Les Diaboliques

by Maggie Nicols, Irene Schweizer, Joelle Leandre, Les Diaboliques

Overview

This is about as fine an example you are likely to find of these three "crazy" (meant affectionately) women pushing the limits. Recorded live at a European jazz festival, the trio of vocalist Maggie Nichols, bassist Joelle Leandre, and pianist Irene Schweizer never lets up, shooting fireworks of offbeat rhythms, screwball melodic lines, and distortions. Nichols often seems to take the lead, with her nonsense syllables, occasional warped commentary, Louis Armstrong scatting, and bent warbles bouncing off the walls. Leandre is in full force, too, as she stretches the strings with her patented technical bravado. In this company, Schweizer is the conservative one, her piano the glue that holds it all together, but her improvisational prowess is in full throttle, as shown particularly on her solo piece, "Rheingefallen." The three seem to be having fun, without sacrificing quality, and that, of course, gives the performance its special tenor. A coherent whole, there is a vivacious, wily spirit that never lets up, and never leaves the listener empty-handed. Les Diaboliques, indeed! ~ Steven Loewy

Product Details

Release Date:	04/09/1994
Label:	Intakt Records
UPC:	7619942503321
Rank:	157748

Tracks

1. Oh My Darling
2. Come Along, Charles
3. Le Petit Macabre
4. L' Apr¿¿s MIDI d'Une Phantaisie
5. Hotel Modern
6. Free or Fated
7. The Cheek of the Devil
8. Come into My Office
9. Valse Diabolique
10. Mme Dubois' Trag¿¿die
11. Eclat
12. Distinguished Lady
13. My Mama Told Me
14. Gradually into Anarchy
15. Gentle and Strong
16. Jour de F¿¿te
17. Freedom
18. Fatal Attraction
19. Memories Can Freeze

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Maggie Nicols   Primary Artist,Vocals
Les Diaboliques   Primary Artist
Joelle Leandre   Primary Artist,Bass
Irene Schweizer   Primary Artist,Piano

Technical Credits

Joelle Leandre   Mastering,Composer
Daniel Deshays   Engineer
Les Diaboliques   Performer
Maggie Nicols   Composer