Ping Machine: RANDOM ISSUES

Fred Maurin - guitar, composition, direction; Jean-Michel Couchet - alto saxophone, soprano saxophone; Fabien Debellefontaine - alto saxophone, clarinet, flute; Florent Dupuit - tenor saxophone, flute, alto flute, piccolo flute; Julien Soro - tenor saxophone; Guillaume Christophel - baritone saxophone; Fabien Norbert - trumpet, flugelhorn; Andrew Crocker - trumpet; Sylvain Bardiau - trumpet, flugelhorn; John Knight - trombone; Fidel Fourneyron - trombone, tuba; Raphaël Schwab - double bass; Rafael Koerner - drums Guests: Benjamin Moussay - Piano, Celesta & Fender Rhodes; Stephan Caracci - Vibraphone

Instrumental Impact

Ping Machine represents the energy with which the closely-knit 13 musicians play the pieces by composer, leader, and guitarist Fred Maurin. On RANDOM ISSUES, they present new compositions that emerged during concerts in 2009. Fred Maurin has moved away from his influences (Gil Evans, Charles Mingus, Carla Bley, Frank Zappa), resulting musically in the embodiment of colors and a variety of moods. His strong narrative style is expanded by the creativity of individual soloists. "Machination," as the centerpiece of the album, encompasses all of this. The title track, "Random Issues," is probably the best opener one could imagine for this production. Not just because of its name but because it impressively guides the listener into the sonic world of Ping Machine.

Ping Machine represents the richness of the new jazz scene in France, which is in search of new goals: priority for sound material, multiple forms and themes, always developed with a true sense of theatricality and impact; collective listening and joy in playing. The driving force of this project is the spontaneity in the conversation among the musicians, which has emerged through regular performances and has enabled Ping Machine to win several awards (SPEDIDAM, SACEM, Sunset/Sunside Trophies, etc.). Ping Machine is a member of Grands Formats, the significant French association for large orchestras in jazz and improvised music. Fred Maurin has since reinforced his ensemble. In addition to extremely consistent musicians, he has also recruited top-notch soloists from the young Parisian scene: saxophonist Julien Soro, trumpeter Sylvain Bardiau, and trombonist Fidel Fourneyron. The young drummer Rafael Koerner, who has been with the ensemble from the beginning, continues to enrich the orchestra with his true musicality.

Guests on the album include vibraphonist Stephan Caracci (also a colleague of Hervé Sellin and Inama) and Benjamin Moussay on keyboards, who significantly shapes the three tracks on which he plays.

More information at www.ping-machine.com

Press:

"... the segments seem like corals strung together on a chain, related in their rough form but each having its own shape and structure."

RONDO 01/10

"... a self-production of the Ludwigsburg Bauer Studios, is an example of how orchestral big band sound can be completely different. (...) Remarkable are the unusual instrument combinations."

JAZZPODIUM 11/09

"Fred Maurin gives the orchestral sound a true brilliance (...) Drive, sense of theatrics and impact, color and dynamics..."

Jazz Magazine 06/08

"One listens to the music jubilantly as the band plays."

Dernières Nouvelles du Jazz 06/08

"Ping Machine strikes hard with this very impressive second album. (...) An enchanting record like a Merlin of the great days."

Criss Cross Jazz 11/09

Fred Maurin - Guitar, Composition & Direction

Growing up with Frank Zappa, Jimi Hendrix, and King Crimson, he, after completing an engineering degree, first graduated from the Bourg-La-Reine Conservatory in 2005, and received his state-certified diploma in Jazz Education in 2007. In 2006, he was awarded "Best Composer" at the Sunset-Sunside Trophies (the top jazz club in Paris), and in 2008, he won the first prize for non-classical film music at "Musiques en Courts" 2008 with the electro-acoustic duo Tred Anor. He plays in the grindcore/free trio Cartel Carnage and collaborates with François Jeanneau (Spoumj) as well as the classical/contemporary conductor Christophe Mangou (Amalgammes) on sound paintings.

Julien Soro - Tenor Saxophone

Graduated with honors from the CNSMDP (French National Conservatory in Paris) in 2008. In 2007, he was awarded "Best Soloist" for jazz at the Saint-Germain-des-Près Festival Contest and "Best Band" with INAMA; "Second Best Composition" at the La Défense National Jazz Contest. He plays with Chicken Fate 4tet, his own quartet Big Four, and the Franco-Finnish trio Captain Is Coming. "Julien Soro rightfully takes his place here as the first solo tenor saxophonist." (Franck Bergerot, Jazz Magazine's chief editor).

Jean-Michel Couchet - Alto & Soprano Saxophone

Couchet collaborates with Simon Goubert, Emmannuel Borghi, Sean Gourley, Christian Vander, Ricky Ford, Ernesto Tito Puentes Big Bang. In 1996, he received the Django d'Or award for "Best Recording" with the Simon Goubert Quintet.

Sylvain Bardiau - Trumpet & Flugelhorn

Bardiau is a trumpeter and composer who performs with Little Big Campanie des Musiques à Ouir, Calypso Rose, Shuba-K, Les Faux Frères, Winston Mac Anuff. Since 2006, he has been building the trio Journal Intime (with Fred Gastard and Matthias Mahler), collaborating with various artists such as André Minvielle and Jacques Higelin.

Fidel Fourneyron - Trombone & Tuba

Currently completing his degree at the CNSMDP (French National Conservatory in Paris). He has played with Glenn Ferris, Michel Portal, Marc Ducret, and recorded for Randy Brecker, Denis Leloup, Raoul de Souza, and Leroy Jones. Additionally, Fourneyron directs the Mobilhorns Brass Ensemble. In 2007, he received the "Best Band" award with Radiation 10 at the La Défense National Jazz Contest.

Rafael Koerner - Drums

Rafael Koerner graduated from the Bourg-La-Reine Conservatory in 2005. In the same year, he was awarded "Best Soloist" at the European Jazz Schools Contest. He plays with Chicken Fate 4tet, Big Four, and Taranta-Babu.

Raphaël Schwab - Double Bass

Graduating from the CNSMDP (French National Conservatory in Paris) in 2009, he studied with Riccardo Del Fra and collaborates with various ensembles from classical to jazz throughout France.