Kenny’s suite. Three concerts and what was to be a tribute turned into a true encounter. His sound, his phrasing, his harmonic universe: To Geoffroy Tamisier, Kenny Wheeler is a model. At 70 years of age and probably just as many records, the bugle and trumpet player and composer from Canada has been talked into coming to play with the trumpeter, cornet player and composer from Nantes, forty years younger than him. This “Suite pour Kenny” blossomed over three concerts at the end of spring 2001. Geoffroy Tamisier couldn’t even imagine that the adventure would take him all the way to a recording. It is Kenny Wheeler himself, who, at the end of a concert one night, was surprised to learn that this music was to be recorded without him. He insisted on being part of it and joined Geoffroy Tamisier and the OLH Acoustic at the Osiris Studio on July 14 and 15.
This is the outcome: fifty-five minutes of a music that is rooted in the most dynamic jazz as much as in a classical music which conveys a profoundly moving poetry. All this with the sound, daring and mastery of Geoffroy Tamisier who dares an alto-flute, trombone and soprano voice trio and a moment later –thanks to the magic of re-recording - embarks on a big band part with about thirty musicians. This is a seamless composition which leaves the gorgeous personalities who partake in this story some space to improvise freely.