mouvance is a CD of music by Jerome Blais performed by Suzie LeBlanc (soprano), Eileen Walsh (clarinets), Jeff Torbert (guitars), Norman Adams (cello) and Doug Cameron (percussion).  At first glance it looks like a set of songs or maybe a song cycle in the sense that it sets a series of French texts by various writers.  In fact it has its origins in a multi-media show about, to quote Blais, “the universal themes of movement, migration and uprooting”. I think this is why I found it more satisfying to think of it as an integrated whole because there’s really no sense of separation between the “songs”.

It’s very interesting music.  The sound world is complex partly because of the unusual ensemble.  How often does one hear bass clarinet with guitar?  The vocal style varies from spoken, to jazzy, to classical.  It’s rhythmically interesting with lots of jazz elements.  There’s lots to explore textually and musically and I think I’m going to have to come back to this.  I’d really like to see the multi-media show too!

It’s a nicely balanced and very clear recording with an informative booklet.  It appeares to be available commercially as a CD (with booklet) or CD quality FLAC (no booklet) which is a bit odd as my pre-release copy was 96kHz/24bit and had a digital booklet!  In any event it’s a most recommendable 54 minutes of new Canadian music.

Catalogue number: CMCCD 31223