Michel Legrand - Bande Originale Du Film La Piscine ~ Un Homme Est Mort

 

Year : 2021

Label : We Want Sounds

Genre : Jazz, Pop

Style : Soundtrack

 

Michel Legrand's rare score from the iconic 1969 French crime movie directed by Jacques Deray starring Alain Delon, Romy Schneider and Jane Birkin. Originally only released in Japan in 1969, the reissue of the soundtrack includes also the highly sought-after 45 rpm "Un Homme Est Mort" from another Jacques Deray's film released in 1972. Composed just after "The Thomas Crown Affair", the soundtrack uses the same success recipe, namely some beautiful wistful melodies, catchy pop songs and scat singing which decline in several jazzy and groovy variations, all reflecting the festive nights of the French riviera in the 60s. He also invites his sister Christiane Legrand who dubbed Catherine Deneuve in "Les Parapluies de Cherbourg", the violin soilist Stéphane Grappelli and organist Eddy Louiss to participate. Titles include also the jerk "Run, Brother Rabbit, Run" sung by Delaney Bramlett from the pop duo Delaney & Bonnie, "Ask Yourself Why" sung by Sally Stevens, the funky nugget "Un Homme Est Mort" and the erotic song "Onyx Bar".

Michel Colombier - Capot Pointu

 

Year : 1969

Label : La Compagnie

Genre : Jazz, Pop

Style : Symphonic Rock, Chanson 

 

Best known as a genious arranger & composer, Michel Colombier has collaborated with several internationally renowned artists including french choreographer Maurice Béjart (Messe Pour Le Temps Present), Serge Gainsbourg, the Beach Boys (Sunflower), Supertramp (Even In The Quietest Moments), Prince (Purple Rain) or Air (Walkie Talkie). He was also in charge of numerous soundtracks from iconic films (Le Pacha, Purple Rain, Sorcerer), background music for television and radio. He released only three solo albums including his masterpiece the great symphonic pop musical "Wings" in 1971. According to the own words of its author, "Capot Pointu" was recorded for fun including symphonic pop with strings arrangements, some experimental music and catchy melodies served by nice funny chorus. Titles include two songs written by Serge Gainsbourg ("Turlututu Capot Pointu", "La Robe de Papier") or songs based on various call signs composed for french radio shows ("Lobellia", "The Big Team"). It features Eddy Louiss (org), Raymond Gimenès (eb), Francis Darizcuren (eg), André Arpino (ds).

Ivan Jullien Big Band ‎- Blow!

 

Year : 1977

Label : Blue Star

Serie : House Of Jazz

Genre : Jazz

Style : Big Band, Contemporary Jazz

"Blow!" is a compilation bringing together some of the best Ivan Jullien's recordings released on the previous albums "Paris Point Zéro" (1966) & "Secret Service" (1972). A nice little set evolving within orchestra conducted by the famous jazz trumpeter featuring iconic french jazz musicians among Michel Portal on alto and tenor saxophones, Eddie Louiss on organ, Bernard Lubat on percussion and André Ceccarelli on drums. Titles include his own compositions with "Dainaya", "Soara", "Double Indeed" extracted from the album "Paris Point Zéro", "Running With Ruthi", "Meet Mickey", "Indicatif" from "Secret Service", and the jazz covers "And Now Hear Our Meanin" by Jimmy Woode and "Time Square Garden" by Charlie Mingus.

Various - Tchic, Tchic ~ French Bossa Nova 1963-1974

 

Year : 2020

Label : Born Bad Records

Genre : Latin Jazz, Pop

Style : Bossa Nova, Samba, Chanson Française 

 

The French Bossa Nova boom startded at the end of fifities through the paris jazz connection with contibutions of  Pierre Barouh and his Camara Trio, Georges Mousatki or the great Baden Powell settled in the city of lights during the seventies. Compiled by DJ Afrobrasileiro, "Tchic-Tchic" includes a variety of samba expressions played by pop & jazz aces featuring icons Sophia Lauren, Marpessa Dawn, (actress from Marcel Camus' Black Orpheus film), Baden Powell, Pierre Vassiliu (Les Masques feat. Camara Trio) or Jean-Pierre Sabar from french pop rock Balthazar. Titles include also reinterpretations of Brazilian MPB classics "Shirley Sexy" by Claudette Soares (Hlm Et Cine Roman), "O Cafona" by Marcos Valle (Cent Mille Poissons Dans Ton Filet), "Aquarela" by Ary Barroso, "Samba Da Minia Terra" by Joao Gilberto (Pas Tant D'chichi Ponpon), "Casa Forte" by Edu Lobo.

