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Meet Reviewer Damian Erskine
Alain Caron
“Conversations”
www.alaincaron.com
This CD really caught me off guard. I thought I knew what to expect from Alain… Top notch fusion composition, flawless intonation and astounding chops. As the disc first started to spin and the first track, “No Pick” began.. I thought that the disc maker must’ve made a mistake. “Wow…Ray Brown duet?.. lucky day for mistakes!” (much better than when I got a “Prodigy” CD in my “Flecktones” jewel case!)
But, alas, it’s Alain playing a fretless/acoustic 6-string “MF” bass in a duet setting with a variety of pianists and a vibraphonists! This is a wonderful album. Alain’s tone is superb. Large fat, round and fully defined low register (it really does sound like an upright for the most part!) and articulate (but never thin) upper register. His playing is just a step above what even I expected from him (& I expect a lot from him!). He is swinging HARD! Great bass lines and some of finest jazz bass solos I’ve heard in some time. The pianists are all top notch as well, including some long time Caron associates (Otmaro Ruiz, Lorraine Desmarais, Francois Bourassa, Oliver Jones & Jean St-Jacques on Vibes). If you’d like a fresh take on Alain Caron, or simply enjoy lovely playing (and the pure sound from acoustic instruments) this is a wonderful disc. Truly wonderful playing.
Damian Erskine has written 160 articles in BMM.
Damian Erskine is not your ordinary bass player. While not touring, Damian hones his chops with some of the best jazz and latin musicians the West coast has to offer. Damian is known for his ability to fit into any musical situation and his extraordinary reading and improvising skills. Damian has played in the studio or on the stage with the likes of • Peter Erskine • Teri-Lynn Carrington • Gino Vannelli • John Ellis • Shawn Pelton • Sveti w/ Marko Djordjevic • Luis Conte • Brandon Ross • Les McCann • Jeff Lorber • Vardan Ovsepian • Charmaine Neville • Jessy J • Luis Perdomo • Tony Furtado • Kate Schutt • Bobby Torres • Alan Jones • Patrick Lamb • Dan Balmer • Klezmocracy and many others as well as being featured on the GospelChops.com "Shed Sessionz Vol. 1" DVD. Whether playing as a sideman or with his own group, he is known for his rock solid bass work, virtuosic solos and thoughtful chordal abilities.
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