snobb
Benoît Delbecq is a classically trained French pianist, and one of the brightest figures in the modern avant-garde scene in Paris. On some of his previous works, he already demonstrated a tasteful and elegant mix of contemporary classical music, avant-garde jazz improvs and aerial ambient sound. "Fun House" is all that and much more - first of all, the music recorded on here is played by the quite rare format of a double trio.
Besides Benoît Delbecq's usual collaborators; bassist Jean-Jacques Avenel and drummer Steve Arguelles, you also hear the adventurous trio of American pianist Fred Hersch (containing the excellent rhythm section of bassist Mark Helias and drummer Gerry Hemingway) playing simultaneously. This album's music is still pure Delbecq - easily accessible from the first impression, in fact, it's also knotty and quirky enough to attract even most adventurous listeners as well. Also, it is not far from what you would expect from a double trio - not too intensive or dense, but very aerial and elegant, even fragile in moments. The interplay between the two trios is excellent, and it's great to hear how Hersh's trio gives some tactful, yet adventurous jazzy support to the more third-stream rooted Delbecq trio.
The music on "Fun House" varies between classical, avant-garde, relaxed free-form well-framed jazz and ECM-type ambience, as well as some more traditional jazz roots (more or less the three first components are all presented in equal proportions). Probably it's symptomatic that 'House" closes with a psychedelic version of Ornette Coleman's "Lonely Woman".
Overall, this is a very modern well balanced mix between European classical and American jazz avant-garde traditions, with touches of non-elevator ambient sound. "Fun House" is one of the best examples of a continuing evolution in jazz.