Cortex - Troupeau Bleu

Year : 2019/1975 

Label : Trad Vibe/Disques Espérance 

Genre : Jazz 

Style : Jazz Funk

 

Impossible to find as original issue, the iconic "Troupeau Bleu" is a major masterwork of French jazz funk composed by the pianist Alain Mion influenced by Herbie Hancock, Parliament and Sergio Mendes. "Troupeau Bleu" have been sampled so many times since the eighties by the greatest worlwide hip-hop beatmakers from Madlib, Flying Lotus to MF Doom & DJ Cam, and even recent american rap icons such as Tyler The Creator. The album opens on "La Rue", a pure jazz funk piece including the singular tone of songstress Mireille Dalbray, followed by a new reading of popular french song "Colchiques Dans Les Prés" (Automne), the two bewitched latin jazz to samba sauce "L'Enfant Samba" & "Troupeau Bleu", the jazz pop-direction with disco rhythms of "Mary And Jeff", and closes on the psychedelic flights synths of "Madbass".

Les Chakachas - Eso Es El Amor

Year : 1977
Label : RCA Victor
Genre : Latin Jazz
Style : Afro-Cuban Jazz, Pop

Compilation bringing together various titles recorded between 1958 and 1969 from the funny Belgium latin band "Les Chakachas". The group was formed in 1958 by Belgium musicians Gaston Bogaert (percussion, drums), Henri Breyre (guitar), Bill Raymond (bass), Christian Mare (piano), Charlie Lots (trumpet), Dutch saxophonist Victor Ingeveldt and Cuban songstress Kari Kenton, sometimes supported by Nico Gomez as composer and guitarist. Les Chakachas mostly played Latin American music in all of its variation including Cha-Cha-Cha, Mambo, Rumba or Bossa Nova, mixing it also with pop music. Their first big success was "Eso Es El amor" which reached first rank in the Belgium music charts of the 1958 year, a title regularly recorded in various versions all along their career. In the seventies, the band incorporated Afro-American music elements in their compositions including R&B, Funk and Soul whose the most iconic song was "Jungle Fever", returned into the spotlight thanks to the Paul Thomas Anderson's film "Boogie Nights" in 1997 and the "Grand Theft Auto San Andreas" video game.

Piero Piccioni - Musica-Amore

Year : 2016/1972
Label : Cinedelic Records/General Music
Genre : Stage & Screen, Jazz, Soul
Style : Soul Jazz, Easy Listening

Maestro Piero Piccioni was an italian pianist, conductor & composer, in charge of over 300 movie soundtracks, influenced by iconic film directors among Frank Capra, Alfred Hitchcock, Billy Wilder or John Ford. He worked for the masters of italian cinema during the golden years of Cinecittà including Michelangelo Antonioni, Francesco Rosi, Luchino Visconti, Bernardo Bertolucci, Roberto Rossellini, Dino Risi. Piccioni’s first score for a feature film was Gianni Franciolini’s "Il Mondo Le Condanna" in 1952, but his most famous work were for the movies “Swept Away” (1975), “Salvatore Giuliano” by Francesco Rosi (1963) and "Lo Staniero" by Visconti (1967). He worked also on italian variation of "Le Mépris" soundtrack (original music by Georges Delerue) and OSS 117. "Musica-Amore" brings together several movie themes and others jazz soundscapes composed for various italian films recorded between late sixties and early seventies, including two songs "Right Or Wrong" & "Once And Again" featuring his regular vocalist Lyn McDonald aka Shawn Robinson.

Chlorine Free - Le Fish

Year : 2016
Label : Dunose Production
Genre : Jazz, Broken Beat
Style : Jazz Funk, Jazzy Hip-Hop 

Chlorine Free is a french jazz funk collective based in Paris who explores electronic worlds and programming in Jazz. The music of Chlorine Free can be defined as the meeting between their various influences from A Tribe Called Quest passing by The Headhunters, mixing broken beat, experimental music, funk/soul, conscious hip-hop & electronic avant-garde. From 2011 to 2017, the band collaborated with various talented artists such as MCs Rashaan Ahmad, Mike Ladd from The Infesticons & Racecar or british saxophonist Soweto Kinch. "Le Fish" is their second album after "Star Fresh" released in 2011 and before "Free Speech" in 2017, including instrumental titles and featurings with Soweto Kinch (Natural Blend), Nya (Thankful) & Yan Cléry (One Shot).

