JEAN-MICHEL PILC - Piano JASPER SOMSEN - Double Bass ANDRÉ CECCARELLI - Drums - MEDIA INFORMATION

MEDIA INFORMATION

  JEAN-MICHEL PILC – Piano
JASPER SOMSEN – Double Bass
 ANDRÉ CECCARELLI – Drums

JASPER SOMSEN TRIO
          featuring Jean-Michel Pilc & André Ceccarelli
                                         It’s no coincidence Jasper Somsen’s
                                         upcoming albums as a leader features
                                         an international line up. Recent years
                                         the Dutch double
                                         bassist/composer/producer
                                         collaborated frequently with a.o.
                                         Enrico Pieranunzi, Joey Calderazzo,
                                         Jeff Ballard, John Beasley, Bob
                                         Sheppard, Justin Faulkner and
                                         Gabriele Mirabassi.

Signing up again with Challenge Records, Jasper Somsen and his favorite
European drummer André Ceccarelli agreed on inviting the Montreal based
French master pianist/composer Jean-Michel Pilc.

Clearly a perfect match, the trio’s very first encounter ever resulted directly in
two new albums in just two recording days! All new compositions, by Jasper
Somsen, can be heard on the first album. On the second album the trio digs
deeply into free form improvisations, sometimes ending up in a famous Jazz
standard.

The music is best described as a highly organic, energetic interplay, full of
contrasts, based on a variety of carefully structured musical forms.

Instead of writing the liner notes for the first album’s booklet, multi Grammy
nominee John Beasley (pianist/composer) decided to write a short poem,
inspired by every composition.

Both albums are an intriguing and exciting exploration in the hearts and
minds of these wonderful musicians, from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean:

“A New Episode In Life – part I & II” (2017)– Challenge Records

MEDIA QUOTES
The poetic melodies seem to float over the soft breeze of Andre Ceccarelli ‘s drum sound, which gives
the perfect texture for Jasper Somsen ‘s deep and dark bass sound. Jean-Michel Pilc ‘s imaginary
musical realm and sense of dynamics is full of suprises. Even more impressive is the seemingly
effortless interplay with Somsen and Ceccarelli. **** – Mischa Andriessen (TROUW, NL)

Free anticipating interplay … a creative impulse leading to a chain reaction between these three
improvising musicians. Their music descending to depths where there are no limits in time and space.
– Martin Laurentius (JAZZTHING, DE)

Concise interplay by a very interesting trio … ingeniously constructed compositions. An intriguing trio:
intelligent, well balanced and often poetic.**** ½ – Coen de Jonge (JAZZISM, NL)

“The musicians seem to have agreed only on one thing: surprise each other, the listener and it is
constant pleasure. Two albums recorded in two days; so here the follow up to volume 1, which had
enthused me last year. The result is as different as it is intriguing.”
**** – Vincent Cotro (JAZZ MAGAZINE, FR)

This French-Dutch trio sounds like they have been performing together for many years. The consensus
is so strong it seems like Jasper Somsen wrote this music especially for this trio. From the beginning
the music emerges as a masterpiece, in which the three musicians perform with an equal intensity.
– Hans-Jürgen Linke (JAZZTHETIK, DE)

The nine compositions are short stories about moments and experiences in life translated in music.
This trio has the power to surprise you at any given moment. Although all three musicians have a lot
of freedom the trio is very solid. The recordings sound very pure. A beautiful trio album.
– Hi Fi Stars (DE)

A powerful European trio at an international high class level. Jean-Michel Pilc’s excentric and almost
provocative style is joyful, organic, agile and full of contrasts: just wonderful! Andre Ceccarelli’s very
transparent playing adds the right accents at the right moments. Somsen’s compositions are
appealing and well thought-out. His playing blends the overall energy perfectly. This carefully created
album draws the attention of the listener as a magnet. The release of Part II next autumn is very
promissing! – Peter J. Korten (JAZZFLITS, NL)

The exceptionally strong trio performs perfectly in balance. The recording quality is excellent. It’s
highly recommended to attend the concerts of this exciting trio. – David Cohen (JAZZENZO, NL)

Underneath the very clear musical structures there’s a feeling of secretly made agreements between
the musicians, which enhances the listener’s attention even more. The interplay is exceptionally high
class, in which every instrument is equally represented – so common in the modern piano trio format.
Pilc shows clearly he’s part of the absolute pianist’s elite. One lingering composition followed by
another one makes this album a true pleasure to listen to, over and over again. It makes you long to
hear part two as well.
– Jan van Leersum (ROOTSTIME, BE) – review “A New Episode In Life – part I”

A spontaneous and flawless treat of inspired music. Sheer endless musical ideas and inventions. A
great joy for both performers and listeners, all the way to the very end.
– Jean-Pierre Goffin (JAZZHALO, BE)

Seemingly effortless Somsen and Ceccarelli match Pilc’s explosive musical freedom and touching
melodies. Fascinating from the very first to the very last note. Highly recommended.
– Erno Elsinga (JAZZENZO, NL) – review “A New Episode In Life – part II”

