Samy Thiébault et Émilie Aridon-Kociolek

Seeing two musicians from seemingly distant worlds harmonize is a rare and precious experience. For the birth of this exceptional duo, that is precisely what is at play.

Until now, Émilie Aridon-Kociołek has navigated between the worlds of classical music and tango, at a certain distance from the concept of improvisation. Yet, when she takes hold of what Samy Thiébault envisioned for her, every note seems to come alive with a new energy, as if shaped by an unfathomable depth of soul; one perceives her gesture as a true act of improvisation.

The subject of this album, the music of Weather Report, is deeply associated with a sound, an era, and the cohesion of a band. It evokes an electric, vibrant, and collective jazz. Imagining these compositions flourishing in the stripped-down setting of an acoustic duo seemed almost impossible, and yet that prodigy is realized here.

In this chamber dialogue, where the resonance of brass and wood subtly intertwine, Émilie Aridon-Kociołek and Samy Thiébault reveal under a new light the richness of the compositions of Wayne Shorter, Joe Zawinul, and Jaco Pastorius.

Thus appear, from the pen of Samy Thiébault, personal variations around essential compositions of the legendary band, conceived as so many scenarios where vivacity and intelligence are always present.

We thus navigate through these compositions with a new compass, between gentleness and incandescence, rediscovering their originality, their grandeur, and the precision of each melodic line.

This duo embodies the dialogue between two singular voices: the dazzling saxophone of Samy Thiébault, here fully in the spotlight, and the soulful piano of Émilie Aridon-Kociołek. The diversity of their journeys and musical visions aligns miraculously in every breath, in every phrasing. Each redraws their own language here, in a true surge of creation. Knowledge and intuition blend naturally, giving birth to music where rigor and spontaneity coexist, where each note is born of the moment and of mutual listening, revealing the intimacy and strength of a vibrant exchange.

Samy Thiébault: tenor saxophone, alto flute, effects

Émilie Aridon-Kociołek: piano