The wheel spins...
Ray Lema and Laurent de Wilde in studio at RFI.
© Christian Rose
By: Joe Farmer Follow
4 min
Three years ago, pianists Ray Lema and Laurent de Wilde released a joint album,
Riddles
, combining their respective approaches to rhythm and harmony.
Their collegial creativity had been hailed by audiences and critics alike, and the idea of repeating this experience trotted in their fertile minds.
Time has passed and, if the wheel turns continuously, the urge to confront each other is still there.
Wheels
will therefore be Act II of this thrilling melodic dialogue.
Publicity
Beyond their natural reflexes and their cultural specificities, the two virtuosos have concocted a new repertoire resulting from their overflowing imagination. Afro-planetary tones thus irrigate the melodic flashes of these two seasoned agitators. Afrobeat like the blues, salsa like the Charleston, make the agile fingers of these two accomplices dance, united by the same creative impetus. Little personal stories and civic positions emerge at the bend of these graceful interwoven piano notes.
Human come first
is a warning against the drifts of greedy overconsumption.
Chains
reminds us how deprivation of liberty affects our condition as human beings.
From slavery to confinement, restrictions on movement weigh on our visceral need to maintain social ties.
Poulet Bicyclette has
fun with these swift gallinaceans that you have to know how to catch and then cook them.
Laurent de Wilde and Ray Lema.
© Olivier Hoffschir
All these little tales, all these great thoughts are the glue of a sincere artistic fellowship that we hear and savor. Their differences and their questions have been tamed to favor sharing, listening and achieve an authentic musical fusion. Admittedly, by paying attention, the touch of each performer can reflect briefly in favor of a heady refrain, but the subtlety of their conversation makes their piano accents almost imperceptible. Meeting such a challenge is the prerogative of great instrumentalists whose mastery allows all daring. Knowing how to combine intonations born in Congo, the Caribbean, the United States, Nigeria or Ethiopia, is a feat as soon as its realization seems innate. This is the deep feeling that emanates from the
Wheels
album
.
It was only necessary to oil the mechanics to be able to drive in freewheel.
It is the principle of improvisation, it is the principle of jazz, it is the credo of these two soloists.
Ray Lema and Laurent de Wilde.
© Olivier Hoffschir
Budding pianists will certainly be amazed by the discoveries of our intrepid maestros, but don't let this frighten those novices who are put off by scale science.
Curiously, this daring four-handed ping-pong also enchants ears with no technical knowledge.
It is not impossible that a smile will light up your face whether or not you are familiar with the stylistic prowess offered by a piano and, a fortiori, two pianos!
To convince yourself, meet on June 15 and 16, 2021 at the Sunset in Paris.
Two 30-year-old friends will finally make the live show sparkle!
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