In memory of Johnny Peret

In memory of Johnny Peret
In memory of my friend Johnny Peret, vibist, drummer, accordeonist extraordinaire

Friday, September 22, 2017

GOING DUTCH

The Chris Hinze Combination 
Who Can See The Shadow Of The Sun
CBS, Netherlands, 1972



 And now something completely different.  Some Dutch “fusion jazz” for a change.  
Christiaan Herbert "Chris" Hinze (born June 30, 1938, Hilversum) is a Dutch jazz and New Age flautist.

Hinze initially performed publicly as a pianist until the mid-1960s, when he began studying flute at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague and then at Berklee College of Music. As a pianist, he played with Boy Edgar until 1966, but by 1967 was playing flute professionally with the bassist Dick van der Capellen. His first releases as a leader were issued in 1969, and in 1970, Hinze was awarded the Best Soloist prize at the Montreux Jazz Festival. In the 1970s, he formed his own ensemble, the Chris Hinze Combination. He also founded the record label Keytone Records in the mid-1970s.

 Chris Hinze may be considered as a pioneer in World Music and New Age, gradually moving away from the jazz fusion he developed in the early 70s.  This tendency is already apparent in some of the tracks on the LP.  Some visitors may question whether the term “jazz” still applies to some of those songs.  I do not want to be part of this pointless debate and I don’t really care.  





There is some surface noise.  I did not try removing it as I was afraid to remove part of the music with the noise, flute is very “aerial”.

Tracklist 
A1 Lullaby For A Locomotive 8:33
Piccolo Flute, Flute [Bamboo] – Chris Hinze
Voice – Letty de Jong
A2 Steps To Giulia (Parts 1 & 2) 9:30
Flute, Alto Flute – Chris Hinze
A3 Surface 3:57
Alto Flute – Chris Hinze
Voice – Letty de Jong
B1 Lullaby For Dewi (Parts 1, 2, & 3) 13:34
Alto Flute, Flute – Chris Hinze
B2 Six (Venus) 2:37
Piccolo Flute – Chris Hinze
B3 Who Can See The Shadow Of The Sun 5:40
Flute [Bass], Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Chris Hinze

Credits
Chris Hinze        Leader, arranger, various flutes, Fender Rhodes
Wim Stolwijk        Grand Piano, Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Voice
Roger Cooke        Bass 
Jimmy Shaaperoe Drums
Cees See         Percussion
Wim van der Beek Percussion, Voice
Letty de Jongh           Voice
Recording dates: February 27 & 28, 1972

Printed on the back cover is a handwritten note: Who can see the shadow of the sun - Herbie Hancock
I don’t think this album was ever reissued on CD.

Thursday, September 14, 2017

FEEL GOOD AT LAST

RICHARD RAUX QUARTET – FEEL GOOD AT LAST
LP Free Lance ‎– FRL 004          FRANCE, 1983


 A no-nonsense, straight modern bop / post-bop album by a quartet led by French “tough tenor” Richard Raux, featuring Alain Jean-Marie (piano), Alby Cullaz (bass) and US / French resident drummer, George Brown.


Side A contains four compositions by the leader.
Side B contains four compositions, respectively by Charlie Parker (Confirmation), Monk (Locomotive), Coltrane (Miles Mood) and Ellington/Bigard (Mood Indigo).

Richard Raux is a French saxophonist / flautist born in Madagascar in 1945. He studied with luminaries such as Phil Woods, Nathan Davis and George Russell a.o.


He was a member of the innovative French band “Magma” and played on the debut album “Magma” (1970, reissued as KOBAIA).
A big tone tenor, inspired by "honkers" such as Hal Singer with whom he had the opportunity to play when Singer was living in France, as well as by modern / new Things musicians (Coltrane, Shepp ...), he’s especially at ease in a blues / rhythm and blues context. He has accompanied and toured with several bluesmen a.o. Willie MABON - Memphis SLIM - Jimmy JOHNSON - Luther ALLISON.  

He fits especially as well in hard bop and postbop contexts, playing and recording with the likes of  Aldo RUMANO - Daniel HUMAIR - Sonny GREY Big Band et Quintet - - Eddy LOUIS (Combo - Histoires sans Paroles) – - Clifford THORNTON - Roy BURROWES - Mal WALDRON - René URTREGER - Siegfried KESSLER - Charlie HADEN - Bobby FREY – Sonny MURRAY – Stephen McCRAVEN -  Bernard LUBAT …


His skills are also in demand as a session played and he has recorded and/or toured with Pierre VASSILIU (Déménagements) - MELMOTH (Prix Académie Charles Cros) - Jacques HIGELIN - - Georges MOUSTAKI - Mamma BEA - Eddy MITCHELL … 
Sources: http://www.epuzzle.jazzpuzzle.org/professeurs_raux.htm
http://www.cinethea.com/raux_richard_cv.html 




Alain Jean-Marie : French pianist born on the island of Guadeloupe in 1945.   Refered to as “the most discreet of the French jazz pianists (“Le plus discret des pianistes”) in Le Monde (18.08.2017), Alain Jean-Marie is considered by many to be France’s – if not Europe’s – top living jazz pianist. Born in the Carribean island of Guadeloupe, Alain established himself in Paris in 1973 and quickly became a ‘first-call’ pianist. From 1976 on, he toured and recorded with such jazz legends as Chet Baker, Sonny Stitt, Art Farmer, Johnny Griffin, Lee Konitz, Bill Coleman, Max Roach, Abbey Lincoln, Barney Wilen and Benny Golson..  

