Anybody who's listened to Django Reinhardt records from the late 1930s
has probably heard the saxophone of Alix Combelle, but few seem to know
him by name. Featured in front of the 1935 Hot Club of France Quintet,
this fellow demonstrates why he was such a sensation in Europe. During
"Crazy Rhythm" he rapidly alternates between gutsy tenor sax and gritty
clarinet, switching back and forth without missing a beat. Leading his
own band two years later, Combelle has a pair of accomplished American
musicians sitting in. Bill Coleman scats and blows his horn beautifully
during his own "Hangover Blues." Bassist Wilson Myers might be best
remembered for the records he made with Sidney Bechet. "Avalon" boils
over with a rigorous vitality typical of the late-'30s Parisian swing
scene. The tenor sax is warm and feisty. Comparison with Bud Freeman
seems inevitable. Two sides by Combelle's Hot Four are largely driven by
Joseph Reinhardt's rhythm guitar and the powerfully plucked bass of
Louis Vola. Paring his band down to a trio, Alix presents two original
compositions in the company of pianist Ray Stokes and Django's
trustworthy percussionist Pierre Fouad, who sounds a lot like George
Wettling on this date. From his solo on "Don't Get Tired," it is evident
that Stokes had been listening to Fats Waller, but with the exception
of Joseph Goebbels, who hadn't? Combelle certainly had. In fact, he
swiped "Honeysuckle Rose" and called it "Morning Feeling." Django's
"Daphne" sounds great inflated into a stomp for 11 players. The Hot Club
Swing Stars also tackle a Bob Crosby dance tune and the Kansas City
stomp "Every Tub," during which Louis Richardet meticulously copies the
already-famous Basie piano style. Basie's influence was stronger than
ever on February 20, 1940 as Alix Combelle's Swing Band seized upon
"Jumpin' at the Woodside." This track is notable for a particularly
expressive guitar solo by Django Reinhardt, who receives the customary
solo spotlight throughout this session. The drummer proves to be jazz
critic and promoter Charles Delaunay, masquerading under the name of
H.P.Chadel. That's probably him making verbal comments during the
stimulating "Weekend Stomp." A relaxed blues with the ironic title
"Nerves and Fever" is followed by "Fast, Slow, Medium Tempo," a sort of
mini-concerto for big band by Philippe Brun. Two more Basie covers bring
us to the session of October 21, 1940. Monsieur Combelle was now
standing at an historical crossroads, as he continued to make jazz
records during the German occupation, an activity specifically regarded
as subversive. Jazz, with its many Jewish and Afro-American influences,
was considered racially impure as proscribed by the Nuremberg Laws, and
therefore all jazz performance, recording or even listening was declared
subversive. Which makes these little swing records all the more
enjoyable. arwulf arwulf
Tracklist :
1 Alix Combelle Acc. By The Quintette Of The Hot Club De France– Crazy Rhythm 2:31
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Alix Combelle
Double Bass [String Bass] – Louis Vola
Guitar – Django Reinhardt, Joseph Reinhardt
Piano – Stéphane Grappelly
Written-By – Meuer, Kahn
