Search - Philippe Saisse :: Masques

The one I prefer of his three cds released up to now.

Torquemada | Atlanta, Georgia USA / Madrid, Spain. | 02/15/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have the "alternative" version of this cd. It was released one year before, under a different record label, is called "Dream catcher", has a more attractive cover, and two extra tracks not included on this one ("Crystal flight" and the title track). The rest of the album is the same, though the tracks are in a different order (yes, record companies do that, see my review of TOTO's latest).Having said this, the album is highly recommendable to anyone looking for great keyboard and piano playing. It is of those albums you can happily listen to six years later and still enjoy, despite of the technical sounds it contains (you know how some sounds inevitably start sounding "old" after a while, which is not the case here). Almost any of the tracks are great, because of the mix of jazz, blues, pop and a touch of new age. Saisse has great people playing on this album (Kirk Whalum, Bill Evans, Andy Snitzer, Marcus Miller, Victor Bailey, Jonathan butler), some of them were not so famous at that moment (Chris Botti), and they all bring in a personal touch at one moment or another. My personal favourites are "Images" (it has something powerfully tragical plus the guitar of Jonathan Butler), "Madison Rose" and "Masques", the Bluesy-pop "Me and the Boyz", and "prelude", with its Parisian ambiance.A pity this collection didn't include "Dream catcher" every lover of David Benoit and the Rippingtons" would have enjoyed.If you feel curiosity about Philippe Saisse, you can go to earlier albums of Jarreau (L is for lover for instance), and find out this man didn't come out of the blue. His two follow ups are more technical (more machine) and experimental, thus "harder". Besides I will always have this one as a reference for personal reasons (I first listened to it flying back from Paris after ending a dangerous liaison...).One more thing : if you like to jump back in time and compare, listen to some of the things people like Jean Michel Jarre or David Foster have done."

A delicious musical journey

A Real Music Fan | Atlanta, GA USA | 08/08/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I first heard the song "Masques" on the radio on one of the new jazz stations in Atlanta, when they didnt have DJ's...imagine how annoying it could be when you have no idea who's song it is and resort to leaving voice mails on the radio stations answering machine. Thankfully they called me back. Every song has a different flavor...for many different occasions. I love "Madison Rose", it is my "therapy" song....gets me into almost a meditative state and is so relaxing. "Proko-Groove" is great for.....uh, imaginative activities and "Images" is great for driving down a long stretch of highway. His music has so many different canvases, it's like visiting an art gallery in your head. Check it out, you will not be disappointed, if only for the title track, "Masques"...a very infectious groove that has a tendency to stick in your head long after listening to the song."

Colorful arrangement&elegant tones

Sound Profiler | Example:SHIBUYAKU,TOKYO,JAPAN | 06/26/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This famous keyboardist& producer can make miracle happen.This CD isn't an easy smooth jazz album.This album has some kind of healing taste & mysteriousness.This European origin musician can set his own music to the next higher level.That is why is called innovator&sound designer.If you wanna hear some funky stuff with a jazz twist,this is it.PHILIPPE wrote a imaginative sound scroll that nobody can create.This is like a mind journey scape that PHILIPPE went through."