.

Miniature was composed in 1985 and is a rhapsodic work of great character and ingenuity. A supportive and effective piano accompaniment contrasts a lyrical and cantabile solo double bass albeit in a mildly modern idiom and there are opportunities to demonstrate both musical and technical skills within a short timespan. This should appeal to anyone who enjoys the music of Teppo Hauta-aho and his personal soundworld and effective techniques. It utilses a wide range of the double bass offering a range of musical and technical challenges for the adventurous and enquiring bassist. The edition includes piano accompaniments for both solo and orchestraltunings.

Written for David Heyes as part of his 'Fizz at 50' project. 'Gerty Goat Scuffer' (in case you wondered) is one of many nick-names we had for a much loved family dog - officially named 'Heavy Hetty' from a character in an imaginative children's book of that name. In my youth as a composition student at the RAM I discovered that walking a dog for an hour a day is the anti-dote to the long hours required as a composer 'sat you yer bum' writing at a desk and (in those pre-computer years) writing endless parts out by hand. First of these 'best friends' was a glorious Gordon Setter called 'Sophie' (my first love) who accompanied Pat and I on our honeymoon acrossScotland. Thirty years later we were privileged to enjoy the company of three therapeutic beasts; 'Merlin' (a prize winning Pyrenean Mountain Dog) 'Gael' (an over energetic Scottish Border Collie) and 'Hetty' (a unique cross between a Pyrenean Mountain Dog and a St. Bernard - something of a 'kennel-maid's Accident'). Hetty (see picture) is unfortunately no longer with us now. She had an extraordinary puppy-hood that left her with titanium plates holding her back legs together. Hetty was surprisingly active though right through to the age of nearly 10 - speciality: chasing Pheasants in the grounds at Strathmashie - but she became progressively hampered by arthritis and 'scuffed along' on her vast hairy pads with a swagger. She also used to remind our children of a mountain goat. Songs have been written about her but this is the first instrumental work that she has inspired! The pervading thematic motive of the piece (heard from the outset) cheekily alludes to an (over) famous Saint-Saëns work for double bass (but no insult is intended to Hetty!). The increasingly roving tonality and unusually sudden shifts of key combined with the use of jazz chords combines to present a short but heartfelt tribute to a unique animal that provided untold pleasure to all she came into contact with simply by just being