After releasing the solo album “Out of Focus” on the Igloo+ label in 2015, as well as two more classical releases – one with José Van Dam and J-L Rassinfosse on the Cypres label and the other with the Debussy Quartet published by Radio France – Jean-Philippe Collard-Neven is back with a project. This time, he called on two Quebec sparring partners with whom he has played often, Michel Donato (double bass) and Pierre Tanguay (drums).
Michel Donato is one of the most in-demand double bass players in Canada, known for his work alongside jazz greats such as Oscar Peterson, Joe Pass, Bill Evans, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Toots Thielemans and Joe Morello. In parallel, he has worked extensively in the studio with some of the best-known chanson artists such as Jacques Brel, Charles Aznavour and Félix Leclerc. Drummer Pierre Tanguay has played in jazz, contemporary, medieval and traditional music, with over 400 releases to his credit.
With these compositions, the three remarkable musicians offer music that is free and spontaneous and approach the well-known trio formula with new vigour.
The quiet strength of the playing is impressive, flowing naturally without any superfluous agitation. With a predilection for slow tempos, “Mardi 16 juin” offers music that delicately embellishes silence and seems to nurse the space between the sounds. Each instrument finds its place, with the keyword being alertness.

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