BOBBY JASPAR - Modern Jazz Au Club Saint-Germain (1955-2000) Jazz In Paris 27 / RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Bobby Jaspar is in top form in this pair of sessions previously released in the 1980s on an Emarcy CD entitled Memory of Dick prior to its reappearance in 2001 as a part of Verve's ambitious Jazz in Paris series. The tenor saxophonist is joined by pianist René Urtreger, guitarist Sacha Distel, bassist Benoit Quersin, and drummer Jean-Louis Viale for this bop-oriented disc, which includes a sauntering take of Milt Jackson's "Bag's Groove," a revival of "Milestones" (an early gem by Miles Davis from his days with Charlie Parker), and a delightful romp through "You Stepped Out of a Dream." The Belgian leader puts his own stamp on a frenetic but brief arrangement of "A Night in Tunisia," but the most memorable track is "I'll Remember April," featuring his haunting flute in a captivating piano-less setting, which also has fine solos by Distel and Quersin. Jaspar's premature death in 1963 robbed the jazz world of a promising talent; this disc is among his best efforts as a leader. by Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1     Bags' Groove 4:46
Milt Jackson
2     Memory of Dick 5:37
Bobby Jaspar
3     Milestones 5:55
Miles Davis
4     Minor Drops 5:01
Francis Doppieters       
5     I'll Remember April 5:46
Gene DePaul / Patricia Johnston / Don Raye
6     You Stepped Out of a Dream 3:37
Nacio Herb Brown / Gus Kahn
7     I Can't Get Started 6:06
Vernon Duke / Ira Gershwin
8     A Night in Tunisia 4:06
Dizzy Gillespie / Frank Paparelli
Credits :
Double Bass – Benoit Quersin
Drums – Jean-Louis Viale
Flute – Bobby Jaspar (faixas: 5)
Guitar – Sacha Distel
Piano – René Urtreger
Saxophone [Tenor] – Bobby Jaspar (faixas: 1 to 4, 6 to 8)
Nota :
Recorded December 27 and 29, 1955 at the Pathé Magellan studio, Paris.
Reissue of the Barclay LP 84 023. 

LIONEL HAMPTON - Lionel Hampton And His French New Sound Vol. 1 (1955-2000) Jazz In Paris 44 / RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Lionel Hampton joins forces with a number of top French musicians for this 1955 studio session, reissued in Verve's Jazz in Paris series. Three of the four compositions are Hampton's, swinging tunes arranged by Christian Chevalier. The first, "Voice of the North," is primarily for the leader's matchless vibes with the rhythm section, though individual soloists are featured, including fellow Americans Nat Adderley and Benny Bailey on trumpets and David Amram on French horn, as well as clarinetist Maurice Meunier and baritone saxophonist William Boucaya. It's just Hampton and the rhythm section (pianist René Urtreger, bassist Guy Pedersen, and drummer Jean-Baptiste Reilles) for the long workout of "À la French." The one standard of the date, "Crazy Rhythm," suffers from somewhat muddy sound, particularly the overly distant brass. Guitarist Sacha Distel, though admittedly intimidated by Hampton, rises to the leader's level of playing with a fine solo. Overall, this is an enjoyable if not quite essential CD by Lionel Hampton. by Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1     Voice of the North 8:52
Lionel Hampton
2     À la French 11:53
Lionel Hampton
3     Crazy Rhythm 7:50
Irving Caesar / Roger Wolfe Kahn / Joseph Meyer
4     Zebu 10:05
Lionel Hampton
Credits :
Arranged By – Christian Chevalier (faixas: 1, 3, 4)
Baritone Saxophone – William Boucaya (faixas: 1, 3, 4)
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Maurice Meunier (faixas: 1, 3, 4)
Double Bass – Guy Pedersen
Drums – Jean-Baptiste "Mac Kac" Reilles
French Horn – David Amram (faixas: 1, 3, 4)
Guitar – Sacha Distel (faixas: 3)
Piano – René Urtreger
Trumpet – Benny Bailey (faixas: 1, 3, 4), Bernard Hulin (faixas: 1, 3, 4), Nat Adderley (faixas: 1, 3, 4)
Vibraphone – Lionel Hampton
Nota :
Recorded March 19, 1955 at the Schola Cantorum, Paris
Reissue of the Barclay LP 84 004 

JOHN LEWIS & SACHA DISTEL – Afternoon In Paris (1957-2012) RM | MONO | Jazz Best Collection 1000 – 4 | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

It was in Paris that John Lewis co-led this 1956 date with Sacha Distel, a French guitarist who never became well-known in the U.S. but commanded a lot of respect in French jazz circles. The same can be said about the other French players employed on Afternoon in Paris -- neither tenor saxophonist Barney Wilen nor bassist Pierre Michelot were huge names in the U.S., although both were well-known in European jazz circles. With Lewis on piano, Distel on guitar, Wilen on tenor, Michelot or Percy Heath on bass, and Kenny Clarke or Connie Kay on drums, the part-American, part-French group of improvisers provides an above-average bop album that ranges from "Willow Weep for Me," "All The Things You Are," and "I Cover the Waterfront" to Milt Jackson's "Bags' Groove" and Lewis' title song. The big-toned Wilen was only 19 when Afternoon in Paris was recorded, but as his lyrical yet hard-swinging solos demonstrate, he matured quickly as a saxman. It should be noted that all of the Americans on this album had been members of the Modern Jazz Quartet; the only MJQ member who isn't on board is vibist Jackson. Alex Henderson 
Tracklist :
1    I Cover the Waterfront 6:51   
Johnny Green / Edward Heyman
2    Dear Old Stockholm 6:07    
Traditional
3    Afternoon in Paris 9:23
John Lewis
4    All the Things You Are 5:16   
Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern
5    Bags Groove 6:12    
Milt Jackson
6    Willow Weep for Me 9:31
Ann Ronell
Credits:
Bass – Percy Heath (tracks: 4 to 6), Pierre Michelot (tracks: 1 to 3) 
Drums – Connie Kay (tracks: 1 to 3), Kenny Clarke (tracks: 4 to 6)
Guitar – Sacha Distel
Piano – John Lewis
Tenor Saxophone – Barney Wilen