BIOGRAPHY JEAN-MICHEL PILC
                                             A United States resident for almost
                                             two decades, Paris native Jean-Michel
                                             Pilc taught himself to play piano.
                                             Before moving to the other side of the
                                             Atlantic Ocean he toured all over
                                             Europe, participated on numerous
                                             recordings and film scores. In New
                                             York City he formed a trio with bassist
                                             François Moutin and drummer Ari
Hoenig, performing at renowned venues as the Blue Note, Iridium, the Knitting
Factory and Sweet Basil. In 2000, Jean-Michel Pilc won the prestigious French
Django Reinhardt Award. His trio released three highly acclaimed albums: “Live
at Sweet Basil, NYC vol. 1 & 2” and “Welcome Home”. Signing up with the label
Dreyfus Jazz Jean-Michel Pilc recorded another five albums, between 2003 and
2007, which features his extended work “Trio Sonata”, solo recordings and two
trio albums with bassists Thomas Bramerie, Boris Kozlov and drummers Mark
Mondesir and Billy Hart. After his collaboration with Dreyfus Jazz Jean-Michel
Pilc reunited his first legendary trio, in 2011. Jean-Michel Pilc is renowned as an
excellent teacher, appointed at Music Faculty of the NYU Steinhardt. He
published several educational books and DVDs about the art of Jazz
improvisation. In 2013 he was granted a Fellowship by the John Simon
Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, in the category “Music Composition”.
Recently he released his third solo album for Sunnyside Records and formed a
new trio with bassist Ira Coleman and drummer Victor Lewis.

PHOTO © Jim Rice. Please mention the photographer if published.

BIOGRAPHY JASPER SOMSEN
                                      Double bassist/composer/producer Jasper
                                      Somsen (1973, The Netherlands)
                                      graduated in both Jazz and Classical
                                      double bass. During his career Jasper has
                                      performed with some of the very best
                                      musicians at the international jazz scene,
                                      a.o.: Enrico Pieranunzi, Joey Calderazzo,
                                      Jeff Ballard, John Beasley, Jean-Michel Pilc,
                                      Bob Sheppard, Seamus Blake, Lynne
                                      Arriale, Kendrick Scott, Justin Faulkner,
                                      André Ceccarelli, Gary Husband, EJ
Strickland, Gabriele Mirabassi, Bert Joris, Bert van den Brink, Ramón Valle,
Toon Roos, Yuri Honing, Eric Vloeimans, Maria Mendes and opera singer Tania
Kross.

Albums as a leader at Challenge Records:

2010: “Dreams, Thoughts & Poetry” (The Music of Enrico Pieranunzi) – Jasper
Somsen Group

2013: “Sardegna” – Jasper Somsen Group

2017: “A New Episode In Life” part I & II – Jasper Somsen Trio featuring Jean-
Michel Pilc & André Ceccarelli

Jasper performes world wide, is a renowned studio producer, can be heard on
almost 40 albums and was a frequently invited guest teacher at the
conservatories in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht and Arnhem.

PHOTO © Carlos Villaroel – New Arts International. Please mention the photographer if published.

BIOGRAPHY ANDRÉ CECCARELLI
                                          André Ceccarelli was born in Nice,
                                          France, on January 5th, 1946. The son
                                          of a musician, Ceccarelli started his
                                          career at the age of 16 when he
                                          joined the rock group "Les chats
                                          sauvages". Right after that he
                                          became a member of the orchestra
                                          led by Aimé Barell and toured Italy
with "Les Pyranhas", a group of R&B. In 1970 he moved to Paris where he had
the chance to show his talent by playing Jazz Clubs and by working as a much-
in-demand studio musician.

He has performed as a sideman with the best French songwriters and singers
(Gilbert Becaud, Charles Aznavour , Henri Salvador, Claude Nougaro), with
international blues and soul stars like Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and Tina
Turner, with arrangers-composers like Michel Legrand and Lalo Schifrin and
with many jazz legends (Stan Getz, Dexter Gordon, Eddy Louiss, Didier
Lockwood, Richard Galliano, Bireli Lagrene, Bob Berg, MIke Stern, Richard
Bona, Michael Brecker). In the last decade he collaborated extensively with
David Linx, Stefano Di Battista and Enrico Pieranunzi.

In 1993 Ceccarelli's record "Hat Snatcher" was awarded with the "Django d'Or"
and in 1998 he received from Sacem (the French copyright company) the
"Grand Prix" for jazz. In 2005 he was appointed "Chevalier des Arts et des
Lettres and in 2012 he received the prize "Victoire de Musique" with the group
"Troc".

André Ceccarelli has recorded 18 albums as a leader. He decided to record his
very last one in 2013. In this cd, titled "Ultimo", he performs with a Symphony
Orchestra and with six singers. Ceccarelli plays currently as a sideman in many
of his favorite projects.

PHOTO © Jean-Luc Rarcher. Please mention the photographer if published.

MANAGEMENT & CONTACT

   Jasper Somsen, Double Bass|Composer | Producer
                     Veerstraat 66
       NL – 6701 DX Wageningen, The Netherlands
                info@jaspersomsen.com
              Cell phone: +31-6-12934055
                www.jaspersomsen.com
 Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter and Whatsapp

PHOTO © Carlos Villaroel – New Arts International. Please mention the photographer if published.