October 1997

Renaud Garcia-Fons
Legendes
Enja Records

By Marcela Breton

This solo bass release shows Garcia-Fons to be a formidable talent. The only standard is "Like Someone in Love," and what a gorgeous interpretation Garcia-Fons provides, with the other 11 tunes original compositions. A master of the bow technique, Garcia-Fons' playing explores all of the rich sonorities and tonalities of the bass. His music is layered and complex. He achieves an arsenal of sound effects on "Sesame" and "Inanga," with a Middle Eastern air to the latter tune. On the close to "Moreno," the bass becomes a flamenco guitar. "La Guitare a King Kong" has Garcia-Fons jamming on the bass as if it were an electric guitar. His singsong humming adds to the wild intensity of this tune. "Funamble" is a dark meditation. Not only can Garcia-Fons play like the devil, he has something to say as well. All of the numbers are deep, intriguing, and intelligent.