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alain_Jean-Marie
http://www.likeasound.com/alain-jean-marie 

Alby Cullaz  (Paris, 25-6-1941 / Paris, 08-02-1998).

Alby Cullaz was the brother of guitarist Pierre Cullaz, and son of Maurice (1912-2000), who chaired the French « Académie du Jazz » until 1992. Alby started his professional career in 1963, as double bass player in the Johnny Griffin Quartet for two years, while playing regularly with Eddy Louiss and Art Taylor. In 1965, he joins the Jef Gilson Big Band and tours all through Europe with Jean-Luc Ponty, Michel Graillier or Aldo RomanoIn 1969 he’s a member of Hank Mobley’s sextet.  He has played and recorded with an impressive roster of jazz luminaries, Americans and Europeans: René Thomas, Dizzy Gillespie, Stéphane Grappelli, Philly Joe Jones, Kenny Clarke, Dexter Gordon, Daniel Humair, Slide Hampton, René Urtreger, Sonny Grey, Guy Lafitte, Raymond, Fol, Christian Escoudé, Gérard Badini, Mal Waldron, Lee Konitz, Chet Baker, Christian Vander (Alien Quartet ) just to name a few.

George Brown (Paris, 2012?): there isn't much info on this musician on the Net and Lord's discography is a mess as it mixes up the outputs of at least different drummers all named "George Brown".   I only have limited faith in the Lord ... 

This George Brown started his career along with Mel Rhyne in the Trio of Wes Montgomery. In this group, he can be heard on the disc "Portrait Of Wes" on the Riverside Label. After that he played with almost every famous Jazz musician. He toured extensively with Sonny Rollins, Roland Kirk, Chet Baker and J.J.Johnson. 20 years ago he settled in Paris where he established himself immediately as "the house drummer" in the biggest Jazzclub's of the French Capital. He played regularly with with Archie Shepp, Steve Grossman and Alain Jean-Marie.

Source: http://mpeter.chez-alice.fr/english/george.htm 

Obituary (in French): http://www.citizenjazz.com/George-Brown.html 


Tracklist 
A1 Morning Blues Raga R. Raux 5:37
A2 With Love Inside R. Raux 4:28
A3 Ballad For Jeremy R. Raux 4:27
A4 Feel Good At Last R. Raux 3:47

B1 Confirmation C. Parker 3:59
B2 Locomotive T. Monk 5:28
B3 Mood Indigo B. Bigard, D. Ellington 4:39
B4 Miles Mode J. Coltrane 4:38



Recorded August 16 and 17, 1983 at STA studio, Paris.  Mastered at Translab studio, Paris.

Check also an earlier post on Raux here  (updated link)

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

FAFASIFA

MARTIAL SOLAL
FAFASIFA               CBS, France, 1967



No need to present Martial Solal I assume. 
However this album is rather unusual.  Tracks A1 to A6 and B1 are “standard” Martial Solal Trio (as far as one could call Solal’s music “standard”). B2 is solo Solal.  What to say?  The man is probably the greatest European contribution to jazz piano.  A truly original musician.

The unusual tracks are B3 to B6 where Solal plays harpsichord (B3,5,6) or both organ and piano (B4)



Tracklist
A1          Fafasifa                            2:17
A2          Reflets Mobiles               2:58
A3          Indianapolis                     2:40
A4          Atmosphère                    3:07
A5          Aquaplane                      2:33
A6          Henri's                            3:00
B1          Musique En Cinq Sets    3:15
B2          Faux Fuyants                  2:59
B3          Volez, Balles                   2:56
B4          A Pas De Loup-Garou    3:13
B5          Virevoltant                      3:06
B6          Billes De Joie                 1:25


Credits
A1-6, B1 :            Martial Solal, piano
                             Gilbert Rovere, contrebasse
                             Charles Bellonzi, percussion
B.2:                      Martial Solal, piano solo
B3,5:                    Martial Solal, harpsichord
                             Gilbert Rovere, contrebasse
                             Charles Bellonzi, percussion
B4:                       Martial Solal, electric organ and piano
B6:                       Martial Solal, harpsichord solo

These unusual tracks on side B should be of interest to collectors of Library Music.
Production M.P.I. Also released as different 10" on the French library label Musique Pour L'Image.

To the best of my knowledge and after some research on the Web, it seems that this album has not been re-issued on CD.  Correct me if I’m wrong.

(Covers taken from Discogs)