I Marc 4 ‎- Nelson Psychout

Year : 2017
Label : Vampi Soul
Genre : Jazz, Stage&Screen
Style : Jazz Rock, Easy Listening, Psychedelic Rock

The Vampi Soul's compilation of "original library music from the vaults of Nelson Records", an italian music library label actives during the seventies and primarily issuing records from I Marc 4, one of the most famous italian studio session group. I Marc 4 is a jazz quartet formed by Maurizio Majorana (eb), Antonello Vannucci (p, org), Roberto Podio (ds) and Carlo Pes (eg) whose the name comes from the initials of the four members. Maurizio Majorana & Roberto Podio, both from the Modern Jazz Gang, have played with Lionel Hampton, and Carlo Pes with Barney Kessel. I Marc 4 also played for famous Italian international composers such as Ennio Morricone or Piero Umiliani and recorded most of the Armando Travaioli's compositions. All tracks recorded between 1970-1976, extracted from Nelson GLP catalogue including serie 1000 (1001 to 1007 & 1010), compiled by Alessandro Casella.

 

Peter Herbolzheimer - Soul Puppets (Unreleased Jazz Funk Library)

Year : 2011
Label : Sonorama
Genre : Jazz
Style : Latin Jazz, Jazz Funk

This compilation brings together various straight-ahead-Jazz tracks incorporating funk, soul & latin music elements. Recorded by the Orchester Peter Herbolzheimer between 1970-1975, most of the tracks were released on German music library labels including Altaxon. Peter Herbolzheimer was a german band leader, trombonist and arranger, member of jazz rock group "Free Orbit" and best known as the conductor of the trans-european Big Band, the Rhythm Combination & Brass. Founded in 1969, mostly actives during the seventies, Rhythm Combination & Brass has incorporated some prestigious musicians such as Art Farmer, dansih trumpeter Palle Mikkelborg or belgian guitarist Philip Catherine. The group has regulary performed in various german telivision shows and radio programs, has supported visiting american musicians in jazz gala such as Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Goodman, Sammy Davis Jr., Dizzy Gillespie or european jazz like Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen. In the late seventies the band toured with the biggest jazz stars such as Esther Phillips, Stan Getz, Nat Adderley, Toots Thielemans or Grady Tate.

Serge Gainsbourg - Le Cinéma De Serge Gainsbourg

Year : 2015
Label : DECCA
Series : Back To Black
Genre : Jazz, Stage & Screen, Soundtrack
Style : Chanson, Psychedelic, Pop, Rock, Soul Jazz

Compilation of various works composed by Serge Gainsbourg for french directors (among others Bertrand Blier, Georges Lautner & Michel Audiar), including 14 cinematographic pieces recorded in the sixties, exactly from 1959 to 1969. Since "L'Eau A La Bouche" (1959), his first soundtrack arranged by Alain Goraguer, Serge Gainsbourg was able to surround himself  by others talented arrangers/composers, most of the time, the French Michel Colombier & Jean-Claude Vannier on several films : Si J'étais Un Espion (1967), Anna (1966), Manon 70 (1968) & Le Pacha (1968) with Michel Colombier ; Les Chemins De Katmandou (1969), Slogan (1969) & Une Veuve En Or (1969) with Jean-Claude Vannier (also in charge of the cult Serge Gainsbourg's album "Histoire De Mélodie Nelson"). The tracklist includes various songs sung by Serge Gainsbourg (Requiem Pour Un Con, L’Escroc), Anna Karina (Sous Le Soleil Exactement), Serge Gainsbourg featuring Jane Birkin (La Chanson De Slogan) and various unreleased tracks extracted from films "Si J'étais Un Espion" (Breakdown), "Les Chemins De Katmandou" (Générique & Transe Party Des Haschichiens), "Manon 70" (New Delire Again), "Le Pacha" (Un Noël 67) & "Slogan" (Paris-Bombay).

