Didier Malherbe/ Eric Löhrer: Nuit D'Ombrelle auf 2 CDs

"The duduk, wind instrument from Caucasia & particularly Armenia, since the night of times transmits deep human sounds, raspy and velvety, nostalgic, gentle or solemn, loaded with emotion.

In 1993, Henri Agnel gave me a duduk record to listen to. Two days later happy coincidences brought a duduk into my home. I never ceased to play it. In 2001, I was invited to participate to the 1st International Duduk Festival within the group of Djivan Gasparyan, in Yerevan.

Many thanks to the great “Varbed” (master). I also thank Gérard Madilian, Rostom Khachikian, Philippe Chabazian, Patrick Koussiguian, who gave me precious clues to the art of duduk playing.

Armenian music is immense and beautiful. I love to listen to it, to get impregnated with it. But rather than (badly) copy it, I decided to let my fingers & blowing wander about on the instrument to find unheard melodies. Those became the basic elements of some pieces of the Hadouk trio, with Loy Ehrlich & Steve Shehan.

I also tried to play some jazz tunes I used to play on tenor saxophone. The chromatisms’ technique (half opened holes for semi- tones) resembles the one I practice on indian bansuri flute since a long time. Meeting Eric Löhrer, outstanding jazz guitarist experienced in playing Thelonious Monk’s tunes, was decisive & determined the project.

In accordance with the judicious Patrick Schuster, we decided to record in the loft of Philippe Teissier du Cros, the sorcerer of sounds, two aspects of guitar / duduk jazz:

1. compositions of the Jazz songbook (+ two originals)

2. totally improvised short pieces.

Chiaroscuro, subdued light, shadows in disguise: here is the NUIT D’OMBRELLE" -- Didier MALHERBE

(naive. fr)