Le Revenant (“The Ghost”) is inspired by a poem of the same title written by French poet Charles Baudelaire. The work comes from a larger collection of poetry called “Fleurs du Mal”, or “Flowers of Evil.” The poems in this collection center around themes of decadence and eroticism. In Le Revenant, an individual is haunted at night by a reoccurring vision of a ghost. This phenomenon is represented by the main theme reappearing in various forms throughout the piece—at certain times angry and brooding, and at other times, lonesome and morose.
"The contemporary offering is Jessup’s own work, Le Revenant (The Ghost), a mysterious improvisatory molto perpetuo inspired by a poem by Baudelaire, which reveals Jessup’s skill as a composer as well as a pianist. Skittering and unsettling, the music charts an intriguing path, leaving the listener to wonder where it might go next."
“Le Revenant (The Ghost), develops from its opening tritone theme into a mysterious, skittering moto perpetuo that is impressive for the quality of the playing, and its coherence as a composition."
"There is a sly intelligence running through this piece [Le Revenant] that I found entrancing. Yes, there are ghosts of other composers hovering around but Jessup the composer as much Jessup the pianist is very much his own man."
"This piece [Le Revenant] is a remarkable standout on a collection of already impressive tracks. From a dissonant beginning, the piece evolves into a wave of the unexpected, with a sharp, bouncy cadence and a permeating sense of darkness throughout. It’s absolutely intriguing and decidedly modern, leaving us extraordinarily interested in hearing more original works from Jessup."
"Striking, spacious and unsettling."
