A Renaissance Man
11/06/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Born in the U.S. to French parents, Laurent de Wilde has spent much time in both Paris and New York. He studied philosophy in one of the elite universities in France, but after graduating, decided to pursue something completely different: jazz piano. He was often associated with Eddie Henderson (trumpet) during his stay in New York; however, his solo career took off only after his return to Paris in the early '90s. "Time 4 Change" is a departure from his other recordings in that he plays the Rhodes piano and incorporates electronics. It was a big risk for someone known for cool, intellectual acoustic piano playing, but one that paid off. This recording has the excitement of a completely new sound, where cliches are thrown away and the whole band comes together to create a soundscape. Laurent de Wilde is also an author (a well-received biography on Thelonious Monk). Watch out for this man."