Music of the Day, 17 August 2023

how about some French jazz to brighten your day?

Yesterday’s featured song prompted a flurry of memories around being a flautist and some of the great flute music I’ve heard across several genres. This album may be the best, however: Claude Bolling and Jean-Pierre Rampal’s first Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano Trio, released in 1975.

But I’m getting ahead of myself already. I remembered that my adoration of Jean-Pierre Rampal’s impeccable artistry contributed to my snobbery regarding Ian Anderson’s style on the flute, which is legendary in its own right. Then I remembered that I once owned a seven-album set by Rampal, titled The Art of the Flute … and may still have it. Sure enough, I found it this morning, with a few other albums I deemed worth keeping years ago when I exited Ohio for a new life and relationship. In all honesty, I don’t know if I’ve ever listened to all seven albums; a quick look at them showed each to be amazingly scratch- and warp-free.

In a career that began with 78 rpm records and ended in the CD era, Rampal was not just the world’s foremost flautist: he pursued the dual missions of boosting the flute’s prominence as a classical and solo instrument and expanding the popularity of Baroque music. In addition to his prodigious output there, he recorded a few albums of Japanese melodies, the aforementioned jazz, and even a cover album of Scott Joplin’s ragtime songs.

French jazz pianist Claude Bolling wrote all the music for Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano Trio, with the flute part specifically for Rampal. The record was such a hit that they followed it up in 1987 with Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano 2 (which also has cheeky cover art). Both are collections of lovely, bright piano and flute music, bolstered by deft support from drums and double bass. But my favorite song on the first album features a rare treat.

Most people who know anything about classical instruments know of the flute and the piccolo. Do you know that there’s also an alto flute… and even a bass flute? As these instruments have a larger diameter and length than the standard flute, they require more breath from the flautist—and are quieter instruments.

Their sound is well worth seeking out, though. Even in their upper registers, there’s none of the shrillness that can creep into the flute’s tone. Instead, it’s warm, rich, and silky. In “Versatile,” Rampal starts out on the bass flute and near the end, switches to his luscious gold flute, providing easy comparison of the two instruments.

For both albums, Bolling created a masterful fusion of jazz and Baroque styles. Together, they contain about 90 minutes of some of the most beautiful music I’ve ever heard.

But don’t take my word for it; both albums are presented below for your listening pleasure. Here’s the first, with the sheet music shown throughout.

Here’s a playlist for the second album (I couldn’t find a video of the full album, sorry).

I know I’ve given Claude Bolling short shrift here—I’m just so excited about sharing some tasty bass flute with you and I’ve gone on for too long already. Bolling has given several other instruments similar attention as the flute; a quick search on his name on Amazon revealed that guitar is one of them. Anyone familiar with Bolling’s other collabs is welcome to join the discussion. I’m eager to explore them and would appreciate suggestions.