Michel Legrand Legrand Jazz

This 2009 CD contains French composer and pianist Michel Legrand 's album Legrand Jazz (1958) in it's entirety, featuring his first recorded collaboration with Miles Davis.

Though it emerged from the artistic rebelliousness and formal innovations of the French New Wave, Jacques Demy’s kaleidoscopic world was like nothing of its time. The director’s signature style—a Hollywood-inspired blend of candy-colored imagery, infectious tunes, and swooning romance—was most famously showcased in his beloved musicals The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) and The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967). A key ingredient in these two landmark films is Demy’s close collaboration with composer Michel Legrand, who became an international icon following the success of Cherbourg’s soundtrack and went on to win three Oscars for his work in Hollywood.

Michel Legrand entered the Paris Conservatoire at the age of 10 and quickly established himself as a gifted musician. 3 Oscars and 75 years later, he performed for the first time at the Philharmonie de Paris in front of an enthusiastic audience. From song to film, this true virtuoso has never ceased to push back the boundaries of his art, collaborating with legends such as Miles Davis, Jacques Demy, Charles Aznavour, Barbra Streisand and Natalie Dessay. His infinite energy makes him one of the most acclaimed composers of the century, whose flamboyant melodies continue to enchant us.

Michel Legrand was one of the greatest composers of the 20th century. After showing great promise as a jazz arranger — working notably with Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis and Bill Evans — he turned his hand to the French “chanson” genre and composed for Boris Vian and Henri Salvador, Jacques Brel or Maurice Chevalier. He then became probably the most famous composer of melodies for France’s Nouvelle Vague filmmakers — Agnès Varda, Jacques Demy, Jean-Luc Godard —, but it was only the beginning, for he went on to be one of the most illustrious film composers in the world. This 10CD set contains his works during that first great period, devoted to all the music released under his name. Patrick FRÉMEAUX

Michel Legrand was one of the greatest composers of the 20th century. After showing great promise as a jazz arranger — working notably with Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis and Bill Evans — he turned his hand to the French “chanson” genre and composed for Boris Vian and Henri Salvador, Jacques Brel or Maurice Chevalier. He then became probably the most famous composer of melodies for France’s Nouvelle Vague filmmakers — Agnès Varda, Jacques Demy, Jean-Luc Godard —, but it was only the beginning, for he went on to be one of the most illustrious film composers in the world. This 10CD set contains his works during that first great period, devoted to all the music released under his name. Patrick FRÉMEAUX

The match-up of neo-pop crooner with composer is a felicitous one, especially given that this album was recorded in Paris with arranging and conducting. The result is that the treatment of familiar songs such as and is less gimmicky than usual: and slow down, and treat in a more melancholy-than-usual manner. Elsewhere, 's blues and jazz influences are on display, notably on and 's lugubrious lyrics sometimes overstate the wistful tone of ' s melodies, but , by keeping his emotions in check, brings the two into harmony. The liner notes claim this is the singer's favorite of his own albums, and it is certainly one of his least compromised. So often, he has tried on record to balance his pop roots with the commercial demands of contemporary pop-rock; here, he is going all out in one particular style, and the approach works for him.

Quartet Records and MGM are proud to present the world premiere release of Michel Legrand’s complete original soundtrack from the highly sophisticated 1968 thriller The Thomas Crown Affair, the story of a Boston millionaire who puts together an insurance scam by committing holdups against himself. Brilliantly directed by Norman Jewison (Fiddler on the Roof, In the Heat of the Night, The Cincinnati Kid), and starring Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway, the film enjoyed great critical and commercial success and has become an icon of sixties style—known for its agile and surprising editing (by Hal Ashby), Pablo Ferro’s designs, the hot chemistry between Dunaway and McQueen, the costumes, and, of course, the music. Having just moved to Los Angeles after the success of The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Michel Legrand (The Young Girls of Rochefort, Summer of ’42, Yentl, Never Say Never Again), infused his music with a new, fresh and never-before-heard style, mixing influences of jazz, pop, Baroque and Stravinsky. It was sophisticated and chic—and worked perfectly with the film.