Hugo 'Droopy' Contini - 'Strikes Back !'

Hugo Contini Strikes Back !

"I just can't bear my first album anymore man, I gotta record another one !"

Hugo Contini was the main subject of the first RawBounce experiment, "Surpriscording", and
it was definately some quick'n'dirty mish mash of various things he wanted to play at that
moment.

So for his next project he wanted something a little more thought-out, a little more coherent: this album is a healthy mix of standards and originals (one by the late great belgian guitarist René Thomas, the other by Contini himself, as he turned a Jackie McLean lick into a gritty blues).

Originally, the recording was planned as a 5tet, with Julien 'Pov' Weyer on piano: but sadly
he couldn't make it to the gig because he sustained a burglary just the morning of the session !

So the whole thing was almost cancelled, but we decided to switch gears and have
Anthony Hocquard, a young and talented RawBounce newcomer, play a more rythm oriented
guitar role. Unsure at first, Hugo Contini was very pleased with the results, as it gives
a lighter, airier feel to the sound of the band.

I like how you can feel the band cookin' more and more as the listening goes on, because
this album is all first takes and in the setlist is almost in the same order as it was recorded.
It starts smoothly with the first Cut, then Hugo Contini gets deep into the second track:
notice Ed Mars hot fills on the third cut, or the guitar amp getting cranked as the
band plays louder.

But we weren't quite through, because adapting the repertoire for a 4tet took
somewhat longer than we thought, and even though he had already stayed for half an hour more than planned, Ed Mars, our drummer just had to call it a day when the session was almost over:
It turned out into playing the last take, the classic Rodgers & Hart ballad, in a lovely, intimist
duet featuring Contini and Hocquard.

All 'n all, it sure was one raw & bouncy session.

-Slikk Tim, September 30th, Nancy