KENNY CLARKE SEXTET - Plays André Hodeir (1956-2000) Jazz In Paris 39 / RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Drummer Kenny Clarke became a fixture on the Paris jazz scene after moving there in 1956. One of his best records from his early days abroad, originally released by Phillips, is finally available on CD as a part of Verve's Jazz in Paris reissue series. With superb arrangements by Andre Hodeir, and a rotating cast of musicians over three separate recording sessions, the drummer sticks to providing brushwork behind the scenes. "Bemsha Swing," jointly written by Clarke with Thelonious Monk, centers around Martial Solal's playful solo, while the brass and reeds seem to be coming at each other from all angles in Monk's "Eronel." Hodeir's composition "Oblique" sounds like something that would have fit in perfectly as part of the repertoire of the Miles Davis Birth of the Cool sessions, a period which Hodeir explores with his chart of Gerry Mulligan's "Jeru," in which the improvisations are actually written out. The moody take of "Blue Serge" briefly showcases trombonist Billy Byers, trumpeter Roger Guerin and baritone saxophonist Armand Migani. The only headache with this reissue is the mixed up track by track personnel listings, which don't consistently match up with the music heard, and which omit alto saxophonist Robert Guismath entirely. by Ken Dryden  
Tracklist :
1     Bemsha Swing 3:54
Denzil Best / Thelonious Monk
2     Oblique 3:25          
André Hodeir    
3     Blue Serge 2:49
Mercer Ellington
4     Swing Spring 3:54
Miles Davis
5     On a Riff 2:58
André Hodeir
6     Jeru 3:51
Gerry Mulligan
7     The Squirrel 3:07
Tadd Dameron
8     Eronel 3:28
Thelonious Monk
9     'Round About Midnight 2:57
Bernie Hanighen / Thelonious Monk / Cootie Williams
10     When Lights Are Low 3:09
Benny Carter / Spencer Williams
11     Cadenze 3:59
André Hodeir    
12     Tahiti 4:28
Milt Jackson
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Hubert Rostaing (faixas: 2, 6, 8, 12)
Arranged By – André Hodeir
Baritone Saxophone – Armand Migiani (faixas: 1 to 8, 12)
Double Bass – Jean Warland (faixas: 1 to 4, 6 to 8, 11, 12), Pierre Michelot (faixas: 5, 9, 10)
Drums – Kenny Clarke
Piano – Martial Solal (faixas: 1 to 8, 11, 12), René Urtreger (faixas: 9, 10)
Trombone – Billy Byers (faixas: 1 to 8, 11, 12), Nat Peck (faixas: 9, 10)
Trumpet – Roger Guérin (faixas: 9, 10)
Nota :
Recorded October 26 (5, 9, 10), November 21 (2, 6, 8, 12) and November 30 (1, 3, 4, 7, 11) 1956 at the Apollo studio, Paris.
Reissue of the Philips LP 77 312.

LE JAZZ GROUPE DE PARIS - Le Jazz Groupe De Paris Joue Andre Hodeir (1956-2001) Jazz In Paris 70 / RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Joue Andre Hodeir is the second recording by le Jazz Groupe de Paris, a piano-less nonet originally formed by André Hodeir, with the help of Bobby Jaspar, and dedicated to his music and arrangements -- Hodeir, who used to be a proficient violinist, only conducts. By the time this session was recorded Jaspar had already left for the United States and was replaced by Georges Grenu. In addition to six originals, the program is rounded out with tunes by Bud Powell, Duke Jordan, Thelonious Monk, and John Lewis. Hodeir's compositions are not as tuneful and memorable as the covers, but this is irrelevant since his musical concerns deal almost exclusively with textures and colors. In line with the leader's esthetics, the soloists do not indulge into virtuosic runs. Instead, Hodeir's draws from his musicians complex soundscapes rich in tonalities. Overall, Hodeir favors slow and midpaced tempos, which provide a better ground for his intricate voicings. His original ideas are more obviously displayed on "Paradoxe I," which features a pulsating cymbal in the foreground, or "On a Scale," whose theme is not restated at the end. Despite the knowledge his theories require to be fully grasped, Hodeir's music is utterly enjoyable and this album provides a fine introduction to his universe. by Alain Drouot  
Tracklist :
1     On a Scale 4:25
André Hodeir   
2     Parisian Thoroughfare 3:57
Bud Powell
3     Bicinum 3:15
André Hodeir   
4     Evanescence 4:08
André Hodeir   
5     Jordu 3:55
Duke Jordan
6     Tension Détente 3:34
André Hodeir
7     Paradoxe I 2:10
