See original article in French here.
A little-known double bassist in France, Santi Debriano nevertheless has a good and legitimate reputation in New York clubs. Born in Panama almost 70 years ago, quickly landed in Brooklyn, he started his career in the 1970s with Archie Shepp. Stays in Paris where he meets the pianist Kirk Lightsey whom he will never lose sight of, and accompanies Sam Rivers. Hearty start! Back in New York, he was invited by L.Coryell, P.Sanders, C.Taylor, C.Valdes, R.Weston, F.Hubbard, H.Jones, E.Jones… (Great track record, which speaks to us! ) before beginning in ’87, a career as a leader, and a solid composer, with renowned fusion, jazz, world (Panamanian), locally (N-Y) groups.
And here we are, plunged into this dirty old Covid-confinement period where we still had to do what we could against bad luck. He takes the opportunity to reflect and bring an ambitious project to fruition. He summons musicians, organizes jams in his cellar which becomes a permanent workshop, even an alchemical athanor. From these collective improvisations, he selected 8 musicians for the multi-Hetnic nonet presented here. A balance of 5 blowers for a section of 4 rhythm-harmonics. “Bembe” comes from a collective trance ritual (Yoruba-Santeria) including music, spirituality, dance and art of living. “Ashanti” is the name of a Togolese tribe where the pseudonym Santi is common. At first listen, we do not perceive anything particularly ‘old’ in this music, except the specific character of each of the components participating in it.
We are first of all seduced by the solid and sensual roundness of the double bass which reinvents itself with each measure leading original themes with real melodies, some of which never stop running through the head well after the end of the record… The acoustic guitar, nylon strings, in the hands of the Brazilian, charms and captivates with its virile limpidity inherited from the favelas and flamenco. He sings the melody, turning it in all directions, in symbiosis with the double bass, surrounded by the velvety arrangements which are reminiscent of the work of A.Shepp in his great orchestral works. Then, it is the twirling tenderness of the flute, on a more exotic rhythm, which takes us into sunny and wild regions, full of attractive mystery, like the flautist in the Douanier-Rousseau painting… A chorus of the viola who surfs on the waves of an ocean where we love to swim with him… And the omnipresence of the joyful double bass maintaining the permanent cohesion of the diligent group, but whose talent of each wants to show us a natural freedom which delights the heart and the ears.
The soul of J.Coltrane watches over the 3rd title, in 6/8, dedicated to the future of the spirits of the deceased in ‘voodoo’ rituals. The baritone is languorous, the guitar sparkling and deep, the piano floats in arpeggios, weightless on the Styx… chords of dark sweetness… Comes the obvious evocation of Mingus, sophisticated work of a complex composition, jaw-dropping tempi, precise counterpoints, a true feat of acrobatics for all! ‘Till then’ by B. Hutcherson. More sunshine, armfuls of it. Piano, flute, viola, bar, double bass, follow one another in a row on a beach of stardust… The trumpet shines on a funky-jazz theme, the drums splashing with swing and groove with its vitality which bounces throughout. A good old ‘Boogaloo’ that wakes up the legs… and the taste buds!
The drummer is enjoying it, and so are we. What follows is a piece full of life where the musicians seem to let loose by delivering their spontaneity, in an open space… once they have accepted the limits of a demanding composition. ‘Mr Monk’, a centerpiece, in the form of a tribute to… The pianist is inhabited by the crazy spirit of the legendary ancestor. Against a background of lively blues, the 3 sax players go about their evocation, with real or suggested quotes, all in an unfeigned cheerfulness from which appears the luminous smile of Mr T. Monk. Finally, as a sign of presentation, and of goodbye, a solo by Santi Debriano, emotion of a wink intended for another master, of the double bass, already mentioned in these lines, on this occasion, you guess…!? Thank you, and see you soon Mr Santi debriano!
~ lagazettebleudactionjazz.fr, August 2023