Tag Archives: Charles Frossard

AfuriKo, music

Oleleko

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Oleleko (AfuriKo)
©2018 AfuriKo/Funnelljazz (ASCAP/SACEM)
Recorded by Charles Frossard at Studio MESA (Soignolles-en-Brie, France) on January 4, 2018.
Djembe solo playback filmed at home in New York City!
Available sheet music: guitar | keys | violin

Akiko Horii – percussion
Jim Funnell – piano, keyboard, key bass

Although “Oleleko” remains of unknown origin, it is most likely a cheerful West African song, which must have been passed on orally until it recently reached AfuriKo’s ears! The djembe break at the beginning of the video was crafted by Akiko and weaved into the arrangement, while Jim harmonized the melody using block chords and drop 2 voicings extensively, sprinkling in a few modulations for good measure.

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AfuriKo, music

Red Dragonfly (Akatombo)

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Red Dragonfly aka Akatombo (AfuriKo)
©2016 AfuriKo/Funnelljazz (SACEM)
Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Charles Frossard at Studio MESA (Soignolles-en-Brie, France) in November and December 2015.
Available sheet music: | |

Akiko Horii – percussion
Jim Funnell – piano, keyboard, key bass

The lyrics to the song “Akatombo” are in fact a poem, written by Rofū Miki in 1921: they depict a nostalgic remembrance of a Japanese red dragonfly seen by a child at sunset.

Yûyake-koyake no akatombo.
Owarete mitano wa itsu no hi ka.

Yama no hatake no kuwa no mi o
Kokago ni tsunda wa maboroshi ka.

Jûgo de nêya wa yome ni yuki,
Osato no tayori mo taehateta.

Yûyake koyake no akatombo –
Tomatte iru yo, sao no saki.

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music, piano trio

Spirit of the Snail

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Spirit of the Snail (Jim Funnell)
©201? Jim Funnell/Funnelljazz (ASCAP?/SACEM)
Recorded by Nicolas Charlier (Videlles, France) in April 2013. Mixed and mastered by Charles Frossard at Studio MESA (Soignolles-en-Brie, France) in July and November 2014.
Available sheet music:

Jim Funnell – piano
Oliver Degabriele – bass
Thibault Perriard – drums

Spirit of the Snail is a syllable-based melting snowball set to music. The poem is about staying present and draws upon shamanic snail symbolism.

When one dawdles sweetly and considers how
calm, stillness, and contemplation reveal
the detailed beauty of slow motion,
obviousness resurfaces.
Slowness seems necessary,
in all simplicity.
No one can lock up,
deep in its shell,
the spirit
of the
snail!

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