Jean-Luc Cappozzo & Geraldine Keller - Air Prints [Ayler]

Jean-Luc Cappozzo - trumpet, horns, objects
Geraldine Keller - voice, flutes, objects


Ayler Records 2013

Of the four elements, as writes in his liner notes Joel Pagier, the air is the most volatile, therefore open to the most beautiful transformations. And that's what Jean-Luc Cappozzo and Geraldine Keller are doing - they transform the air, trying to impose their will over its nature.

This is an intimate setting that allows both of the musicians plenty of space, to bend the notes, to twist the time. Within the very first piece "Ouvrir Les Intermedaires" you'll hear Keller's pure, classical voice ornamenting the spare, hushed trumpet notes, you'll hear both of them tremble, trumpet filling the air with crystal jazzy tone and at the end of the piece, majestic, low horn tones being a basis to a  blood-chilling war cry. Throughout the cd the duo travels through the worlds of human emotions. "Le souffles du temps" is all whispers. "Sur la balancoire" the duo jumps back and forth between distant notes. "Air Prints" is somewhat of a shaman blues. 

Jean-Luc Cappozzo and Gerald Keller do not just play the trumpet or sing. The vocal chords and trumpet's brass are subjected to extensive preparations. The sounds can be hoarse, hushed, creaked, distorted in every way imaginable and some unimaginable ones. The use of other objects expands the acoustic palette even more. 

"Air Prints" present music that is both primal and poetic in its expression. The most concrete cry can be followed by the purest of tones. Peaceful, meditative yet daring and fearless. 

The title, the music, as well as Pagier's essay reminded me of the Eric Dolphy's words:

When You hear music,

After it's over.

It's gone in the air.

You can never capture it

Again!