BUDDY BANKS / BOBBY JASPAR - Jazz De Chambre (2000) Jazz In Paris 18 / RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Part of the fun of listening to Universal Music's Jazz in Paris series is digging into their compilations of obscure recordings, such as these two mid-'50s sessions, led by Buddy Banks and Bobby Jaspar. Banks, originally a saxophonist who switched to bass, had arrived in Europe after World War II; he is accompanied by drummer Roy Haynes, pianist Bob Dorough, and guitarist Jimmy Gourley. The leader takes the spotlight in a subtle take of "Yesterdays," though a strange clicking mars an otherwise swinging "I Love You." Banks' group also offers serviceable interpretations of modern pieces like Gerry Mulligan's "Line for Lyons" and Milt Jackson's "Bag's Groove." The partnership of Belgian flutist Bobby Jaspar and American pianist Blossom Dearie was rather brief. Married not long after they met, they recorded just four selections together in 1956 with bassist Benoit Quersin and drummer Christian Garros, then went their separate ways. The best track is the snappy arrangement of "Old Devil Moon." Dearie adds a quick bit of celesta to their abbreviated take of "There Will Never Be Another You." The four standards on this session are enjoyable, though they might have benefited from adding a second reed or brass instrument to provide some variety. by Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1    Buddy Banks–    A Night In Tunisia    4:26
Dizzy Gillespie / Frank Paparelli
2    Buddy Banks–    Almost Like Being In Love    3:19
Alan Jay Lerner / Frederick Loewe
3    Buddy Banks–    Bag's Groove    3:47
Milt Jackson
4    Buddy Banks–    Yesterdays    3:29
Otto Harbach / Jerome Kern
5    Buddy Banks–    I Love You    5:58
Cole Porter
6    Buddy Banks–    Line For Lyons    3:46
Gerry Mulligan
7    Buddy Banks–    You Go To My Head    4:29
J. Fred Coots / Haven Gillespie
8    Buddy Banks–    Buddy Banks Blues    3:27
Buddy Banks
9    Bobby Jaspar Quartet–    Old Devil Moon    2:30
E.Y. "Yip" Harburg / Burton Lane
10    Bobby Jaspar Quartet–    Autumn In New York    3:58
Vernon Duke
11    Bobby Jaspar Quartet–    Flamingo    3:06
Edmund Anderson / Ted Grouya
12    Bobby Jaspar Quartet–    There Will Never Be Another You    2:10
Mack Gordon / Harry Warren
Credits :
Double Bass – Benoit Quersin (faixas: 9 to 12), Buddy Banks (faixas: 1 to 8)
Drums – Christian Garros (faixas: 9 to 12), Roy Haynes (faixas: 1 to 8)
Flute – Bobby Jaspar (faixas: 9 to 12)
Guitar – Jimmy Gourley (faixas: 1 to 8)
Piano – Blossom Dearie (faixas: 9 to 12), Bob Dorough (faixas: 1 to 8)
Nota :
Recorded in Paris.
Tracks 01-07: reissue of the Club Français du Disque 10" LP 33, recorded October 28th 1954 at the Geneix Studio.
Track 08: extract from the Club Français du Disque EP 6 "Vacances nº 2".
Tracks 09-12: reissue of the Barclay