François Tusques "Piano Dazibao"

Legendary French avant/jazz pianist Francois Tusques is considered to be one of the first European musicians to embrace what was to become known as "free jazz", releasing an album in 1965 by that very name with Bernard Vitet and Michel Portal in the group. Tusques recorded the incredible 'Intercommunal Music' album for Shandar in 1971 with Alan Shorter, Steve Potts, Alan Silva and Sunny Murray in his band. Mr. Tusques went on to record with Sunny Murray ('Big Chief'), Byard Lancaster('Funky Funky Rib Crib') and Clifford Thorton ('The Panther & the Lash').
A year before 'Intercommunal Music', Francois Tusques recorded this a solo piano offering, quite different from his group effort in 1971. The title of this album, 'Dazibao' refers to "wall newspapers in which the Red Guards expressed their opinions during the proletarian cultural revolution in China". All of the song titles are equally political, translated and explained inside in the liner notes. Beginning with "Let a Hundred Flowers Bloom", Francois' playing is not that free, but it expressive and thoughtfully explored, like a gospel theme slowly expanded. "Mister Don Cherry Understood That..." takes a somber South African-like melody and slowly turns it inside out with charming results, eventually expanding into more intense two handed flourishes. For "Sunny, Archie, Clifford, same Combat", Tusques showers waves of notes with pedal pressed down in a most Don Pullen-like way. "The Revolution is a Blood Transfusion, Here is the Sea, Here is Life" features the left hand playing a more simple melody while the right hand plays quick spiraling notes. What I like most about this disc is the way the liner note discuss what is behind each title while Mr. Tusques gives us thoughtful, provocative piano excursions to consider each piece. The sentiment, the vibe of each piece goes hand-in-hand with the words of explanation. Each piece works on its own as well, even without an explanation. Francois Tusques is still alive as far I know, at least he was when he stopped in at our store a few years back. He hasn't recorded since 1998 and had recorded infrequently before that. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery

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