Though they have recorded together previously, Asian Fields Variations is the first time Louis Sclavis (clarinets), Dominique Pifarély (violin), and Vincent Courtois (violoncello) have appeared together as a trio. Produced by Manfred Eicher, Asian Fields Variations is a stellar ECM Records debut for the trio, a charming, whimsical, and often times mysterious collection of original compositions that fuses jazz, chamber, classical, and world music into a soaring sonic palette of sounds, melodies, textures, and colors.
With Courtois' violoncello acting almost as a stand-up double-bass on the nimble"Asian Fields", the trio bob and weave through as assortment of meters and time signatures, and on "Digression", the results are more of an improvisatory nature but no less mersmerizing. Pifarély's mournful violin weeps alongside Courtois's ominous violoncello on the bleak yet gorgeous "Fifteen Weeks", while "Done and Done", "Figure Absente", "Les Nuits", and "Cèdre" offer quirkier arrangements, Sclavis' clarinet flying and weaving in all sorts of directions on the latter. One could assume that with just these three instruments that Asian Fields Variations might be somewhat limiting in what it could offer, but that is far from the case, as this is indeed a rich, enjoyable album guaranteed to deliver plenty of surprises and rewards to the listener.
Track Listing
01 Mont Myon
02 Done And Done
03 Pensée Furtive
04 Figure Absente
05 Asian Fields
06 Digression
07 Fifteen Weeks
08 Les Nuits
09 Cèdre
10 Sous Le Masque
11 La Carrière
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