Michel Herr : LP Solis Lacus

Solis Lacus

Tracks :

1. Utopic cities (M. Herr)
2. Peace please (M. Herr)
3. Open air (M. Herr)
4. Little green man (M. Herr)
5. Sea of tranquillity (M. Herr)
6. Remake (M. Herr)

Musicians :

Richard Rousselet - trumpet, flugelhorn, percussion
Robert Jeanne - tenor & soprano saxophone
Michel Herr - piano, Fender Rhodes electric piano, various keyboards
Nick Kletchkovsky - electric bass
Bruno Castellucci - drums, percussion
or
Félix Simtaine - drums (in Peace Please & Remake)

Recorded in April 1974 ("Remake" and "Peace please") and May 1975 (all other titles) at Madeleine studio, Brussels. Commercial release of the LP in 1975, first by B. Sharp (1001) (blue color cover), then by EMI/IBC (4C062 96949) (cover at top of page).

It was later reissued on the cd Michel Herr : Perspective / Solis Lacus, coupled with the Perspective album.

In June 2012, the album was reissued in France by Heavenly Sweetness, both as a LP and a CD, and with a brand new booklet. See the page on their website. The album is also available on iTunes.

See also a photo gallery of Solis Lacus.

The very first release of the album was on the Selection label & publishing company (B), not a public release, aimed at professionals of the media (radio+tv/film illustration).

In March 2022, it was reissued with an identical cover (see below) by SDBan Records (B) and made available as a limited vinyl edition and as a download. See the website.



			Solis Lacus Tracks : 1. Utopic cities (M. Herr) 2. Peace please (M. Herr) 3. Open air (M. Herr) 4. Little green man (M. Herr) 5. Sea of tranquillity (M. Herr) 6. Remake (M. Herr) Musicians : Richard Rousselet - trumpet, flugelhorn, percussion Robert Jeanne - tenor & soprano saxophone Michel Herr - piano, Fender Rhodes electric piano, various keyboards Nick Kletchkovsky - electric bass Bruno Castellucci - drums, percussion or Félix Simtaine - drums (in Peace Please & Remake) Recorded in April 1974 ("Remake" and "Peace please") and May 1975 (all other titles) at Madeleine studio, Brussels. Commercial release of the LP in 1975, first by B. Sharp (1001) (blue color cover), then by EMI/IBC (4C062 96949) (cover at top of page). It was later reissued on the cd Michel Herr : Perspective / Solis Lacus, coupled with the Perspective album. In June 2012, the album was reissued in France by Heavenly Sweetness, both as a LP and a CD, and with a brand new booklet. See the page on their website. The album is also available on iTunes. See also a photo gallery of Solis Lacus. The very first release of the album was on the Selection label & publishing company (B), not a public release, aimed at professionals of the media (radio+tv/film illustration). In March 2022, it was reissued with an identical cover (see below) by SDBan Records (B) and made available as a limited vinyl edition and as a download. See the website.

					The press / La presse "Remarquable retour aux années 70 avec le jazz fusion de Michel Herr. C'est un grand disque, et qui fonctionne toujours, suffit d'écouter "Utopic cities" ou "Little green man" pour s'en rendre compte : ce jazz fusion reste jouissif... Pour le pianiste, ce Solis Lacus est un jalon dans une histoire. Pour moi, c'est un coup de coeur." Jean-Claude Vantroyen, Le Soir (B). "Entre jazz cuivré classique et fusion, Solis Lacus est d'abord un super-groupe réunissant des pointures comme Michel Herr aux claviers, Richard Rousselet à la trompette, Robert Jeanne au saxophone et Bruno Castellucci ou Félix Simtaine à la batterie en plus de Nick Kletchkovsky (Placebo) à la basse électrique. Le jeu de Michel Herr au Fender Rhodes est d'une limpidité exemplaire, procurant à l'ensemble un groove constant et souterrain (Open Air et Peace Please). Felix Simtaine installe un rythme funky jubilatoire (Remake) tandis que Rousselet s'impose par son sens mélodique aiguisé et sa sonorité claire (Utopic Cities). Même quand le quintet met la pédale douce sur un Sea of Tranquility affublé d'une introduction atmosphérique, ça continue à swinguer avec humeur. Pas étonnant qu'avec cette musique à la fois moderne et accessible, Michel Herr et ses acolytes aient réussi en plein milieu des seventies à ramener une partie du public dans le giron du jazz. Et la meilleure c'est qu'aujourd'hui, 35 années plus tard, Solis Lacus n'a encore pris aucune ride." Pierre Dulieu, Dragon Jazz (website). "...an absolute gem...Utopic Cities brings luminaries made for Creed Taylor at CTI to mind. Is the music that strong ? Not too far off it, as it goes... This definitely stands with the best of fusion coming out of Europe in the seventies. Highly recommended and without a weak track from start to finish." Malcom Prangel (Echoes, the UK's main Black Music monthly with the best coverage of the funkier side of jazz).