2 Alix Combelle Acc. By The Quintette Of The Hot Club De France– The Sheik Of Araby 2:37
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Alix Combelle
Double Bass [String Bass] – Louis Vola
Guitar – Django Reinhardt, Joseph Reinhardt
Piano – Stéphane Grappelly
Written-By – Wheeler, Smith, Snyder
3 Alix Combelle Et Son Orchestre– Exactly Like You 3:06
Double Bass [String Bass] – Wilson Myers
Drums – Jerry Mengo
Guitar – Roger Chaput
Piano – David Martin (10)
Tenor Saxophone – Alix Combelle
Trumpet – Bill Coleman
Written-By – McHugh
4 Alix Combelle Et Son Orchestre– Alexander's Ragtime Band 2:51
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Alix Combelle
Double Bass [String Bass] – Wilson Myers
Drums – Jerry Mengo
Guitar – Roger Chaput
Piano – David Martin
Trumpet – Bill Coleman
Written-By – Berlin
5 Alix Combelle Et Son Orchestre– Hang Over Blues 3:14
Double Bass [String Bass] – Wilson Myers
Drums – Jerry Mengo
Guitar – Roger Chaput
Piano – David Martin
Tenor Saxophone – Alix Combelle
Trumpet, Vocals – Bill Coleman
Written-By – Coleman
6 Alix Combelle Et Son Orchestre– Avalon 1:52
Double Bass [String Bass] – Wilson Myers
Drums – Jerry Mengo
Guitar – Roger Chaput
Piano – David Martin Ray
Tenor Saxophone – Alix Combelle
Written-By – Jolson, Rose
7 Alix Combelle Et Son Orchestre– I Can't Give You Anything But Love 2:13
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Alix Combelle
Double Bass [String Bass] – Wilson Myers
Drums – Jerry Mengo
Guitar – Roger Chaput
Piano – David Martin
Trumpet – Bill Coleman
Written-By – McHugh
8 Alix Combelle's Hot Four– When You're Smiling 2:58
Cornet – Philippe Brun
Double Bass [String Bass] – Louis Vola
Guitar – Joseph Reinhardt
Tenor Saxophone – Alix Combelle
Written-By – Goodwin, Shay, Fisher
9 Alix Combelle's Hot Four– If I Had You 2:51
Cornet – Philippe Brun
Double Bass [String Bass] – Louis Vola
Guitar – Joseph Reinhardt
Tenor Saxophone – Alix Combelle
Written-By – Shapiro
10 Alix Combelle– Al's Idea 2:34
Drums – Pierre Fouad
Piano – Ray Stokes
Tenor Saxophone – Alix Combelle
Written-By – Combelle
11 Alix Combelle– Don't Get Tired 2:39
Drums – Pierre Fouad
Piano – Ray Stokes
Tenor Saxophone – Alix Combelle
Written-By – Combelle
12 The Hot Club Swing Stars– Morning Feeling 2:35
Alto Saxophone – Max Blanc
Clarinet – Danny Polo
Double Bass [String Bass] – Louis Vola
Drums – Pierre Fouad
Guitar – Roger Chaput
Piano – Louis Richardet
Tenor Saxophone – Alix Combelle, Noël Chiboust
Trumpet – Maurice Moufflard, Philippe Brun, Pierre Allier
Written-By – Combelle
13 The Hot Club Swing Stars– Daphné 2:45
Alto Saxophone – Max Blanc
Clarinet – Danny Polo
Double Bass [String Bass] – Louis Vola
Drums – Pierre Fouad
Guitar – Roger Chaput
Piano – Louis Richardet
Tenor Saxophone – Alix Combelle, Noël Chiboust
Trumpet – Maurice Moufflard, Philippe Brun, Pierre Allier
Written-By – Reinhardt
14 The Hot Club Swing Stars– Swinging At The Sugar Bowl 2:02
Alto Saxophone – Max Blanc
Clarinet – Danny Polo
Double Bass [String Bass] – Louis Vola
Drums – Pierre Fouad
Guitar – Roger Chaput
Piano – Louis Richardet
Tenor Saxophone – Alix Combelle, Noël Chiboust
Trumpet – Maurice Moufflard, Philippe Brun, Pierre Allier
Written-By – Crosby, Haggart, Rodin, Lamare
