The goal of this work was not to achieve a blend between the orchestra and its written score with the four improvisers," Lambert writes in the liner notes. It is about the meeting of two forces, the contact but mostly the resulting energy. 'Le Passant' (or 'The Vagrant') is a confrontation between the worlds of through-composed music and free improvisation. In it, players of various backgrounds and experiences cohabit with each other in a series of complex relationships of varying scope. The very life of this piece is prefaced on balancing out the compositional and improvisational elements at play here. A wanderer for some, a traveller for others, the vagrant is an individual of differing appearances, but wherever he goes he leaves traces that inspire those alert enough to follow in his footsteps."
Born to a family synonymous with classical music in his native Qubec, Lambert studied drums and composition at Boston's Berklee College of Music, attended workshops in Paris, and studied privately with saxophonist/composer Dave Liebman in New York and pianist/ composer Misha Mengelberg in Amsterdam. Since his first professional engagement with pianist/composer Milcho Leviev's trio in 1983, he has recorded extensively and performed throughout Asia, Canada, Europe and the United States. Accomplished as both a composer and visual artist, excerpts from his first orchestral work, Le Journal Des Episodes," were premiered in 1992 by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and his oil paintings earned him a commission from the Canada Council to illustrate a 4-CD compilation of Canadian music to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the United Nations. He appears on more than 50 recordings and has collaborated with musicians including Paul Bley, Gary Burton, Uri Caine, Franois Carrier, Dewey Redman, Bobo Stenson, Kenny Wheeler and his wife, jazz vocalist/poet Jeannette Lambert. His most recent recording as a leader, 2003's Out Twice (482 Music) featuring Leviev and bassist Barre Phillips among others, showcased free improvisation based on his artwork, and was called an unqualified success" (AllAboutJazz.com) and a singular release" (The Squid's Ear). More information about Lambert and his career is available at http://www.michellambert.com and http://www.nette.ca/rantjazz/
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