The Montreal saxophonist Joel Miller completed a Master’s in composition at McGill a few years ago. Now back in his native land (New Brunswick) since the pandemic, he navigates the blended waters of jazz and classical, and this new album titled What If? is a testament to these new artistic endeavours.
The twelve pieces of the album are connected by the thread of a benevolent attitude. Miller’s music is imbued with serenity, perhaps as an expression of a new chapter in his life, steeped in calm, far from a frenetic metropolis like Montreal? That said, there is energy in the program’s journey, but an energy devoid of nervousness. Here, we are more at a leisurely pace, when we are not completely in relaxation mode, somewhere on a park bench in Fredericton.
Miller improvises gently, but also entrusts several solo moments to a few guests, for example, Danielle Sametz on violin in “Nos étoiles,” a piece with a folk character. Apart from a version of What a Wonderful World, no jazz standards are summoned, unlike three classical pillars: Clair de Lune (Debussy), Prelude Op. 28 No. 1 (Chopin), and the famous Canon in D by Pachelbel. Here too, Sametz’s violin creates a pleasantly melodic connection to the delicate readings conceived by Miller.
The album is complemented by eight compositions by Miller, the most dependent on a contemporary mixed personality, in the genre of hybrid instrumental music between written and more intuitive worlds. A bit like Cordâme here in Quebec. Less exploratory, jazz-wise, than earlier endeavors by the musician, but nice and elegant.
The Resonance New Music Ensemble, consisting of Andrew Reed Miller (bass), Danielle Sametz (violin), and Joël Cormier (percussion), provides rather discreet but elegant support. The pianist Silvio Pupo completes the lineup with economical yet appropriate interventions, particularly in Joe Chevere, where he infuses Latin inflections into the score.
I am very happy to see that Joel Miller is doing well, even though I regret his departure from Montreal, like all of us here. What if? is a very good opportunity to reconnect with an old friend.
