snobb Outside of France, Parisienne pianist Sophia Domanchich is mostly known because of her association with British Canterbury scene leading artists, such as Gong drummer Pip Pyle (who was her partner for some years) and, more significant, former Soft Machine members, sax player Elton Dean and bassist Hugh Hopper.

In her homeland, she is a renown musician and composer, active in both classical music and jazz. She started her career in music as an accompanist in Paris Opera, it was Steve Lacy(among others), who introduced her to jazz in the late 70s. Since then she has been a significant figure on the French scene, often combining modern concert hall music and jazz.

"Le Grand Jour"("The Great Day") is her newest to date album (and first original release of just revitalized French jazz label PeeWee!). Domancich presents eleven of her originals here (plus an opener - John Lewis "Jango"). She does here what she knows best - plays solo acoustic piano and (simultaneously) Fender Rhodes. The music can be described as elegant chamber jazz, influenced more by Satie than Chopin. Sophia's compositions are of an elegant cool beauty, opposite to the French scene's Montmartre sentimentality. The ascetic use of electric piano in moments recalls the sound of church organ, in other places it adds a rock song feel, in both cases it makes solo piano sounds more lively.

Being quite accessible, this album's music is of a multilayered origin, every listening opens new elements and emotions, again and again. It's like an Old Paris architecture - you can enjoy looking at these old Cathedrals and buildings again and again, never being bored.

snobb French pianist Sophia Domancich is best known for her twenty-years of collaboration with the leading bands and solo artists of the Canterbury scene, including Pip Pyle, Elton Dean, Hugh Hopper,etc,etc. Her solo works are less known, especially outside of France, which is a shame - she is a classically-trained pianist with a series of really interesting albums, coming from more than two decades.

Her live album "Courtepointe", recorded in Paris' Sunside club, is not her first album of such origin: three years earlier she released similar acoustic trio work, recorded live in Sunside as well (with the extraordinary rhythm section of drummer Hamid Drake and bassist William Parker).

"Courtepointe" is an acoustic trio album as well, with Hamid Drake again, this time paired with bassist Mark Helias. Once tagged as a "better writer than improviser", Sophia finds great balance of both components on this album. Her chamber sensibilities with a touch of French romanticism are perfectly balanced by the freewheeling and groovy American rhythm section.

This gig doesn't sound as much like a hot-wired free-jazz American club night, it's more of an elegant and even stylish French one. Her trio plays exclusively originals, coming proportionally from each member, combining tuneful slightly melancholic Sophia's almost-chamber songs with more full-blooded groovy and quite free compositions coming from Drake and Helias. Probably this album's main value comes from how well balanced this live show sounds. Each musician uses his strong sides and gets support from her/his colleagues, as a result all the music isn't chaotic at all, but lively, well-rounded modern cosmopolitan jazz.