ALC_0154_The Bolling Project

Music shops are organized by genres. The curious audiophile may direct his or her attention to Baroque music, to Renaissance polyphony, to Italian opera, or to jazz music. When this album will be released, however, music store owners will have to make an aesthetical – as well as marketing – choice. Where should this recording be displayed? In the classical or in the jazz department? The dilemma will not be too unsolvable for larger shops, where the crossover section is already in use; and, indeed, the two Suites for Flute and Jazz Piano Trio by Claude Bolling are prototypes of the crossover genre.
Claude Bolling was one of the most important and best-known French jazz musicians; here too, however, the label of “jazz musician” is both appropriate and limiting. He was much more than just that. He was an appreciated composer, and he penned countless soundtracks for movies, TV shows, radio broadcasts etc.; and he cooperated with the Gotha of jazz music, but also of French songs, and of “pure” classical music. Doubtlessly, Jean-Pierre Rampal, who commissioned the first Suite in 1975, is to be ranked as one of the most important classical flutists in music history. Yet, as it frequently happens with great artists, he was not completely satisfied by the huge repertoire of classical flute music. Reportedly, he used to say: “I adore jazz music, without knowing how to play it, but I dream of having some kind of experience with jazz musicians”.