Albert Ayler - Free Jazz

Year : 1979/1964

Label : Vogue/Freedom Records

Genre : Jazz

Style : Free Jazz, Hard Bop

Although he was recognized by John Coltrane, Albert Ayler (1936-1970) remained an accursed artist who divided critics, while he was a brilliant Avant-Garde saxophonist and a eminent actor of the Free Jazz movement during the early sixties. Originally released under "My Name Is Albert Ayler" on Debut Records (Jazz label founded by Charles Mingus & Max Roach), "Free Jazz" was recorded live in 1963 in Copenhagen for the Danish National Radio. The formation consists on two danish jazz musicians, the rookie Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (16 years old bassist), pianist Niels Brønsted and american drummer, Ronnie Gardiner. Titles are mostly played in the Hard Bop style including original composition "C.T." by Ayler, jazz standards (On Green Dolphin Street, Bye Bye Blackbird)and others cover songs from Charlie Parker (Billie's Bounce) to George Gershwin (Summertime), all with free improvisations.

Jacques Dutronc (Self-Titled)

Year : 1966
Label : Vogue
Genre : Rock, Chanson Française
Style : Psychedelic, Beat

The year 1966, may be considered as the French rock birth act whose Jacques Dutronc was one of its eminent figure. Co-written with Claude Lanzmann, the Dutronc's debut album fuses Garage Rock, Psychedelia, Folk Rock music (L'opération). However, this iconic French Pop album recycles British & US Rock success, even borrowing some familiar tunes to The Rolling Stones, The Kinks or The Yardbirds, as evidenced "La Fille Du Père Noël" which shares the same riff as Bo Diddley on "I'm A Man". Between 1966-1975, Jacques Dutronc recorded seven albums for Vogue, taking over his predecessors Yé-Yé (a typical french musical pop genre), the French dandy  is more provocative such as Serge Gainsbourg, using confusing humorous lyrics, wordplay with irreverence, cynicism and irony. Most of the songs are iconic standards of the french Pop and became big hits during the sixties :  "Les Play-Boys", "Les Cactus", "La Fille Du Père Noël" &  "Mini-Mini-Mini".

The Fine Machine - Habitat

Year : 2016/1972
Label : Cinedelic Records/CAM
Genre : Jazz, Music Library, Stage & Screen
Style : Pop, Funk/Soul, Psychedelic, Jazz Rock

Masterpiece from Italian music library, first quality reissue stricly limited to 500 copies by Cinedelic records, originally released under the CAM (Creazioni Artistiche Musicali) files in 1972. "The Fine Machine" is formed by three italian composers/arrangers, pianist Giacomo Dell'Orso aka Oscar Lindok, Nico Fidenco (Donimak), and Gianni Dell'Orso (Proluton)."Habitat" is a crossover record including progressive rock, jazz & funk including psychedelic elements ("Obsessing Promenade", "Hand Shake" or "Crazy Eel"), latin beats ("Racing Beat", the bossa "Snobbery"), and oriental expressions on "The Eastern Question". All tracks arranged by Oscar Lindok.

Pierre Dutour Et Son Orchestre - Dance And Mood Music Vol. 9

Year : 2009/1969
Label : Vadim Music/Chappell
Serie : Dance And Mood Music
Genre : Jazz, Music Library
Style : Jazz Funk, Soul Jazz, Pop

Iconic french music library record from the Chappell sessions, among the best of the serie, performed by french trumpeter & conductor, Pierre Dutour. In the early sixties, Pierre Dutour joined the "Jeunesses Musicales De France" conducted by Claude Bolling and later was enrolled by him in his sextet, he was also a regular sideman for french singer Nino Ferrer and worked for various french entertainers. Associated to his stooge, Jack Arel, for composing, he participated to various Chappell sessions recordings, but not only, the French Music Library labels "Patchwork" & "Telemusic" bear likewise his signature. Titles include "Tracking" (the reminiscent of Blaxploitation soundtracks), the furious jerk "Following You", the killer groove "Business Is Business" and "Leaving To-Morrow" sampled by Howie B. for the song "Switch" (extracted from "Turn The Dark Off" released in 1997). All tracks composed by Pierre Dutour & Jack Arel except High Fly, The Brass March by Garry Bellington.

