Press Review_________




	Alain Mion trio live on tour in Europe (Press selection) [...] The music of Alain Mion makes me think about the great period of Les McCann and his anthological trio (The Shampoo etc.), or Monty Alexander (with Clayton and Hamilton in Montreux) and also Little Susie by Ray Bryant (Some Soul Food, with a tension growing sometimes in an intense way) [...] Always, it swings and grooves with crescendos as only great real musicians know "how to". [...] Alain Mion is really a formidable Jazz pianist, certainly one of a kind in a jazz style not frequently played. Jean-Marc Berlière. Some Soul Food (Press selection) Soul Brother. "Some soul food" (Jazz'In/Next JICD6), by pianist Alain Mion, is another CD with such a beautiful cover photograph that it is a shame to put it away on some shelf... I'm ready to bet that it will be down the shelf pretty often anyway. Inside, you will find this kind of soulful, bluesy, straightforward jazz that flows so smoothly that you may believe that playing this way is no big deal... well you just try, and we'll see whether your CD is voted "CD of the week" on FIP ! There's definitely a lot to enjoy here ; personally, I have a weakness for "The tap tap", "Some soul food" and "Black cap man", which are strongly reminiscent of Les McCann's early 1960s recordings, and where bassist Patrik Boman and drummer Ronnie Gardiner are truly taking care of business. Here's another CD that many a jazz fan might be glad to find amongst his Christmas presents... Lady D. On connaît ce pianiste au parcours exigeant, né à Casablanca en 1947. Se produisant sur les scènes américaines et européennes, initiateur du groupe de jazz-rock Cortex, il enregistra en 1992 avec Marc Johnson, Tom Rainey, David Binney « Alain Mion in New York ». Ce nouveau disque enregistré à Stockholm avec le batteur Ronnie Gardiner (que l'on entendit aux côtés de Ben Webster, Johnny Griffin, ou encore Dizzy Gillespie...) et le contrebassiste Patrik Boman (vu en compagnie de Lisa Ekdahl) est un univers à lui seul. Les mélodies joyeuses prennent leur source dans le blues (Black Cap Man), le Gospel (The Saint Engrace Gospel Song), la soul (Some Soul Food). Swing au drive impeccable, jeu à l'unisson dans les basses (basse/piano), mises en place fines et légères (basse-batterie), walking bass bien au fond. Tous les ingrédients sont là pour faire de ce disque un moment de pur plaisir. La marque d'un vrai trio. Benjamin Halay. A l'inverse de ces nouveaux OS du clavier diplômés de Berkeley qui commercialisent trois CD par semaine, Alain Mion, né à Casablanca en 1947, enregistre peu. Le dernier témoignage du séjour en studio de ce globe-trotter impénitent (il revient d'une tournée en Chine et Mandchourie) remontant à 1992 et à la confection de l'excellent Alain Mion in New York, gravé avec le concours du bassiste Marc Johnson, du batteur Tom Rainey et du saxophoniste David Binney, pour le label Elabeth. L'ancien leader de Cortex, groupe pionnier du jazz rock français, aura donc attendu neuf ans de plus pour fignoler à Stockholm, ce Some Soul Food qui, une fois encore, souligne la passion de son signataire pour la musique churchy, jadis popularisée par les productions Blue Note. Instrumentiste confortable, Alain Mion est avant tout un fin mélodiste, ainsi qu'en attesta en 1984, le succès de son thème Phéno Men, hit sur FIP et NRJ, indicatif pour France Inter... Some Soul Food est de la même veine. Le petit cousin éloigné du sautillant Horace Silver s'y livrant à une convaincante démonstration soul-funk, accompagné par un rookie et un expert : le bassiste Patrik Boman et le batteur Ronnie Gardiner. Serge Loupien. Alain Mion est un copain, un lecteur de « Charlie » et un excellent pianiste de style « funky »...trois bonnes raisons pour acheter son dernier disque « SOME SOUL FOOD » paru chez NEXT et dans lequel il n'interprète que ses propres compositions : 9 morceaux, 9 réussites ! Très bien accompagné à la basse par Patrik Boman et à la batterie par Ronnie Gardiner, il se défonce et swingue sur son clavier avec un plaisir tellement évident qu'il n'a aucun mal à nous le faire partager. On est vachement déçu (mais pas triste) quand le disque est fini. On aimerait qu'il ne s'arrête jamais... alors on le remet ! Siné. Le nouveau trio de cet échappé du jazz rock dégage une énergie rare, généreuse et bien communicative. Si vous ne saviez pas ce qu'est le piano soul jazz, voici le disque qu'il vous faut. Tour à tour jazz, blues, gospel, rythm' n' blues, le piano d'Alain Mion vous emmène dans tous ces paysages. Très plein, avec de beaux voicings, des basses profondes, des soli brillants, un groove redoutable, son jeu est un modèle du genre, fluide et délié, avec de belles nuances de dynamique - on pensera sans doute parfois au défunt Richard Tee ou à Joe Sample. Accompagné de deux pointures du jazz, Mion délivre sans doute son meilleur album. Avec cette nourriture de l'âme, on est loin du fast-food musical. Olivier Cauvin.		