Aline Homzy et Étoile magique – Éclipse

Montreal-born Aline Homzy is a violinist who has been making her mark on the Toronto scene for some years now. With Michael Davidson on vibraphone, Thom Gill on guitar, Dan Fortin on bass and Marito Marques on drums, she forms the ensemble Étoile magique (a surprising name, but one that has the merit of sticking to memory). On Éclipse, a debut album for the young musician, there are occasional additions from Joāo Frade on accordion, Felicity Williams on vocals and David Travers-Smith on synthesizers. The first track on the album hints at tight, millimetre-perfect constructions. Almost written music. But the rest of the album belies this first impression. The textures, but above all the rhythms and harmonies, are set free to explore a range of possibilities that sharpen the attention but remain pleasant and accessible. Occasionally, there are a few surprising atonal detours, and the pulse scatters, but always returning to the initial path. The sound projection, tonal accuracy and technical precision suggest a solid classical foundation, although I can’t confirm this. Despite the seriousness of her artistic approach, you can sense Homzy’s preference for a sincerely assumed lightness and good-natured pleasure in both the writing and the performance of the pieces, all original compositions. There are very few quality jazz violinists in the world, and even fewer in Canada. The one we have might as well be good! And Homzy is, as well as having a unique musical personality, different but just as good as those of Jean-Luc Ponty, Regina Carter or Didier Lockwood.