JAMES MOODY – 1948-1949 | The Chronogical Classics – 1116 (2000) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

These earliest sessions recorded by saxophonist James Moody under his own leadership, follow his initial years with Dizzy Gillespie, an association that would be maintained off and on throughout Dizzy's life. The disc starts in chronological order with eight sides recorded for Blue Note in October 1948. Arranged by composer Gil Fuller and backed by Moody's Modernists, which were, in essence, musicians comprised of Dizzy Gillespie's band including baritone saxophonist Cecil Payne, alto saxophonist Ernie Henry, Chano Pozo, and Art Blakey. These sessions were recorded in New York before Moody left for Europe, not to return to the states until years later. The remaining 14 tracks find him jamming with European musicians and fellow American expatriates including fellow tenor saxophonist Don Byas, mixing bebop and standards recorded in Zurich, Paris, Lausanne, and Stockholm for Vogue, Blue Star, and Prestige. Al Campbell  
Tracklist + Credits :

REX STEWART – 1948-1949 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1164 (2001) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

During 1947-49, the former Duke Ellington cornetist Rex Stewart spent time overseas, playing in Europe and Australia. The music on this CD is quite obscure, featuring Stewart as a leader on dates recorded in Basel, Berlin, Paris, and London. Most of the performances are swing oriented, although there are hints of bebop here, and there and bits of Dixieland. Stewart is in fine form in a quartet with tenor saxophonist Vernon Story, with the Hot Club of Berlin, showcased in an 9-11 piece group organized by pianist/arranger Claude Bolling, and as the only horn in a quintet. Lots of rarities are heard from on this CD, part of the Classics label's complete Rex Stewart series. Scott Yanow
Tracklist + Credits :

DON BYAS – 1947-1951 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1239 (2002) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The great tenor-saxophonist Don Byas moved permanently to Europe in 1946 and was largely forgotten in the U.S. However he played steadily during his decades overseas and recorded fairly frequently, even if most of the records were quite obscure in the United States. This CD is full of rarities. Byas is heard in Spain with the commercial dance band of Bernard Hilda, playing with some more jazz-oriented combos of Spaniards, and back in France during 1949-51 where his sidemen include pianists Bernard Peiffer, Art Simmons, and trumpeter Guy Longnon. The music on these dates is advanced swing that looks towards bop. Byas really tears apart some of the chord changes when he's not caressing the melodies with his huge tone, playing some miraculous ideas on "Stardust." Scott Yanow
Tracklist + Credits :

BERNARD PEIFFER / BERNARD ZACHARIAS - Modern Jazz at Saint-Germain-Des-Prés (2000) Jazz In Paris 48 / RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Bernard Peiffer And His Saint-Germain-des-Prés Orchestra– I Want To Be Happy 5:17
Written-By – Irving Caesar, Vincent Youmans
2    Bernard Peiffer And His Saint-Germain-des-Prés Orchestra– Paris Je T'aime... D'amour 2:40
Written-By – Henri Battaille, Clifford Grey, Victor Schertzinger
3    Bernard Peiffer And His Saint-Germain-des-Prés Orchestra– Pinocchio (When You Wish Upon A Star) 2:36
Written-By – Leigh Harline, Ned Washington
4    Bernard Peiffer And His Saint-Germain-des-Prés Orchestra– Who Is Me? 2:19
Written-By – Fats Waller
5    Bernard Peiffer And His Saint-Germain-des-Prés Orchestra– Frozen Feet 3:35
Written-By – Francy Boland
6    Bernard Peiffer And His Saint-Germain-des-Prés Orchestra–    There's A Small Hotel 3:33
Written By – Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
Written-By – Rodgers & Hart
7    Bernard Peiffer And His Saint-Germain-des-Prés Orchestra– Strip Tease 2:20
Written-By – Bernard Peiffer
8    Bernard Peiffer And His Saint-Germain-des-Prés Orchestra– Don't Touch The Grisby 2:05
Written-By – Bernard Peiffer
Gershwin Parade   
9    Bernard Zacharias Et Ses Solistes–    Transcendentology 2:56
Written-By – Buddy Banks
10    Bernard Zacharias Et Ses Solistes–    The Man I Love 3:25
Written-By – Ira And George Gershwin
11    Bernard Zacharias Et Ses Solistes–    Somebody Loves Me 2:32
Written-By – Ballard McDonald, B.G. De Sylva, Georges Gershwin
12    Bernard Zacharias Et Ses Solistes–    Lady Be Good 4:32
Written-By – Ira And George Gershwin
13    Bernard Zacharias Et Ses Solistes–    It Ain't Necessarily So 4:34
Written-By – Ira And George Gershwin
14    Bernard Zacharias Et Ses Solistes–    Summertime 3:52
Written-By – DuBose Heyward, George Gershwin
15    Bernard Zacharias Et Ses Solistes–    My Man's Gone Now 2:09
Written-By – DuBose Heyward, George Gershwin
16    Bernard Zacharias Et Ses Solistes–    I Got Plenty Of Nothing 1:09
Written-By – DuBose Heyward, Ira And George Gershwin
Credits :
Arranged By – Buddy Banks (faixas: 9 to 16), Francy Boland (faixas: 1 to 8)
Bass Clarinet – Michel de Villers (faixas: 9 to 16)
Double Bass – Guy Pedersen (faixas: 9 to 16), Jean-Marie Ingrand (faixas: 1 to 8)
Drums – Jacques David (faixas: 9 to 16), Jean-Baptiste "Mac Kac" Reilles (faixas: 1 to 8)
Flugelhorn – Roger Guérin (faixas: 9 to 16)
French Horn – Robert Casier (faixas: 9 to 16)
Piano – Bernard Peiffer (faixas: 1 to 8)
Piano, Celesta – Jules Dupont (faixas: 9 to 16)
Tenor Saxophone – Bib Monville (faixas: 1 to 8), Bobby Jaspar (faixas: 1 to 8), Jean-Claude Fohrenbach (faixas: 9 to 16)
Trombone – Bernard Zacharias (faixas: 9 to 16)
Trumpet, Euphonium [Baritone Saxhorn] – Roger Guérin (faixas: 1 to 8)
Nota :
Recorded January 14, 1954 at the Magellan studio, Paris (1-8) and simply in Paris, 1954 (9-16)
Reissue of the Blue Star 10" LP 6842 (1-8) and of the Club Français du Disque 10" LP 39 (9-16) 

