One of the best French pianists and composers of the younger generation Laurent Coulondre will perform today with his jazz ensemble in Podgorica, at the Cultural and Information Center "Budo Tomović" in honor of the International Jazz Day.
The program in the big hall of KIC starts at 20 pm, and the repertoire will include compositions from Kulondro's new album "Meva Festa", which is inspired by the rhythms of Latin jazz. The opening act for the French jazz ensemble will be the fusion trio "Purple Grain" from Podgorica. The concert was supported by the Secretariat for Culture of the Capital City and the Ministry of Culture and Media of Montenegro, and the entrance is free.
In an interview with Vijesti, the pianist and composer says that he is looking forward to his first big concert in front of a Montenegrin audience, but he also conveys positive impressions from the performance in the charming Podgorica bar on Ribnica.
"I want the audience to feel the energy of all the musicians in the band, to feel that groove and the influence of all the traditional rhythms from around the world, and to be surprised by the mixture of different cultures and music!", he says and talks about it in more detail in the interview.
Kulondr has won the prestigious French award "Victoire du Jazz" several times in the categories: Best New Artist and Best Instrumental Performance. The critics of the French jazz magazine "Jazz Magazine" declared him the best musician of 2020, and in the same year the French Jazz Academy awarded him the "French Album of the Year" award for the album "Michael on My Mind", which is dedicated to the jazz great Michel Petrucciani., which had a great influence on his career. Among many other accolades, Kulondr was awarded the title of "Yamaha Artist" and received valuable support from the BNP Paribas Foundation for the development of his artistic projects. In an interview with Vijesti, he also talks about his experience of the awards, as well as his plans for the future.
He performs concerts all over France, Europe, and has toured in China and Japan, and reveals which concert he will remember forever.
You will perform on the International Jazz Day in Podgorica. How special is the date given that it celebrates jazz music and is the concert all the more significant?
Jazz Day is becoming more and more popular and well-known in the world! On this day, playing with my band in a new country where I've never been before makes me very happy and I'm really looking forward to meeting the Montenegrin audience!
What place does jazz have on the world music scene today, taking into account various other popular genres, technology, financial support, audience and record label trends?
Jazz (as if) is getting more and more confused, mixed, combined and not very well understood in the world, but there is still a really strong community of passionate people all over the planet trying to share "good music". For me now "jazz" doesn't mean anything specific, it would be much better to say just "good music", because you can play and create jazz in a million ways, and people just need to be curious.
In today's time, when the whole world is becoming more and more crazy, of course culture is not the first thing people will think about. In this context, the media do not really want to support and present something that can "elevate" people in that way, what matters is viewership and popularity, they follow their TikTok channels, television shows and the like...
What can the audience expect from this performance, have you prepared anything special, and on the other hand, do you have any personal expectations?
I just want the audience to feel good and have a good time! Also, I want them to feel the energy of all the musicians in the band, to feel that groove and the influence of all the traditional rhythms from around the world and to be surprised by that mix of different culture and music! If those present were surprised by our cuts, transitions, diversity of sound, I would be very happy!
You will present the repertoire from your new album, "Meva Festa", which is inspired by the rhythms of Latin jazz. Is this album and how much it relies on Afro-Cuban or Afro-Brazilian jazz and what does Latin jazz offer you as an author and pianist compared to typical, American jazz?
"Latin music" is in my DNA! This means much more than the standard swing or music hall influence. I can insert some "dance" rhythm, I can add some African influence or use horns in different ways and in different styles, definitely unusual, fun, but good. Jazz also gives me the opportunity to mix swing with Afro and Brazilian music! Since I look at the piano more as a "rhythm" instrument with some notes, it helps me get more, more intensity in everything!
What is your inspiration when making music and creating music, what guides you, and how much do you indulge in improvisation or display of virtuosity?
