Reviews
“I’d never listened to traditional Breton Music until I happened to attend a concert by Alizé. One can hear the similarities to traditional Celtic (Irish and Scottish) music, but Breton music has a unique lilt of its own that I find captivating. Both in the concert and this recording, Alizé achieves a gentler sound than other Breton groups by avoiding the more strident traditional instruments such as the bombarde (a sort of nuclear-force oboe) and the biniou bihan (Breton bagpipes), instead relying mainly on the fiddle, classical flute, and guitar. But what makes Alizé stand head and shoulders above others is the accomplished musicality of their arrangements and their performance. Listening to them is a joy.” --Jim Murphy
“Absolutely extraordinary CD! Virtuosity on all fronts!”
--Tom Hodgson, guitarist
"I'm really enjoying your group's sound and the arrangements you've created. One thing that sets you apart is that you don't try to force it into the pop scene, or jazz everything up -- you let the music, in its natural simplicity and complexity, speak for itself. I particularly like your arrangement of the Gavotte (paired with Marche de Skelton). I look forward to hearing your next album when the time comes!" -- Susan Wadel
“What makes Alizé stand head and shoulders above others is the accomplished musicality of their arrangements and their performance. Listening to them is a joy, and this recording is sonically excellent.”
--Jim Murphy
“What great music and what colorful sound you all have. A very special combination of folks - a real treat!”
--Debra Moree, professor of Viola, Ithaca College
"Alize is a formidable, totally wonderful CD, great guitar work. I really loved it. Especially the way it kept grabbing my ear as in the endings and unexpected segues, all that stuff. Yeah man. When I got to track 14, I just let it start over." --Harvey
