Nicolas Meier

“From Istanbul to Ceuta with a Smile”

(MGP Records MGPCD009)

Swiss born, London based guitarist and composer Nicolas Meier has become a significant presence on the London jazz scene, deploying his undoubted talents in a variety of contexts as both leader and sideman.

Originally inspired by Pat Metheny (arguably a little too obviously at times) Meier has since created an increasingly personal sound that draws upon many elements of world music, particularly the sounds of Turkey, the birthplace of his wife and muse Songul. The album “Journey”, released in 2010 and featuring an excellent five piece band represented something of a creative peak for Meier, a particularly beguiling synthesis of Metheny like melodicism and Meier’s increasingly convincing use of Middle Eastern motifs and rhythms with the guitarist adding the Turkish baglama and the eleven string lute the glissentar to his instrumental armoury.

If “Journey” was a statement that Meier had been building up too for some time then “From Istanbul…” represents a refining of those ideas made in the company of several of the musicians who helped to make “Journey” such a success. Gilad Atzmon returns on saxophone and clarinet, the presence of Atzmon on any record is pretty much a guarantee that something of interest is going to happen. The rhythm section of bassist Patrick Bettison and drummer Asaf Sirkis also remains in place with Bettison also adding the distinctive sound of his harmonica playing to the proceedings. James Pearson takes over at the piano from the Uruguayan Jose Reinoso and an expanded line up is completed by percussionist Demi Garcia, cellist Bernard Gregor Smith and violinist Lizzie Ball. The string players have worked with Meier as part of the quartet Eclectica! and appeared on that group’s appealing “Flight Of Fancy” in 2011. Garcia played on Meier’s 2010 trio release “Breeze” and has also worked with bassist Alec Dankworth’s Spanish Accents group.

“Journey” was structured as a suite and the new album follows a broadly similar procedure with the album’s eight tracks representing parts of three larger works. “From Istanbul to Ceuta with a Smile” comprises of four movements and “The Gate Of Memories” and “The Lightness of the Wind” two each. The music embraces elements of jazz, Middle Eastern, tango and even classical music, an eclectic mix given coherence by the increasingly individual Meier house style. With its extended instrumentation “From Istanbul…” represents a more adventurous extension of “Journey” and like its predecessor it succeeds superbly thanks to the colour and invention of the writing and the quality of the playing from a hand picked ensemble.

The music on “From Istanbul…”, the first of the album’s three suites is inspired by Meier’s travels in Turkey and Spain in 2011. “Opening” sets the scene with Meier’s cleanly picked acoustic sounds shimmering exotically above a backdrop of strings and percussion. It’s a curtain raiser for “Istanbul” itself which features an authentically Turkish sound with Meier still the dominant force on his range of plucked and strummed instruments. Gregor Smith and Ball also play key roles, augmenting Meier’s every move with grace and conviction. Bettison’s harmonica adds a distinctive and unexpected Western element that’s reminiscent of Metheny’s occasional deployment of the instrument by either Toots Thielemans or Gregoire Maret. Sirkis and Garcia drive the piece along nicely, providing just the right amount of colour and propulsion without intruding unduly. Atzmon, on soprano sax enters late, but to telling effect, with a suitably exotic and serpentine solo. Meier has performed regularly with Turkish musicians in Istanbul but his London based colleagues do him proud here on this colourful, densely arranged piece that is an excellent demonstration of Meier’s writing and playing skills.

“Istanbul” segues into the more reflective “With a Smile” which showcases Meier’s skills on his nylon strung Godin guitar above a lush backdrop of strings and harmonica. Bettison’s solo represents some of his best harmonica playing on record and his liquid electric bass playing isn’t bad either. There’s a soaring, anthemic quality about the music here that more than justifies its title.

Again the segue into the next piece is instantaneous with “To Ceuta” immediately picking up the energy levels. Here the focus is on flamenco melodies and rhythms but with an element of the Middle East always in the background. In another highly colourful and superbly arranged ensemble piece highlights come from Ball’s mercurial violin and the central dialogue between Meier and Garcia. Pearson also comes to the fore for the first time with a flowing solo. The piece concludes with some stunning unison passages which give the drums and percussion some room in which to manoeuvre. 

