Album Notes

Peter Bouffard and Rusty White - Contrafactum

In the tradition of some of the great jazz guitar/bass duos such as Jim Hall & Ron Carter, Gene Bertoncini & Michael Moore, and Pat Metheny & Charlie Haden; Peter Bouffard and Rusty White have just completed a collaborative CD entitled: Contrafactum.

As the liner notes explain, much of the music on the CD is grounded on a single theme: newly composed melodies based upon the harmony of well known standard songs. The term “contrafact,” used to describe such a jazz composition, is borrowed from the Latin term “contrafactum,” which describes the historical process of text substitution in medieval chant repertories. With ten tracks in all, Contrafactum begins with Rusty’s composition “Nervous Sheep,” based on the harmony of Gerswin’s “Embraceable You” (Ewe). There are three new contrafacts composed by Peter. In addition, each player performs a solo piece on the recording. The remaining tracks include a diverse mix of compositions by Jerry Bergonzi, Frederick Chopin, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Mike Stern, all sharing the same underlying concept. While the compositions themselves are intriguing, the duo setting provides an ideal environment for the intimate, conversational improvisations contained in each piece.

“Each of these refreshing gems is exquisitely performed and improvised upon by these two masters, and a joy to behold.”

- Gene Bertoncini, internationally acclaimed jazz guitarist

“Bouffard and White present fascinating music for jazz connoisseurs. One must listen intently to catch the many harmonic and contrapuntal ingenuities of these duos, but one can also just listen and enjoy the virtuosic performance of good jazz.”

- Dr. Frank Tirro, professor of music and former dean of the Yale University School of Music, author of Jazz: A History