Anyway
Roland Dyens
No, the picture on the front of this DVD is not out of focus. It is a good representation of the incredible speed that Roland Dyens can generate in his amazingly dynamic performances. Do not be misled by those who would classify Mr. Dyens as a "classical" guitarist. He is equally at home with classical and jazz, with a special affinity for the wide variety of Brazilian music.
This DVD is an excellent way to get to know Roland Dyens and his music. There are ten magnificent performances , prefaced by a section entitled "À bàtons rompus..." which translates roughly as "an improvised talk" or "this and that." This is a modest label for a detailed outline by Mr. Dyens of his artistic life and work. We are granted insight into his concept of music, composing, writing for the guitar, teaching, and much more. I found this a most welcome change from an artist who feels that divulging their thoughts and opinions would rob them of a sense of "mystery." In this case we have extra dimension in which to enjoy the performances that follow. To give just one example, Roland Dyens has a particularly interesting view of the essence of jazz, which informs not only his jazz arrangements but also his own compositions and arrangements. Not knowing this connection would rob us of much of the joy of listening.
And there is a lot of joy in watching and listening to this DVD. Roland Dyens is a riveting performer with dazzling technique in performance and composition. The first performance is a brilliant Improvisation that will delight both guitarists and non-guitarists alike. The music flows effortlessly, often taking us in surprising directions with sudden flights of fancy that nevertheless always manage to land on solid ground. Elements of classical music blend with jazz, Latin, and other influences that all blend into Mr. Dyens' unique style.
Jazz comes to the fore next, with a superb arrangement of A Night In Tunisia. It is all the rage these days for guitarists to bang away on their guitars to simulate drumming, but Roland Dyens is one of the few who can do this artistically, making the drumming an integral part of the arrangement that brings added life to an already vital version. Once again a rare virtuosity is lent to some wonderful music. This performance has been posted to YouTube.
More arrangements follow, first a lovely version of a Spanish tune Alfonsina y el Mar, and then Baden Powell's Berimbau. Both songs are elegantly arranged, and they illustrate both the wide variety of resources available to Mr. Dyens and the ease at which he incorporates these into his own style. You can watch a video of Roland Dyens playing Berimbau on YouTube.
These same qualities infuse Roland Dyens' own composition Sols d'Ièze. Here Mr. Dyens demonstrates a true mastery of tension and release, constantly building and relaxing momentum until the final culmination, all with a natural ease that keeps the piece breathing as it moves along. Technical elements are so subtly woven into the fabric that even the most spectacular virtuosity makes perfect sense in its musical context.
For such a great fan of Brazilian music we would expect Mr. Dyens to play something by Jobim, so the appearance of Felicidade makes perfect sense. Roland Dyens knowledge and understanding of Brazilian music is very deep, and this exploration of the potential of this tune easily outstrips those who might view the song as "one more bossa nova tune." This is a very sympathetic reading that is at the same time completely modern, and most enjoyable.
Next we get a glimpse of Mr. Dyens in a double role of conductor and teacher with a performance of Alfonsina y el Mar by the guitar ensemble of the Paris Conservatoire. This is an impressive group, tight without any feeling of rigidity, and expressive without letting the time get ragged.
Mr. Dyens returns on solo guitar with an exquisite version of My Funny Valentine that demonstrates his mastery of jazz and its repertoire. Interweaving contrapuntal lines add dimension to this popular tune, serving to highlight the expressive nature of the melody.
This leads into Roland Dyens' composition Anyway. Composed as the set piece for the 2007 competition of the Guitar Foundation of America, this piece places rigorous demands on the performer. It requires extraordinary technical prowess as well as a thorough grasp of several styles of music, and the ability to keep up a continual narrative through seven and a half minutes of shifting musical landscape. Need I say that Mr. Dyens performs the piece impeccably? The apparent ease with which he plays it must make a deep impression on those in the competition.
The final performance is aptly entitled Djembé. The djembé is an African hand drum which accompanies the guitar in this piece, here very capably played by Roland Dyens' son Emmanuel. This forms a lively end to a fantastic "concert."
As I have said before, Roland Dyens is not just one of the finest classical guitarists living today, but one of our finest musicians. This DVD will convince you. Every guitarist should watch this CD! Having seen it, I will never see or hear the classical guitar the same way again. Music lovers will likely be content to enjoy the terrific performances. EIther way, this is a great DVD.
You can buy this CD here:
AMAZON USA: Roland Dyens: Anyway
AMAZON CANADA: Roland Dyens: Anyway