Alain Mion in New York (Press selection) Credo si possa affermare che attualmente le più prolifiche nazioni in ambito jazzistico siano Italia e Francia. Alain Mion, nato a Casablanca nel 1947 e residente a Parigi, è un musicista, un cantante, un compositore, ma soprattutto un ottimo pianista. Il disco Alain Mion in New York è stato registrato per celebrare una serie di concerti tenuti nel 1992. Lo accompagnano in questa session Marc Johnson al contrabbasso, Tom Rainey alla batteria e David Binney al sax alto. Davvero una piacevole scoperta questo non più giovanissimo pianista, in grado di dosare abilmente nel suo mood, soul, be-bop e swing, il tutto connotato da una vigorosa energia e da un groove tra blues e jazz. Colpisce l'ascoltatore l'energia del suo pianismo, allo stesso tempo ne sfiora delicatamente la sensibilità, con il suo tocco caldo e convincente, con la sua voce accattivante e a tratti emozionante, attraverso melodie e temi decisamente originali non solo dal punto di vista compositivo. Alain Mion sembra narrare, nelle 11 tracks del disco (da lui stesso scritte ed arrangiate), un rassicurante ed armonioso percorso sonoro in un climax espressivo di gran gusto, senza rigori estremi, muovendosi abilmente nel terreno jazzistico più suggestivo e gradevole possibile. Chi lo accompagna non è certo da meno, Marc Johnson – valgano per lui due sole collaborazioni: Bill Evans e Enrico Pieranunzi (l'accostamento tra i due pianisti non è casuale!) - Tom Rainey, batterista dal tocco delicato ma con grande senso dello swing, il sax alto di David Binney, in grado di conferire omogeneità al trio, con le sue incursioni, con le sue digressioni melodiche sempre di buon gusto, duttili e suadenti, contribuendo ad imprimere un walking narrativo intriso di sapori moderni a tutti i brani in cui è presente. Il pezzo d'apertura è Montse: notevole il lavoro "di batteria" di Rainey con l'utilizzo del sintetizzatore da parte di Mion, quale "voce d' appoggio" nel chorus. Nella traccia successiva, Levallois, ottimo è il dialogo tra il Mion, vocalist in francese, ed il sax alto di Binney. Poi A Dolphin Game, una brillante bossa nova. Di pregevole fattura Jean, una delicata ballad, inizialmente esplorata con garbato swing, crescendo poi nel finale in un tempo veloce e trascinante. E' funky straripante quello di Un Gospel pour Dexter; preziosi anche in questa track il sax di Binney e la voce di Mion: catturano l'attenzione con una sequenza armonica che culmina in un coinvolgente finale Gospel. Stand Away, ancora uno swing arioso e deciso. In corposa evidenza, Marc Johnson prende le redini del gruppo muovendo l'incipit del brano, tessendo scale che ben s'intrecciano con il mood pianistico di Mion: un feeling sbalorditivo considerando che non avevano mai suonato insieme. Ritmica di gran classe, swing, amore per il jazz ed il blues, composizioni originali, un interplay attento e sensibile, definiscono un'opera il cui risultato finale appare davvero piacevole, tanto da consigliarne senz'altro l'ascolto. Con piacere si segnala un'altra godibile e convincente incisione del pianista transalpino "Some Soul Food". Franco Giustino per Jazzitalia This CD commemorates a visit to New York in 1992, when the music was recorded. All eleven titles are original compositions and Alain also wrote the arrangements. Joining Alain in the trio are Marc Johnson, the highly respected bassist who played in the Bill Evans trio and a sympathetic drummer, Tom Rainey, restrained, but always swinging. Mion also uses synthetiser on a couple of tracks and sings (in French) on Levallois and Un Gospel pour Dexter (a funky affair this !). Alto saxist David Binney joins the trio for this two, contributing some tasty fill-ins and backing. There is plenty to enjoy on every track - A Dolphin Game, is a sprightly bossa nova. Jean, a pretty little melody is explored initially out of tempo, before breaking into quick three fourtime. Like Gospel, Tivoli has a catchy funky sound with a harmonic sequence best described in racing parlance - King Porter Stomp/The Golden Striker out of Yarbird Suite ! Fine bass solo from Johnson here. Yellow Cab Nite Blues is dedicated to one of New York City's best loved institutions- the trio struts some jaunty blues in it's honour - Marc Johnson solos - splendid backing from Tom Rainey throughout this one. Recommended to anyone who enjoys straight-ahead, modern jazz piano playing, expertly performed and recorded in warm digital stereo. A pleasurable listening experience. Pat Hawes. Spawned from a well spring of bop, Alain Mion is also a sensitive and convincing storyteller... From beginning to end, "In New York" is a superb album... One hour of pleasure awaits you. Let yourself be allured. Domi Truffandier. I don't know if the participants on "Alain Mion in New York" had played together before this date, but they click beautifully. Alain Mion was born in Casablanca, but raised in Paris, and the trio heard here benefits greatly from being interlaced by Marc Jonhson's deep, dark tone. The opening "Montse" shows off the sunny, serene bluesiness of Mion's writing, as well as Rainey's outstanding cymbal work. The drummer has a light, but propulsive, punch on drums, which complements Mion's airy touch, and ability to worry a phrase to maximum effect. "Montse" also benefits from subtle synthesizer backing on the chorus, a feature I could stand to hear more of. Mion sings his French lyrics on "Levallois" and "Un Gospel pour Dexter" in a muted, almost breathless style that is very pleasant; David Binney adds soulful alto to these tracks, plus the closing "Going Back." The pianist really lets loose on "One More Blues" with some swinging, dizzying runs before the bass solo. Mion's fine sense of structure and pacing, plus the keen group interaction, make this a very amiable and recommended disc. Larry Nai. La Montagne Pianist, singer and composer, Alain Mion brings to us this CD, a lovely and multicolored recording... between Jazz and Blues, mixed with Brazilians rhythms, the swing is always there, direct and delicate at the same time. Alain Mion's rhythmic and warm touch drives these melodic and simply beautiful, original themes. Daniel Desthomas.