PHIL WOODS | MICHEL LEGRAND AND ORCHESTRA — Images (1975- 2014) RM | Serie Jazz Collection 1000 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

For this orchestra date, Phil Woods is backed by strings, brass, woodwinds and a rhythm section arranged and conducted by Michel Legrand (who also contributed three pieces). Altoist Woods is showcased throughout on some then-current pop tunes (including "The Windmills of Your Mind," "A Song for You" and a nice version of "We've Only Just Begun"), plus Debussy's "Clair de Lune" and Legrand's lengthy "Images." The overall results are not as essential as Woods' typical combo dates, but the altoist's tone does sound quite passionate at times. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    The Windmills Of Your Mind 4:15
Written-By – M. & A. Bergman, Legrand
2    A Song For You 4:01
Written-By – Russell
3    Nicole 3:30
Written-By – Woods
4    The Summer Knows 2:57
Written-By – M. & A. Bergman, Legrand
5    We've Only Just Begun 2:48
Written-By – Williams, Nichols
6    I Was Born In Love With You 3:23
Written-By – M. & A. Bergman, Legrand
7    Clair De Lune 4:47
Arranged By – Michel Legrand
Written-By – Debussy
8    Images 14:46
Written-By – Legrand
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Liner Notes – Phil Woods
Arranged By, Conductor, Piano – Michel Legrand
Bass – Ron Mathewson
Bass Saxophone – Armand Migiani
Concertmaster – Jack Rothstein
Contractor [Orchestra Assembled By] – Nat Peck
Drums – Kenny Clarke
Lead Guitar – Jud Proctor
Trombone [Lead] – Don Lusher
Trumpet [Lead] – Derek Watkins
Woodwind [Principal Woodwinds] – Roy Willox

MICHEL LEGRAND — I Love Paris (1954-1994) RM | Serie MasterSound | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Michel Legrand was only 22 when he created this best-selling theme album, a selection of Paris-centered standards from both sides of the Atlantic, scored for his own slightly jazzy orchestral ensemble. It's probably one of the few easy listening records (or any album until much later) where the work was meant to be listened to as a whole: Legrand blends 16 songs together into a sort of suite, beginning with church bells chiming in the square, then taking off on a musical journey around the city. The arrangements are heavy on the strings and accordion and not, as the label now touts, Miles Davis, who is not very discernible -- if there at all. (Davis certainly took part later in "Legrand Jazz"). Considering that the young Legrand cut this album as a quick way to make money, the resulting success (and the doors that it opened for him) are remarkable. Ted Mills

Tracklist  
1. I Love Paris (2:37)
2. Mademoiselle De Paris (2:29)
3. Paris (1:48)
4. Autumn Leaves (Les Feuilles Mortes) (3:31)
5. Under The Bridges Of Paris (Sous Les Ponts De Paris) (1:09)
6. Le Seine (4:30)
7. Paris In The Spring (1:57)
8. Paris Canaille (2:11)
9. April In Paris (3:38)
10. A Paris (2:08)
11. La Vie En Rose (2:19)
12. Under Paris Skies (Sous Le Ciel De Paris) (2:26)
13. Paris, Je T'Aime (Paris, Stay The Same) (1:34)
14. The Song From 'Moulin Rouge' (3:40)
15. The Last Time I Saw Paris (2:47)
Credits
Arranged By, Conductor – Michel Legrand
Orchestra – Michel Legrand Et Sa Grande Formation

LAURA FYGI - Watch What Happens When Laura Fygi Meets Michel Legrand (1997) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

On Watch What Happens, Laura Fygi tackles the songbook of Michel Legrand with the assistance of Legrand himself. The composer arranged and conducted the lush, lavish music and duetted with Fygion "Et Si Demain," but Laura remains the center of attention and her sypathetic, pretty interpretations of Legrand's songs is what makes Watch What Happens an enchanting album. by Rodney Batdorf
Tracklist
1 Where's The Love 2:21
2 The First Time 4:10
3 You Had To Be There 3:33
4 The Summer Knows 4:36
5 Watch What Happens 3:22
6 Et Si Demain 3:07
7 The Windmills Of Your Mind 4:03
8 I Will Wait For You 2:46
9 Once Upon A Summertime 3:36
10 What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life 3:45
11 How Do You Keep The Music Playing 3:32
12 Summer Me, Winter Me 3:55
13 The Way He Makes Me Feel 4:13
14 Ask Yourself Why 3:49
15 Rachel 3:29
Credits
Bass – Chris Laurence
Composed By, Arranged By, Conductor – Michel Legrand
Concertmaster – Michael Davis
Drums – Harold Fisher
Grand Piano – Louis van Dijk

