Sweet Paris

With Oscar in Paris, recorded Live at the Salle Pleyel, jazz fans can bask in the glory of an international jazz collaboration of the highest order at the European venue that is considered to be one of the best in the world.

Thelonious Monk - Live In Paris (1964) {2CD Set, France's Concert FCD 132/2 rel 1989}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 686 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 263 Mb
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© 1964, 1989 France's Concert | FCD 132/2
Jazz / Bop / Modal Music / Piano

The first of two separate CDs from concerts done in Paris during the winter of 1964, Monk's quartet with Butch Warren (bass), Ben Riley (drums) and Charlie Rouse (tenor sax), showcases one standard and four of the pianist's originals. Only "Epistrophy," the closer, is in short form. Noticeable from the opening refrains of "Four in One" is Rouse, bending notes, extrapolating and modifying the melody, challenging Monk to do the same. The pianist then does a retort before laying completely out as Rouse solos. The band follows the same easy swinging mid-tempo ritual for the next two pieces; "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You" and "Straight, No Chaser," as tenor sax, piano, bass and drum solos line up before heading back to the melody. A stride-ish intro by Monk sets up "Sentimental" and "Epistrophy," while solos are concise.

This is a rarely seen, moody, melancholy and seriously done time-piece of early sixties' Gay Pur-ee starring wonderful early girlie icon NICO of latter VELVET UNDERGROUND fame. Good b/w cinematography also shows a surprisingly lot of Nico's (and the other strippers) body -for early sixties' standards. If you're a Nico addict, this etherial mélo is a must-see. Watch out for famous chansonniere Juliette Gréco.

This CD combines together two unrelated solo piano sets. The nine performances by Thelonious Monk are a bit familiar since these renditions (which are highlighted by "'Round Midnight," "Well You Needn't," "We See" and "Hackensack") had been previously reissued by GNP/Crescendo and Mosaic. However the 13 selections (including three alternate takes) by Joe Turner (no relation to singer Big Joe Turner) are much rarer. Turner, a talented American stride pianist who spent most of his life living in France, had only recorded ten songs as a leader prior to this 1952 session and is in top form for such numbers as "Hallelujah," "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea," "Wedding Boogie" and three versions of "Tea for Two." This CD is easily recommended to jazz piano collectors who do not already have the Monk selections.

The Paris All-Stars - Homage to Charlie Parker (1989) {A&M Records 7502153002 rel 1990}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 404 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 174 Mb
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© 1990 A&M Records | 75021 5300 2
Jazz / Bop / Bebop

The city of Paris celebrated bop and the spirit of Charlie Parker with several days of all-star concerts in 1989, highlighted by this performance featuring eight giants who either played with the late alto saxophonist or built upon the foundation of his contributions, though the repertoire doesn't draw exclusively from Parker's recordings. The concert was led by trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, with alto saxophonists Phil Woods and Jackie McLean, tenor saxophonist Stan Getz, vibraphonist Milt Jackson, pianist Hank Jones, bassist Percy Heath, and drummer Max Roach. Egos are never apparent as the men joyfully support one another and no one goes out of his way to showboat during a solo.