Jason Vieaux & Julien Labro - Infusion (2016) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

The word “fusion” as a musical genre identifier, is a loaded term. At worst, it conjures images of endlessly self-indulgent electric guitar solos, overactive drummers buried deep behind epic drum kits, and seven string electric basses strapped up way too high. At best, it has given us timeless albums that were more sui generis than the mere mashup of distinct styles that it implies. With their album Infusion, Jason Vieaux and Julien Labro suggest a subtle alternative path to stylistic integration; the effectively present several diverse performance approaches all under a concert music umbrella. Taking a staple of modern guitar chamber repertoire like Radames Gnattali’s Suite Retratos and infusing it with aspects of different improvising traditions leaves Gnattali’s structural context in place. In their arrangement of the Tears for Fears classic, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” Vieaux diligently reproduces various components of the multi-track original while infusing it with a soloing approach drawn from jazz. In Labro’s arrangement of Piazzolla’s “Escualo,” the two infuse the song with contemporary references that blend with the original material. Also featured is Leo Brouwer’s Tres Danzas Concertantes, which has been adapted by Julien Labro for this recording. Brouwer has drawn from Afro Cuban sources throughout his career, infusing his concert music with the vibrant rhythms and characteristic harmonic flavors of his native culture.

Tracklist:
1. 3 Danzas Concertantes (Arr. for Guitar & Accordion): No. 1. Allegro 03:50
2. 3 Danzas Concertantes (Arr. for Guitar & Accordion): No. 2. Andantino (quasi allegretto) 05:02
3. 3 Danzas Concertantes (Arr. for Guitar & Accordion): No. 3. Toccata 05:30
4. Antonia (arr. for guitar and accordina) 06:21
5. Suite Retratos (Arr. for Guitar, Accordion, Double Bass & Drums): I. Pixinguinha 08:46
6. Suite Retratos (Arr. for Guitar, Accordion, Double Bass & Drums): II. Ernesto Nazareth 05:37
7. Suite Retratos (Arr. for Guitar, Accordion, Double Bass & Drums): III. Anacleto de Medeiros 06:38
8. Suite Retratos (Arr. for Guitar, Accordion, Double Bass & Drums): IV. Chiquinha Gonzaga 08:08
9. Escualo (arr. J. Labro for guitar and bandoneon) 07:58
10. Everybody Wants to Rule the World (arr. for guitar and accordina) 04:58

Personnel:
Jason Vieaux (guitar)
Julien Labro (accordion, accordina, bandoneon)
Peter Dominguez (double bass)
Jamey Haddad (percussion)