MICHEL LEGRAND - Paris Jazz Piano (1959-2000) Jazz In Paris 32 / RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Near the beginning of his career, Michel Legrand was primarily known as a jazz pianist, so it shouldn't be surprising to learn that none of his compositions are present on these 1959 studio sessions, which were issued by Phillips. With bassist Guy Pederson and drummer Gus Wallez, Legrand covers songs by French composers of the day along with the ever-popular "Moulin Rouge" and a somewhat upbeat arrangement of Edith Piaf's usually maudlin "La Vie en Rose," as well as standards from the Great American Songbook by Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, Vernon Duke, and Mack Gordon. Most of the songs have a Parisian theme to them. Legrand's piano style is hard to define, as he shows a variety of influences without letting any of them overwhelm his sound. His eventual fame as a composer would grow tremendously during the decades that followed the making of this recording, but this LP from the Jazz in Paris series is well worth purchasing to get a taste of his early career. by Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1     Sous Les Ponts De Paris 2:55
Jean Rodor / Vincent Scotto
2     Paris In the Spring 3:32
Harry Revel
3     April In Paris 5:14
Vernon Duke / E.Y. "Yip" Harburg
4     Sous Le Ciel De Paris 1:51
Jean Dréjac / H. Giraud
5     Paris Canaille 2:04
Léo Ferré
6     Paris, Je T'aime... D'amour 4:24
Henri Battaille / Victor Schertzinger
7     I Love Paris 2:52
Cole Porter
8     The Last Time I Saw Paris 2:25
Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern
9     Moulin Rouge 2:41
Georges Auric / Bill Engvick
10     La Vie En Rose 3:08
Marcel Louiguy / Édith Piaf
Credits :
Double Bass – Guy Pedersen
Drums, Bongos – Gus Wallez
Piano – Michel Legrand
Nota :
Recorded 1959 at the Blanqui studio, Paris: on October 20 (5, 7, 10), October 21 (1, 9), October 23 (8) and November 9 (2, 3, 6)
Reissue of the Philips LP 76 519

ARTURO SANDOVAL - Dream Come True (1993) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This is one of trumpeter Arturo Sandoval's more restrained sessions but he cuts loose effectively in some spots. Accompanied by one of two orchestras arranged and conducted by Michel Legrand on most of the selections, Sandoval displays his warm tone and infuses songs such as "Little Sunflower," "Once Upon a Summertime" and "To Diz with Love" with lots of feeling; his duet with Legrand on Dizzy Gillespie's "Con Alma" is touching. The ten-minute "Dahomey Dance" (which also has solos from tenor-saxophonist Ernie Watts and trombonist Bill Watrous) and a hyper "Giant Steps" are among the many highlights of this recommended disc. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Dahomey Dance 10:24
Bass – Brian Bromberg
Drums – Peter Erskine
Piano – Michel Legrand
Tenor Saxophone – Ernie Watts
Trombone – Bill Watrous
Trumpet – Arturo Sandoval
Written-By – John Coltrane
2    Once Upon A Summertime 5:16
Written-By – Michel Legrand
3    Giant Steps 3:30
Written-By – John Coltrane
4    Little Sunflower 6:08
Bass – Brian Bromberg
Drums – Peter Erskine
Flugelhorn – Arturo Sandoval
Keyboards – Otmaro Ruiz
Percussion – Carlos Gomez, Mitchell Sanchez
Piano – Michel Legrand
Tenor Saxophone – Ernie Watts
Trombone – Bill Watrous
Written-By – Freddie Hubbard
5    Con Alma 2:28
Piano – Michel Legrand
Trumpet – Arturo Sandoval
Written-By – Dizzy Gillespie
6    Blue 93 4:23
Bass – Brian Bromberg
Drums – Aaron Serfaty
Percussion – Carlos Gomez, Mitchell Sanchez
Piano – Otmaro Ruiz
Trumpet – Arturo Sandoval
Written-By – Arturo Sandoval
7    How Do You Keep The Music Playing 6:44
Written-By – Michel Legrand
8    Naima 6:12
Written-By – John Coltrane
9    Vida Real 4:14
Written-By – Arturo Castro
10    To Diz With Love 5:12
Written-By – Arturo Sandoval 