The two part “The Gate of Memories” begins with “Memories”, a beautiful and haunting dedication to Meier’s late cousin Peter which features the composer’s exotic range of instruments alongside Atzmon’s sinuous Middle Eastern clarinet. Part lament, part celebration the piece also features Bettison’s harmonica and Garcia’s delightful hand percussion.
The piece segues into the “The Gate”, a jauntier piece that reflects Meier’s love of Astor Piazzolla and the sound of the tango. Meier’s guitars combine with pizzicato strings and subtly detailed percussion with Bettison’s harmonica briefly assuming the accordion’s role. Meier’s acoustic guitar solo conjures a choked intensity and Lizzie Ball’s smouldering violin solo captures something of the spirit of tango.

The second two parter, “The Lightness of the Wind” begins with the urgency of “The Wind” itself, a piece that demonstrates Meier’s virtuosity on a series of dazzling exchanges. Pieces such as this and the earlier “From Istanbul” offer dizzying examples of Meier’s skill and chops, the forests of notes and lightning runs evoking comparisons with speed merchants like John McLaughlin albeit in a different, predominately acoustic context. Here Bettison also evokes memories of another seventies fusion hero, electric bassist Jaco Pastorius, and the piece as a whole is driven by Sirkis’ dynamic drumming.
Following the pyrotechnics “The Lightness” initially offers a gentler virtuosity as Meier opens the piece with an extended passage of flamenco inspired solo guitar. The band section has an anthemic quality with Meier augmented by soaring strings, a multi faceted Pearson piano solo, and finally a n extended drum feature from the consistently excellent Sirkis who pummels hit kit above a fast circling Meier guitar motif.

Embracing many styles of music from several different corners of the globe Meier has created a colourful hybrid of his own that blends instrumental virtuosity with bright, colourful compositions and arrangements. It’s a beguiling mix that is superbly played by an excellent ensemble, each of the musicians involved deserves credit with everyone bringing something to the party even though individually they may not appear on every track.

Meier launches the album at the Pizza Express Jazz club in London on March 19th 2013 and will be touring the album throughout 2013. The full list of dates appears below.

Nicolas Meier Group ?From Istanbul to Ceuta? tour 2013
? March 19th, Pizza Express Jazz Club, Soho, London, UK
? April 5th, Nardis, Istanbul, Turkey
? May 3rd, Bedales, Petersfield, UK
? May 15th, Leicester Jazz House, Leicester, UK
? June 3rd, Beaver’s Inn, Appledore, UK
? June 4th, St-Ives Jazz Club, St-Ives, UK
? June 5th, Dempsey, Cardiff, UK
? June 7th, The Fleece, Suffolk, UKK
? June 8th, Festival Antara, London, UK
? June 9th, Guildford Jazz Club, Guildford, UK
? June 23rd, Jazz Nights, Suffolk, UK
? September 14th, King’s Place, King’s Cross, London, UK
? September 26th, The Spin, Oxford, UK
? October 23rd, Dereham Jazz Society, Dereham, UK
? November, The Rhythm Station Jazz Club, Haslingden, TBC
? November, The Boater, Kingston, UK, TBC
? December 18th, XXeme, Fribourg, Switzerland

Meier fans will also enjoy “Travels To The West”, an album released on the MGP label in November 2012. The album consists of a series of ten intimate guitar duets recorded with his Eclectica! colleague Pete Oxley during a tour of the West Country. The duo took ten guitars out on the road with them, both electric and acoustic and with a variety of steel and nylon strings. Augmented by Meier’s glissentar and baglama the pair were thus able to draw upon a wide panoply of sounds, thereby making this a more varied album than might first be supposed.

Meier and Oxley tackle a mix of original compositions plus tunes by such celebrated composers as Chick Corea, Milton Nascimento and Pat Metheny, the latter a huge inspiration to both guitarists. Although lacking the range and scope of Meier’s group recordings this is nevertheless an excellent example of a master craftsman at work, albeit in a more pared down and intimate setting. The degree of instrumental skill on offer plus the level of rapport with Oxley makes for hugely enjoyable listening.

“Travels to the West” track list;

1) Esmeralda (8:15) (Meier)
2) Vera Cruz (4:52)  (Nascimento)
3) The Butterfly Touch (6:30) (Oxley)
4) Spain (6:34) (Corea)
5) Breeze (7:54) (Meier)
6) Flight of Fancy   (6:03) (Oxley)
7) Travels (9:16) (Metheny)
8) Loddr Leaps In (4:07) (Oxley)
9) Yemin (8:03) (Meier)
10) Armando’s Rumba (3:43) (Corea)
 

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