Curiously, this is the first time I have come into contact with the music of the George Crotty Trio, a Canadian cellist who studied at Berklee and is based in New York. Heart Music is the group’s fourth album, and it made me want to listen to the previous ones. Chamber jazz, generously colored with extra-Western scholarly influences and European classical music, is the sound universe offered to us here. Crotty evokes Hindustani music (from North India) in Bandish, before reinventing the pizzicato technique by infusing it with an influence from the kora playing of West Africa in the title piece, Heart Music. Further on, it is the Arab, Ashkenazi (Eastern European Jewish), American (more precisely Bill Frisell), or even Debussy-influenced traditions mixed with samba that emerge from rhythmically engaging and melodically savvy discourse, in addition to being highly original. Crotty’s music is not only impossible to truly categorize (which attests to its uniqueness), but it is also very pleasant to listen to, enjoyable for the senses, and invigorating for the music lover’s spirit.
Music like no other, whether in jazz, classical, or world folk. Recommended.
The George Crotty Trio (with Amir Amiri on santur) will be launching Heart Music at Casa del popolo, on Wednesday, August 20, in Montreal.
