Jean-Max Clément – J.S. Bach Six Suites For Unaccompanied Cello (180g DMM 2LP)

Label: Analogphonic / L Oiseau-Lyre – LP43064 – 180 Gram Virgin Vinyl –
Numbered, Limited Edition Audiophile 180g Vinyl Direct Metal Master Double LP!
Pressed at Pallas in Germany!
Mastered from the Original Masters of Universal Music!

Recorded at Centre D’enregistrement
Des Champs-Élysées, 5-6/7/1958
Engineer : André Charlin
Originally released on the London label, cellist Jean-Max Clement performs Six Suites by Johann Sebastian Bach.

“He has an excellent sense of phrasing, and conveys all that one needs of the dance-like character in each movement. The solemn preludes, especially those of the C major and D minor Suites, come off beautifully, and there is plenty of contrast in timbre. Clément can develop a good, sonorous tone on his C and G strings… He certainly enjoys a far better recording acoustic than Cassadó. Jean-Max Clément is playing the arpeggio figures with clarity of technique, excellent tone, and harmonic intent.” – The Grammophone Magazine

“The Jean-Max Clément cycle has much to commend it. He’s a communicative player, and whilst some of his tempi are generally on the slower side than we are used to today, the music-making has a spontaneity, leaving the favourable impression of music freshly composed and being created on the wing. He draws a big, rich, full-bodied sound from his instrument, and his varied vibrato endows his playing with a wealth of tonal shadings. He’s not averse to the use of portamenti to obtain a particular expressive effect. Nor is he afraid of applying some tasteful rubato to enhance the line. I love the way he captures the sombre introspection of Suite No. 5, gauging to perfection the ebb and flow of the melancholy Sarabande. To the faster dance movements there’s rhythmic vitality. This is certainly a premier league set, in admirable sound for its age.” – Stephen Greenbank, Music Web International