VOCE

2023
“VOCE: laboratory experiments on western balafon

To reach the world of improvisation, percussionists who strayed from the religious path of the classical (and contemporary) repertoire took their vibraphones to the world of jazz.

In the 90s, Eric Sammut not only revolutionized marimba technique (the percussionist’s organ), but also decomplexed “classical” musicians by mixing improvisation sequences with classical music recitals, using themes from opera, French music and films. The license to improvise was issued to generations of musicians.

Hervé Voirin, a disciple of Eric Sammut, Jean Geffroy and Pierre-François Resta, follows the itinerary of the contemporary marimba repertoire, then develops a very personal approach, a touch of his own. Then came a long training in jazz and contemporary music.

The VOCE album (9 compositions, 2 jazz standards, 1 traditional tune) is the crystallization of 15 years of “having fun” on his instrument, a recording that will last 5 years, each year corresponding to a theme aimed at changing the “touch” to interpret a title with a different sound, titles inspired by themes from classical music (sacre du printemps, Dies Irea, Carmen, contemporary music, spectral, …), Jazz (swing, inspired by the playing of Eric Prost, …) and MAA (inspired by the playing of Vinnie Colaiuta, …), under the benevolent and complicit ear of the pianist.), Jazz (swing, inspired by the playing of Eric Prost, …) and MAA (inspired by the playing of Vinnie Colaiuta, …), under the sympathetic ear of sound engineer Samuel Babouillard.

VOCE, the postcard of experiences that can no longer be reproduced.