Marie-Fatima Rudolf: Songbird's Prayer

Filmed and Edited by Randy Cole

Marie-Fatima Rudolf - Piano
Jim Vivian - Bass
John Fraboni - Drums

The darling of the Montreal Jazz scene, Marie-Fatima Rudolf has emerged as one of most promising new talents in Canada. Her recording project 'Songbird's Prayer' has propelled her forward in a giant creative and professional leap, placing her alongside mentor Jim Vivian, and sought after drum phenom John Fraboni.

Vivian is among a select group of internationally prized Canadian bassists you can count on one hand, and has clearly embraced Rudolf's palpable, radiant emotional tone. Fraboni's years-long soaking in the musical gumbo of New Orleans shines through in this performance, as does his close association with drummer Johnny Vidacovich.

There is a certain glint of mastery here. Indeed, Rudolf's sparkle extends from her smile through to her fingertips, and seems rooted in an unusual, and exquisite sensitivity. Shades of Wynton Kelly and Bill Evans are here, but Rudolf's feminine sensibility carries the material in a different direction, as does her strong chemistry with her sidemen.

As a film maker, I am conscious of how a Jazz musician does or does not repeat material from take to take; I sometimes rely on repeated material to blend clips in post production. Well, Marie-Fatima, like other highly creative players, simply does not play the same thing twice. In her choice of chord voicing, arrangement, or even the fundamental structure of her solo, each take in the studio is utterly unique. This presents a terrible dilemma for the filmmaker!

I have seen this earnest invention before in the work of Al McLean, and I have heard the rare quality while listening to outtakes of classic recording by John Coltrane. This total in-the-moment inventiveness shows us something stark and stirring about the player; about spirit, and about courage. Bravo!

To learn more about 'Songbird's Prayer', visit http://www.mariefatimarudolf.com

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Marie-Fatima Rudolf
• Jim Vivian
• John Fraboni
• Wynton Kelly
• Bill Evans
• John Vidacovich
• Poetry
• Jazz
• Improv
• Montreal
• New Orleans
• Funk
• Fusion
• Piano

[PianoJordo]

Love the playing on this video!! Hopefully you can bring your music out to western Canada...

[altrane40]

Wow! Awesomely Beautiful!!

[weejimmykranky]

Another super video, loving all of your Jazz, Period. films. Thanks for sharing :)

[SJNVideo]

great video, nice montage and writing as well !