MICHEL LEGRAND – Legrand Jazz (1958-1986) RM | APE (image+.cue), lossless

Michel Legrand has spent most of his life as a composer in the studios and for films, but this release is a jazz classic. Legrand took 11 famous jazz compositions and arranged them for three different groups. Tenor great Ben Webster, flutist Herbie Mann, four trombonists, and a rhythm section perform pieces by Duke Ellington, Earl Hines, Django Reinhardt ("Nuages"), and the Count Basie-associated "Blue and Sentimental." A big band with trumpeters Art Farmer and Donald Byrd and altoist Phil Woods plays "Stompin' at the Savoy," "A Night in Tunisia," and Bix Beiderbecke's "In a Mist." The most famous session has Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Phil Woods, Herbie Mann, pianist Bill Evans, harp, vibes, baritone, and a rhythm section performing music by Thelonious Monk, John Lewis, Jelly Roll Morton ("Wild Man Blues"), and Fats Waller's "Jitterbug Waltz." Throughout this superlative album, the arrangements are colorful and unusual, making one wish that Legrand had recorded more jazz albums through the years. Scott Yanow

♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪

1 The Jitterbug Waltz 5:16

Richard Maltby, Jr. / Fats Waller

2 Nuages 2:22

Django Reinhardt

3 A Night in Tunisia 5:51

Dizzy Gillespie / Frank Paparelli  

4 Blue and Sentimental 3:21 

Count Basie / Mack David / Jerry Livingston 

5 Stompin' at the Savoy 3:46

Benny Goodman / Andy Razaf / Edgar Sampson / Chick Webb

6 Django 4:12 

John Lewis  

7 Wild Man Blues 3:21 

Louis Armstrong / Jelly Roll Morton 

8 Rosetta 7:15 

Earl Hines / Henri Woode 

9 'Round Midnight 2:57 

Bernie Hanighen / Thelonious Monk / Cootie Williams

10 Don't Get Around Much Anymore 2:32 

Duke Ellington / Bob Russell

11 In a Mist 3:17

Credits:

Bix Beiderbecke 

Alto Saxophone – Gene Quill (tracks: 2, 5, 6), Phil Woods (tracks: 1-6, 9)

Baritone Saxophone – Teo Macero (tracks: 2, 5, 6)

Baritone Saxophone, Bass Clarinet – Jerome Richardson (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 9)

Bass – George Duvivier (tracks: 7, 8,10, 11), Milt Hinton (tracks: 2, 5, 6), Paul Chambers (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 9)

Bass, Tuba – Major Holley (tracks: 7, 8, 10, 11)

Conductor, Arranged By – Michel Legrand

Drums – Don Lamond (tracks: 7, 8, 10, 11), Kenny Dennis (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 9), Osie Johnson (tracks: 2, 5, 6)

Flute – Herbie Mann (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 7-11)

French Horn – James Buffington (tracks: 2, 5, 6)

Guitar – Barry Galbraith (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 9)

Harp – Betty Glamann (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 9)

Piano – Bill Evans (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 9), Hank Jones (tracks: 7, 8, 10, 11), Nat Pierce (tracks: 2, 5, 6)

Tenor Saxophone – Ben Webster (tracks: 7, 8, 10, 11), John Coltrane (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 9), Seldon Powell (tracks: 2, 5, 6)

Trombone – Billy Byers (tracks: 7, 8, 10, 11), Eddie Bert (tracks: 7, 8, 10, 11), Frank Rehak (tracks: 2, 5-8, 10, 11), Jimmy Cleveland (tracks: 2, 5-8, 10, 11)

Trumpet – Art Farmer (tracks: 2, 5, 6), Donald Byrd (tracks: 2, 5, 6), Ernie Royal (tracks: 2, 5, 6), Joe Wilder (tracks: 2, 5, 6), Miles Davis (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 9)

Vibraphone [Vibes] – Don Elliot (tracks: 2, 5, 6), Eddie Costa (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 9)