“…there is no fight here, no battle for supremacy or to display ‘chops’ to the other. … the sheer musicality of this pair is staggering. Schweizer's muscular chromaticism is matched in texture by Favre’s dancing tom-tom runs and slippery snare work. When Favre does let loose, skittering across the cymbals and hi-hat before tearing loose on the snare, his handiwork is met by large comped-up chords that seem to react rhythmically to his jagged pulse on the skins. When the pace turns to dynamic sweetness and light – or perhaps twilight, as Schweizer's harmonic sensibility is wont to from time to time because of her comfort with all things consonant – and trickles of Schubert or even Haydn slip from her fingers, Favre’s brushes play accents on the rhythm, almost inaudibly. This is a topnotch live set that reveals piano and drum pairings are not always percussive pound-a-thons.” Thom Jurek, AllMusic, about their album Irène Schweizer & Pierre Favre...
read more
“…there is no fight here, no battle for supremacy or to display ‘chops’ to the other. … the sheer musicality of this pair is staggering. Schweizer's muscular chromaticism is matched in texture by Favre’s dancing tom-tom runs and slippery snare work. When Favre does let loose, skittering across the cymbals and hi-hat before tearing loose on the snare, his handiwork is met by large comped-up chords that seem to react rhythmically to his jagged pulse on the skins. When the pace turns to dynamic sweetness and light – or perhaps twilight, as Schweizer's harmonic sensibility is wont to from time to time because of her comfort with all things consonant – and trickles of Schubert or even Haydn slip from her fingers, Favre’s brushes play accents on the rhythm, almost inaudibly. This is a topnotch live set that reveals piano and drum pairings are not always percussive pound-a-thons.” Thom Jurek, AllMusic, about their album Irène Schweizer & Pierre Favre
The musical relationship of worlwide renowned Swiss musicians pianist Irène Schweizer and percussionist Pierre Favre dates back to 1966, since then they were playing together in various combinations. Their unique way of duo playing was born in their trio with George Mraz; back then they were already playing themes they still play today. The influence of African-American jazz, rhythmic roots based on swing, phrasing, and drive, as well as polyrhythmic elements are decisive for their music. Their duo music has remained a melodic music even today, played with lots of smiles. There is an extraordinary balance of two strong, well matched musicians, a mature and well seasoned integration of focused free spirits. As improvisers, they are still dancing on a high wire, but the longer they play together, the lighter and more intimate the dance gets. Their recent album Live in Zürich was released in 2014 on Intakt Records.
Irène Schweizer has performed and recorded numerous solo piano performances as well as a series of duets with drummers Pierre Favre, Louis Moholo, Andrew Cyrille, Günter Sommer, Han Bennink, Hamid Drake, as well as in trio and quartet sessions with others, including John Tchicai, Evan Parker, Peter Kowald and one of her most enduring musical collaborator, the improvising musician Rüdiger Carl.
Swiss jazz drummer and percussionist Pierre Favre has recorded several albums as leader, among them Singing Drums, with Paul Motian and Nana Vasconcelo, released on the ECM label in 1984. He played and recorded as sideman on dozens of albums with numerous well-known musicians, including Tamia, Michel Godard, Mal Waldron, Paul Giger, Jiří Stivín, Michel Portal, Samuel Blaser, the ARTE Quartett, Barre Phillips or John Surman.
Tickets are available for 1500 HUF on the spot, in the national JEGYPONT network of Interticket, at jegy.hu and here.
Please don't forget your table reservation, as seating at the Opus jazz Club can only be guaranteed in this case. Tel: (+36 1) 216 7894-
show less
