Andy Emler Megaoctet - E Total 2CD (2012)

Andy Emler, composer, pianist, catalyst of enthusiasm, initiator meetings, arranger, improvisation defendant, is a man of inventions. After writing, harmony, counterpoint, and fugue studies, and saturday rock'n'roll dancefloors, he started to play with musicians as Antoine Hervé, Michel Portal, François Jeanneau, Woody Shaw, Trilok Gurtu,…
Then he created his own laboratory, the MegaOctet in 1989 with 8 of the most talented and flamboyant improvisators of the 80's. The MegaOctet will receive first the Django d'Or of Best Jazz Band in 1992. This ensemble will make a huge impression on the 90's musical landscape, and continues today his incredible and wonderful way.
"E total" or the way to create freedom inside of a framework defined. On this album, the fabulous Andy Emler's Megaoctet (Victoires du jazz 2008, 2010 and Django d'Or 2006, 2008, 2010, etc…) plays a virtuoso music, due to his great soloists and a complex writing but however reachable by all ears. The musical influences of the composer are multiple and rich, coming from all the 20th century's musics, and offer a special esthetics, jubilant and surprising, that Andy names as " a european living music from the begining of the century…"
E total's pieces are all written in the key of E (Mi in french), showing the art of contrasts and the musical pleasure of no modulation.


Tracklist:

CD1
1. Good games
2. E total
3. Father Tom
4. Shit happens
5. Start peace

CD2
1. Superfrigo
2. Mirrors

Personnel:

Andy Emler - piano, direction, compositions
Laurent Blondiau - trumpet, flugelhorn
Laurent Dehors - saxophones tenor & soprano, clarinets
Thomas de Pourquery - saxophone alto, voice
Philippe Sellam - saxophone alto
François Thuillier - tuba
Claude Tchamitchian - double bass
Eric Echampard - drums
François Verly - marimbas, tablas, percussions
+ Elise Caron - voice