André Hodeir    
8     Criss Cross 5:19
Thelonious Monk
9     Triads 5:25
André Hodeir   
10     Milano 4:16
J. Lewis
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Jean Algedon (faixas: 1 to 6, 9 to 10)
Arranged By – André Hodeir
Baritone Saxophone – Armand Migiani
Conductor – André Hodeir
Contrabass – Pierre Michelot
Drums – Christian Garros
Tenor Saxophone – Georges Grenu
Trombone – Nat Peck (faixas: 1 to 6, 9 to 10)
Trumpet – Jean Liesse, Roger Guérin
Vibraphone – Fats Sadi
Nota :
Recorded June 26 (1-4) and 27 (5, 8) and July 2 (9-10) 1956 in Paris
Reissue of the Véga LP 30 572
(P) 1956 Universal Music S. A. France

V.A. - Jazz & Cinéma Vol. 3 (2001) Jazz In Paris 71 / RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The Jazz in Paris: Jazz and Cinema series of Verve CD reissues examines jazz recorded for French film soundtracks in the late '50s and early '60s. This third compilation is the least successful of the first three, as few of the tracks stand on their own merit away from the movies they accompanied. Written for the film Les Loups Dans la Bergerie, the compositions of Serge Gainsbourg might be labeled cool, though they are rarely given time to develop and feature no major soloists in Alan Gouraguer's arrangements. Less successful are Andre Hodeir's somewhat boppish charts for Les Tripe au Soleil, which have extremely distracting scat vocals by Christiane Legrand that frequently seem off-key. The best of the lot is a remake of four songs composed by Freddie Redd for The Connection, which began life as a play. The potent trumpet of Sonny Grey and sassy trombone of Luis Miguel Fuentes constitute the centerpiece of each selection. This session also marked the recording debut of drummer Daniel Humair as a leader, who recruited René Urtreger to write the arrangements. It is these four tracks that make this anthology worth acquiring. by Ken Dryden  
Tracklist :
Les loups Dans La Bergerie (1959)
–Serge Gainsbourg     Générique     1:26
–Serge Gainsbourg     Fuite Du Rouquin     1:05
–Serge Gainsbourg     Les Loups Dans La Bergerie     2:44
–Serge Gainsbourg     Cha Cha Cha Du Loup     1:32
–Serge Gainsbourg     Les Loups Dans La Bergerie (Fin)     3:26
Les Tripes Au Soleil (1959)
–André Hodeir     Rhythm And Blues N°1     2:07
–André Hodeir     Spiritual     1:24
–André Hodeir     Danse     2:31
–André Hodeir     Le Désert     2:12
–André Hodeir     Blues     3:49
The Connection (1961)
–Daniel Humair Soultet     Theme For Sister Salvation     2:54
–Daniel Humair Soultet     Overdose     3:42
–Daniel Humair Soultet     Wigglin'     3:35
–Daniel Humair Soultet     Music Forever     2:31
–Daniel Humair Soultet     One Mint Julep     3:38
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Georges Grenu (faixas: 1 to 5), Pierre Gossez (faixas: 6 to 10)
Arranged By – Alain Goraguer (faixas: 1 to 5), Luis Fuentes (faixas: 15), René Urtreger (faixas: 11 to 14)
Artwork – Les Télécréateurs Design
Backing Band – Le Jazz Groupe De Paris (faixas: 6 to 10)
Baritone Saxophone – William Boucaya (faixas: 1 to 5)
Double Bass – Guy Pedersen (faixas: 11 to 15), Pierre Michelot (faixas: 1 to 5)
Drums – Christian Garros (faixas: 1 to 5), Daniel Humair (faixas: 11 to 15)
Flute – Raymond Guiot (faixas: 1 to 5)
Piano – Alain Goraguer (faixas: 1 to 5), Eddy Louiss (faixas: 11 to 15)
Soprano Vocals – Christiane Legrand (faixas: 6 to 10)
Tenor Saxophone – Jean-Louis Chautemps (faixas: 11 to 15)
Trombone – Luis Fuentes (faixas: 11 to 15)
Trumpet – Roger Guérin (faixas: 1 to 10), Sonny Grey (faixas: 11 to 15)
Written-By – André Hodeir (faixas: 6 to 10), Freddie Redd (faixas: 11 to 14), Rudolph Toombs (faixas: 15), Serge Gainsbourg (faixas: 1 to 5)
Nota :
Tracks 1 to 5 taken from "Les loups Dans La Bergerie"
Original soundtrack of Hervé Bromberger's movie.
Recorded October 28, 1959 in Paris.
Reissue of the Philips EP 432 447.
(P) 1960 Universal Music S. A. France
Tracks 6 to 10 taken from "Les Tripes Au Soleil"
Original soundtrack of Claude Bemard-Aubert's movie.
Recorded 1959 in Paris.
Reissue of the Philips EP 460 634.
(P) 1959 Universal Music S. A. France
Tracks 11 to 15 taken from "The Connection"
Soundtrack of Jack Gelber's play.
Recorded May 29, 1961 in Paris.
Reissue of the Vega EP's 45 2128 and 45 5124 (B side).
(P) 1961 Universal Music S. A. France