In Paris, the Metropolitain (Paris Metro), is a structure that is symbolic of the Art Noveau, a design style and philosophy that brings art into everyday life. It seems apt that Metropolitain is also the title of Kyle Eastwood’s newest recording. He has crafted a very likeable mélange of jazz compositions that is elegant, funky and jazzy which can appeal to a wide spectrum of discerning ears.
The CD is a collaboration of musical talents from Europe and was recorded in Paris. It features players: pianist Eric Legnini, drummer Manu Katché, trumpeter Till Brönner and vocalist Camille along with Eastwood’s usual suspects: British saxophonist Graeme Blevins and pianist Andrew McCormack. In an interview featured in the the July-August issue of Venice magazine, Kyle Eastwood talks about how his passion to play jazz was born from frequent attendance of the renowned Monterey Jazz festival with his family. He was attracted to the rhythm and groove of the music as he was situated near the stage by the drums.
His initiation in music started with piano lessons, then later on while working on a film, Honky Tonk, he learned some chords on the guitar which he played in the movie. Subsequently his father (producer of the film) gave him the guitar to keep. Kyle is self-taught on the bass, and by the age of 18 he was jamming with other people, and also going to film school. He started gigging so frequently that he quit film school and got into music seriously.
On this recording he co-produced with Erin Davis (son of Miles Davis.) The Davis influence is clearly heard throughout the CD with the splashy and artful trumpet playing of Till Brönner. Kyle’s signature composition and style of laid back beats resonates as a backbone to the songs. The music is a slow drip in the vein that enraptures its audience. He commented in the Venice interview that he has been told his fingers move in his sleep - this brings forth an image of the man casting his spell.
Some of the songs lean subtly into comfortable grooves, or it can drum up a nimble and spicy beat with bass, percussion overlaid with sensuous melodies from the horns. The music leaves plenty of room for play for all instruments, including the breezy scatting by Camille in the title track Metropolitain. It is a playful interlude of an urgent trumpet that plies for Camille’s sweet arduous answer. Last track, “Live for Life”, features Toyin singing in the style of acid jazz. She raps “I dare to live for life”, and it is reminiscent of Michael Franti’s socially aware music, and the music has a lot of groove. “Bold Changes”, a composition by Brönner, starts with Eastwood’s bass intro of the melody, then Brönner’s trumpet overlays it, then swiftly jumps into a rhythmic groove that just flows like hot lava. I think this is my favorite song, but then, there’s that sweet surprise of “Song for You”, a thoughtful river bend.
The collection of music shows Kyle ability to cross over to other genres while maintaining his jazz roots. In an earlier interview with his stepmom Dina Ruiz Eastwood, she asked why he prefers jazz over pop or the other genres. His response, "Primarily there's the room for improvisation. All the instrumentalists get a chance to solo. That's what I like doing the most. I love performing live. The audience, depending on how responsive it is, can bring you to another level."
This “other level” was the intent of capturing the sound of the band live. Kyle Eastwood’s band is a hot act, and as quoted from BBC “they inject life into audiences, getting them moving and grooving.” Metropolitain can certainly do that.
Tracklisting: