Setting the tone with and elegant and dramatic piano performance, Jacques Bailhé opens Farewell My Love with intrigue and what feels like a cinematic narrative. The opus expands demonstrating instrumental mastery, as the composer shares an evocative energy with a timeless nature, showcasing a dimensional and dynamic approach.
We are mesmerized by the journey that the talented creator takes us on and the intimate, yet bold dichotomy that results in a transcendental experience. The fierce arpeggios and astral melodies have us in awe, whilst Jacques Bailhé delivers charismatic flair and precision with his performance. We appreciate the ebbs and flows and meditative respites, which truly honour the message and context of the piece.
Speaking on his artistry, Jacques Bailhé reflects, “I guess my style is reckless abandon. I like to explore ideas through instrumental music, often for narrative, or other dance.”
He continues with reference to his latest opus, “Farewell My Love is an interpretation for solo piano of Bach’s Chaconne from his Partita No. 2 originally written for solo violin. There are a number of very fine piano arrangements of it, but it’s Itzhak Perleman’s performance that, for me, best captures the passion of Bach. So many images depict him as a stuffy old man. In fact, he was anything but. My interpretation is for dance and takes great liberties with his score. The scenario portrays him at 30 years old, arriving home after a business trip with his then benefactor to find his first wife Maria dead and buried in an unmarked grave—all of which actually occurred.”
When quizzed about his influences, Jacques cites an array of visionaries including Vivaldi, Bach, Beethoven, Berg, John Adams, Gil Evans and Miles, as well as Weather Report and Miles Davis, Brian Blade and the Fellowship Band, plus Ravi Shankar, Zap Mama, Hendrix, and The Beatles, although there is no doubt that Jacques Bailhé is creating a universe of his own.
We love what Jacques Bailhé has to offer, and have added Farewell My Love to our New Music Spotlight playlist, whilst we continue to stream his wider discography including his album Shiva in Flagrante, which we learn “tells the tale of a Harley-Davidson riding Shiva falling in love with the goddess Parvati and the birth of their child.”