I don't want to use virtuosity just for virtuosity's sake. So, first of all, I want to be inspired by something that happened or something that I see or someone in this world, also some culture. And then, if virtuosity can help and contribute to music exploding, going "crazy" and reaching far, then I can (also) use it.
On Saturday, you also performed in the bar Itaka in Podgorica. You played with famous musicians from Europe, and the band consisted of: Montenegrin jazz drummer Slaven Ljujić, saxophonist Ben Kraef from Berlin and bass guitarist Martha Linley from France. How did that collaboration come about and how satisfied are you with the performance, mutual compatibility?
You know, I mostly only perform in theaters and festivals around the world, but I still like to play in some clubs. This time I was discovering a really beautiful bar/club with an amazing crowd that supports live music, experiences it, dances to it, even cries!
It's interesting, in a way, and crazy, that I came straight from Beijing, from China, I changed three flights and I was completely in some kind of jet-lag, like excitement and fatigue, when I stepped on the stage. However, the energy and the meeting with the three musicians you mentioned gave me a lot of energy and good vibes so we all really enjoyed it together!
Our cooperation started in France when I Jacques Pauper from Couleur Jazz asked me to play at the performing arts center "La Seine Musicale" near Paris... It was there that I met Slaven who was playing with his band and my good friend, the saxophonist Baptist Herbin. We immediately understood each other and connected! A month after that Maja Popović she asked me if I would like to come and perform in Montenegro with my band. So we made a direct effort to make some collaboration happen and to play together with Slaven, and here it is!
After Montenegro, you continue your tour in France, and so far you have performed all over Europe, as well as in China and Japan. Do you particularly remember any performance or anything? What are the plans for the future?
Well, I'm on tour all the time, practically everywhere! (laughs) This last tour lasts for three consecutive weeks and includes France, China and Montenegro.
In May I will be working in Madrid, Spain on an album by jazz singers from Bilbao, I will also be playing at the festival "Jazz a Saint Germain" in Paris and "Jazz Sous Les Pommiers" in Coutances (Coutances) in northern France, and there will be some piano solo in Belgium. There will also be some other festivals around the world...
If I had to name just one concert that I remember and that will stay in my memory forever, maybe it would have to be when I performed at Sting's concert in Vienna, “Sting in Jazz a Vienne”, which took place in the amazing Roman amphitheater " Theater Antique”. It's definitely one of the most amazing things in my career.
Would you like to add something?
See you at KIC "Budo Tomović" tonight at 20 pm! Awards are proof that someone believes in you and that you are on the right path.
You have won the prestigious French award "Victoire du Jazz" several times, and the critics of the jazz magazine "Jazz Magazine" declared you the best musician in 2020 when the French Jazz Academy awarded you the award "French Album of the Year", and there is also the title "Yamaha Artist" and support from the BNP Paribas Foundation for the development of artistic projects. How do you perceive all these recognitions and how does it affect you?
It's really nice to receive recognition from professionals and experts in your field, because it tells you and confirms that you are on the right path, that you are doing well, and then somewhere you can continue what you are doing and that some people believe in you. Awards are important and help you believe in yourself, your music and your career. Also, the financial support of the BNP Foundation meant a lot to me and helped me to easily create and launch my project of life without borders!
Petrućani changed my life as a nine-year-old
You dedicated the award-winning album "Michael on My Mind", which we have already mentioned, to Mišel Petrućani, a jazz great who had a great influence on you and your career. In what way did he shape you and was there anyone else who had an influence on your musical maturation and formation?
Michel is the first pianist and jazz artist I ever listened to! I was nine years old and it changed and directed my life! I directly asked my parents to play and start learning improvisation! I really love his playing, his virtuosity and the clarity of his playing! In addition to him, of course, there is a lot of inspiration from the past and present, and I am also inspired by some new things every day.
I mostly only perform in theaters and festivals around the world, but I still like to play in some clubs. This time I discovered a really beautiful bar/club with an amazing crowd that supports live music, experiences it, dances to it, even cries!
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