Les Égarés
Ballake Sissoko/Vincent Segal/Emile Parisien/Vincent Peirani
ACT Music
★★★★★
The 2023 album Les Égarés has brought together for the first time the two established duos of kora player Sissoko and cellist Segal with saxophonist Parisien and piano accordionist Peirani. The genesis of this union occurred in 2019 when the duos were separately performing at Nuits de Fourviere, a long-standing annual arts festival held in Lyon, France. It was Vincent Segal who recognized the potential symbiosis of the four and suggested this be tested with some informal playing. The results promised much. Each brought a wealth of special and varied music to the table, played with joy and mutual respect. Over ensuing years many performances on European stages led to this recording.
The French word “egares” means “gone astray or lost” and is an apt reference for this diverse album which fuses elements of folk, jazz and classical playing styles. Perhaps “chamber jazz” is also appropriate given the presence of Segal’s cello and Sissoko’s harp like kora.
There are ten pieces including two traditional Malian songs contributed by Sissoko and three Segal compositions including the title track La Chanson des Égarés (Song of the lost). There are also re-interpretations of earlier works of prominent others, firstly pianist Joe Zawinul’s emblematic “Orient express”, then accordionist Mark Perrone’s “Esperanza” and finally John Coltrane’s “Amenhotop” with Parisien’s mesmerizing soprano saxophone to the fore. The songs have been well chosen. They are sometimes lilting, at times dance-like and played with great finesse both individually and collectively.
The Sissoko / Segal duo has recorded four prior albums. Worthy of special mention are the 2015 album “Musique de nuit” and the 2021 album “Djourou” both of which are also highly recommended.
By Robert Vale