Interviews - Jean Louis

Jean Louis is listed on Progarchives under the RIO/Avant Prog header. They released their first album, also named Jean Louis, in 2008, and their second came out at the end of 2010. They are a trio, and their music is very jazzy. I was able to get in touch with them for an interview.

http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=4794" rel="nofollow - PA Profile

http://www.myspace.com/tranchemusic" rel="nofollow - Webpage

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Your debut album was released in 2008. What were the events that lead up to the recording of it?

In 2008 we had done music together for two years. Our first album is like a potograph of this period, in wich we spent more time in cellar than on stage.

What are your thoughts about the first album?

Maybe we like it more today than two years ago, because we can listen to it with more detachment.

What was the recording process like?

It's a studio album, with a live approach, without overdubbing. It took 4 days to record it. We gave priority to energy and interplay.

Your first album has gained quite a cult following on progarchives, especially among those who are strongly into more avant-garde material. What are your thoughts on being categorised as a prog band?

We never thought of being a prog/band.

How has the reception to your music been elsewhere?

Strangly, our music is pretty well accepted in the jazz circuit.

You recently released your second album, Morse. Unfortunately, my copy is still somewhere in the mail between Wayside Music and my house, so I haven't heard it. Regardless, I'd like to ask a few questions about it. How does this second album compare to your debut, in terms of the way it was created? Did anything you learned after the release of your debut change the way you recorded your second?

For the recording of this second album, we playd all together in the same room, so the sound is less precise but more compact. We were more stressed; apparently for most of bands, the second album is always more difficult than the first. However we got into new approaches in composing and improvising with this album ; we've been playing some of those tunes on stage for a while and there are also tunes that we actually composed within the studio. We also put some extra instruments as bass, guitar or ms20

I know it is still quite new, but what are your thoughts on Morse, as an album?

It's not so new, we recorded it more than one year ago. It took time to released it. Is always difficult to judge their own work and if we say that the album sucks, anyone buys it, then, it's a beautiful album.

How has the reception been so far?

Pretty good for the moment

What are your plans, going forward?

We'd like to meet new artists to work with. In April we'll collaborate with Akosh S, an interesting hungarian saxophonist. We'd also like to play in the States one of these days.

Who are some artists who have influenced you?

the list is long: Fred Frith, Fela Kuti, Zu, Blurt, The Ex, Thelonious Monk, Igor Stravinsky......and a lot of musicians whose names are not mentioned on the albums of Gamelan music from Java and Bali or bulgarian female voices.

What are your favorite song(s) you have recorded?

It's a song we'll record in forty years.

And lastly, for my own curiosity, why did you guys choose the name Jean Louis? :)

because we are weirdos and wanted to be sure not to have to much success ha ha ha... (poverty is good for creativity)

Much thanks to the band for taking the time to answer my questions!