Elan Vital, a limited edition CDR release with a digital download alternative, is the result of a coming together between French pianist Eve Risser and Polish bassist Rafal Mazur. Taken from a live improvisation recorded in June 2008 at Krakow’s Centre of Contemporary Arts, Elan Vital consists of a single twenty-three piece created by this international duo. Eschewing conventional compositional form and performance on their instruments for a framework not uncommon within the improv scene, Risser and Mazur create a sense of tension between the two instruments. Squeaks, bowed notes, scratching of strings and miscellaneous clutter together create a sparse result with the occasional chaotic interlude.
Elan Vital works best in its subtler moments, where the interplay between Risser and Mazur is most obvious. Elan Vital’s chaotic interludes are not so effective, never straying too far from an improv ‘formula’, of sorts. At moments, Mazur’s scratching of his bass strings becomes unnecessarily grating, with the juxtaposition against Risser’s subtle chiming piano missing the mark. Nevertheless, Risser and Mazur’s Elan Vital is an engaging collaboration between two expressive artists.
Andrew Tuttle