BERNARD PEIFFER - La Vie en Rose (2001) Jazz In Paris 65 / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Bernard Peiffer was a popular pianist on the French jazz scene throughout a good part of the 1950s. This compilation collects a series of sessions (including both solo and trio dates) recorded in 1952 and 1953. Peiffer's approach to the piano is obviously influenced by Erroll Garner to a certain extent, especially on standards like "Jeepers Creepers" and "Lady Be Good." But he's also a compelling bop pianist, offering an impressive performance of Charlie Parker's "Steeplechase." His inventive approach to "Caravan" (heard in two separate takes) incorporates a dramatic shift in the bassline, adding a bit of stride piano in spots. Peiffer shows off his classical background in his dramatic showpiece "Toccata" (which was influenced in part by Johann Sebastian Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor), though this is very much a jazz piece. None of these titles have previously been issued outside of France, so this Jazz in Paris series reissue is a treasure awaiting discovery by jazz fans everywhere. by Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1     La Vie en Rose 2:31
Mack David / Marcel Louiguy / Édith Piaf
2     Ballad in Paris 3:20
Bernard Peiffer
3     Jeepers Creepers 3:37
Johnny Mercer / Harry Warren
4     Hit That Jive Jack 2:56
Skeets Tolbert
5     Oh Lady, Be Good 2:31
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
6     Jalousie 2:58
Vera Bloom / Jacob Gade
7     Don't Blame Me 2:45
Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh
8     Sometimes I'm Happy 2:59
Irving Caesar / Vincent Youmans
9     Jingles Bells 2:35
J. S. Pierpont    
10     Tired Blues 2:38
Bernard Peiffer
11     Almost Like Being in Love 3:24
Alan Jay Lerner / Frederick Loewe
12     Steeplechase 2:51
Charlie Parker
13     Liza (All the Clouds'll Roll Away) 2:54
Ira Gershwin / Gus Kahn
14     Yesterdays 3:10
Otto Harbach / Jerome Kern
15     Midday on the Champs Elysées 2:51
Eugénie Rocherolle    
16     Slow Burn 2:57
Bernard Peiffer
17     Caravan 3:12
Duke Ellington / Irving Mills / Juan Tizol
18     Caravan 3:04
Duke Ellington / Irving Mills / Juan Tizol
19     Jalousie 3:09
Vera Bloom / Jacob Gade
20     Toccata 4:19
Bernard Peiffer
21     Prélude 4:25
Bernard Peiffer
Credits :
Double Bass – Joe Benjamin (faixas: 5, 7, 8, 12), Pierre Michelot (faixas: 1 to 4, 9 to 11, 13 to 16)
Drums – Bill Clark (faixas: 5, 7, 8, 12), Jean-Louis Viale (faixas: 1 to 4, 9 to 11, 13 to 16)
Piano – Bernard Peiffer
Nota :
Reissue of the Blue Star discs: 10" LP's 6808 (1-8) & 6829 (9-16), 78rpm 260 (17) & 45rpm 8003 (20, 21)
Tracks 18-19 are previously unreleased
Recorded in Paris on March 3, 1952 (19, 20), March 12, 1952 (6, 17, 18), March 31, 1952 (1-4, 10), April 4, 1952 (5, 7, 8, 12), December 20, 1952 (16) and March 23, 1953 (9, 11, 13-15)