Pianist François Couturier and violinist Dominique Pifarély, major figures in French improvisation, have played together in many projects over the last 30 years, including their duo, which made its recording debut for ECM with the remarkable Poros in 1997.

Preludes and Songs, carries the story forward, with its programme including music by both players as well as pieces by Jacques Brel, Duke Ellington, George Gershwin and J.J. Johnson. With sensibilities informed by jazz and contemporary composition, Couturier and Pifarély channel the wide-ranging repertoire into compelling, starkly expressive music.

1. Le surcroît I
2. La chanson des vieux amants
3. A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley / Les ombres II
4. Les ombres I / Lament
5. Le surcroît II
6. Song for Harrison / Solitude
7. Vague
8. What us
9. I loves you Porgy

Having been recorded in the exceptional acoustics of Reitstadel Neumarkt, in October 2023, and produced by Manfred Eicher, the album opens on the jaggedly strident nature of Le surcroît I (a title from a collection of poetry by André du Bouchetand) the flourishing La chanson des vieux amants, and they are followed by an aching yearn / dutiful clutch that winds throughout A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley / Les ombres II and the delicate / confident Les ombres I / Lament.

With this equally diverse helping of jazz standards and original compositions by Couturier and Pifarély, they continue onward with the veritably ethereal Le surcroît II and that is in turn followed by the demure / garnished Song for Harrison / Solitude (the former a reflective portrait of François Couturier’s dog, the latter a reimagined Duke Ellington cut), the ornately polished Vague, rounding out on the stylized What us, closing on the luxuriant I loves you Porgy.

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