15 The Hot Club Swing Stars– Every Tub 3:08
Alto Saxophone – Max Blanc
Clarinet – Danny Polo
Double Bass [String Bass] – Louis Vola
Drums – Pierre Fouad
Guitar – Roger Chaput
Piano – Louis Richardet
Tenor Saxophone – Alix Combelle, Noël Chiboust
Trumpet – Maurice Moufflard, Philippe Brun, Pierre Allier
Written-By – Clayton, Basie
16 Alix Combelle And His Swing Band– Jumpin' At The Woodside 2:54
Double Bass [String Bass] – Marceau Sarbib
Drums – H.P. Chadel (Charles Delaunay)
Guitar – Django Reinhardt, Joseph Reinhardt
Piano – Charlie Lewis
Tenor Saxophone – Alix Combelle
Trombone – Guy Paquinet
Trumpet – Al Piguillem, Alex Renard, Philippe Brun, Pierre Allier
Written-By – Basie
17 Alix Combelle And His Swing Band– Weekend Stomp 2:47
Double Bass [String Bass] – Marceau Sarbib
Drums – H.P. Chadel (Charles Delaunay)
Guitar – Django Reinhardt, Joseph Reinhardt
Piano – Charlie Lewis
Tenor Saxophone – Alix Combelle
Trombone – Guy Paquinet
Trumpet – Al Piguillem, Alex Renard, Philippe Brun, Pierre Allier
Written-By – Combelle
18 Alix Combelle And His Swing Band– Nerves And Fever 3:15
Double Bass [String Bass] – Marceau Sarbib
Drums – H.P. Chadel (Charles Delaunay)
Guitar – Django Reinhardt, Joseph Reinhardt
Piano – Charlie Lewis
Tenor Saxophone – Alix Combelle
Trombone – Guy Paquinet
Trumpet – Al Piguillem, Alex Renard, Philippe Brun, Pierre Allier
Written By – Gaudin
19 Alix Combelle And His Swing Band– Fast, Slow, Medium Tempo 3:00
Double Bass [String Bass] – Marceau Sarbib
Drums – H.P. Chadel (Charles Delaunay)
Guitar – Django Reinhardt, Joseph Reinhardt
Piano – Charlie Lewis
Tenor Saxophone – Alix Combelle
Trombone – Guy Paquinet
Trumpet – Al Piguillem, Alex Renard, Philippe Brun, Pierre Allier
Written-By – Brun
20 Alix Combelle And His Swing Band– Panassié Stomp 3:02
Double Bass [String Bass] – Marceau Sarbib
Drums – H.P. Chadel (Charles Delaunay)
Guitar – Django Reinhardt, Joseph Reinhardt
Piano – Charlie Lewis
Tenor Saxophone – Alix Combelle
Trombone – Guy Paquinet
Trumpet – Al Piguillem, Alex Renard, Philippe Brun, Pierre Allier
Written-By – Basie
21 Alix Combelle And His Swing Band– Rock-A-Bye Basie 2:47
Double Bass [String Bass] – Marceau Sarbib
Drums – H.P. Chadel (Charles Delaunay)
Guitar – Django Reinhardt, Joseph Reinhardt
Piano – Charlie Lewis
Tenor Saxophone – Alix Combelle
Trombone – Guy Paquinet
Trumpet – Al Piguillem, Alex Renard, Philippe Brun, Pierre Allier
Written-By – Basie, Young, Collins
22 Alix Combelle And His Swing Band– Tel Quel (En Plein Sur Le Nez) 3:07
Alto Saxophone – Marcel Coestier, Max Blanc
Double Bass [String Bass] – Francis Lucas
Drums – Pierre Fouad
Guitar – Django Reinhardt
Piano – Raymond Wraskoff
Tenor Saxophone – Alix Combelle, Noël Chiboust
Trombone – Eugène d'Hellemmes
Trumpet – Aimé Barelli, Christian Bellest, Séverin Luino
Written-By – Combelle
23 Alix Combelle And His Swing Band– Deux Pieds Gauches 2:48
Alto Saxophone – Marcel Coestier, Max Blanc
Double Bass [String Bass] – Francis Lucas
Drums – Pierre Fouad
Guitar – Django Reinhardt
Piano – Raymond Wraskoff
Tenor Saxophone – Alix Combelle, Noël Chiboust
Trombone – Eugène d'Hellemmes
Trumpet – Aimé Barelli, Christian Bellest, Séverin Luino
Written-By – Gordon