Giuliano Sorgini E I Visconti - Under Pompelmo

Year : 2015/1971
Label : Cinedelic Records/Dischi Montecarlo
Genre : Jazz, Prog Rock, Funk/Soul, Stage & Screen
Style : Jazz Rock, Music Library, Psychedelic

Legendary Milanese killer groove album, reminiscent of the swinging London from the late sixties, reissued by italian label Cinedelic and originally released in 1973 on Montecarlo. Giuliano Sorgini is an italian composer and pianist in music for TV programs (Scappo Per Cantare), B-movies (Non Si Deve Profanare Il Sonno Dei Morti) and various documentaries produced for RAI (Gli Animali...Che Simpatia ; Pauline, Il Cavallo Sapiente). "Under Pompelmo" contains some elements from a typical soundscape and background music for films, including acid organ & fuzz guitar with pop overtones (Echos From Canyon, To Rebound), Funk/Soul (Wandering Man), psychedelic rock (When I See You) and the hypnotic title track, a jam session approaching 17 minutes. All tracks conducted & arranged by Giuliano Sorgini (p, org) featuring Marcello Caruti Atonelli (eb), Luigi Massari & Massimo Tonson Latour (eg), Franco Romagniello (ds).

Giovanni Tommaso - Vivere A : Tokio Città Del Paradiso

Year : 2015/1972
Label : SONOR/RCA
Serie : Original Cast
Genre : Jazz, Funk/Soul
Style : Music Library, Stage & Screen, Jazz Rock

Giovanni Tommaso is an italian studio bass player, Jazz composer & arranger, who professionaly started in 1957. During the seventies, he was prolific in music library, collaborating to the Sandro Brugnolini & Stefano Torrossi productions and composing several background music for films and TV soundscapes. Giovanni Tommaso also played for various prestigious Jazz Masters such as Chet Baker, Dexter Gordon, Art Farmer or also Sonny Rollins for the Studio Uno show, broadcasted on RAI TV from 1961 to 1966. This rare iconic Italian library file from 1972 (finally reissued by SONOR), was entirely composed by Giovanni Tommaso for an italian documentary focused on the capital city of Japan, where it features uncredited musicians among pianist Antonello Vannucchi, drummer Gegè Munari & guitarist Silvano Chimenti. It includes some typical elements of folk music from Far East, mixed with psychedelic accents and played in the Jazz Rock style. It foreshadows the future sound of the Italian Progressive/Jazz Rock group '70, Perigeo, whose Giovanni was a main member.

Björk Guðmundsdóttir & Tríó Guðmundar Ingólfssonar - Gling-Gló

Year : 1990

Label : Smekkleysa

Genre : Jazz

Style : Contempory Jazz

"Gling-Gló" is the only album of this jazz trio featuring the most iconic Icelandic singer, Björk, lead by the pianist Guðmundar Ingólfsson with drummer Guðmundur Steingrímsson (both from Jazzvaka band) and bassist Þórður Högnason. Produced & mixed by Tómas Magnús Tómasson from the rock band Stuðmenn, it was released under the Smekkleysa label (Sigur Rós & Björk albums issues) and  recorded while Björk was a member of The Sugarcubes. Gling-Gló consists of fourteen songs only in islandic tongue, including Scandinavian themes as the title track (the English equivalent of "Ding Dong"), "Það Sést Ekki Sætari Mey" based on "You Can't Get A Man with A Gun" composed by Irving Berlin for the 1946 Broadway musical comedy, "Annie Get Your Gun".

Daniel Janin - Dinha Mantha's Power

Year : 1974
Label : PSI
Genre : Jazz
Style : Big Band, Funk/Soul, Jazz Funk

"Dinha Mantha's Power" is the most famous album to the Funk/Soul accent and probably the best of French band leader Daniel Janin, including the soulful song "Sand And Rain" featuring american jazz songstress Nancy Holloway. Daniel Janin is a vibrationist, arranger, band leader & composer for various TV shows, who was big band conductor for the Bruno Coquatrix's Olympia Hall in Paris from 1961 to 1964, and worked with various artists from the french variety such as Jacques Brel, Gilbert Bécaud or Dalida. A part of his work has often been sampled by several Hip-Hop artists as the songs "Black Night", "Fat Fat Fellow" or more recently "Trumpet Flower" by Nujabes on the Samurai Champloo original soundtrack. "Sand & Rain" was selected by Mickaël Darmon for the  KIF label's compilation, "Mélodie En Soul Sol : Paris '70".

Agent Double-O-Soul ~ An Anthology Of Music Library

24 musical masterpieces extracted from the late sixties to early seventies, recorded for various screen movies, TV shows, advertising or others commercial programs. Mostly were released under famous music library labels including British KPM, French Montparnasse 2000, or Télémusic catalogues. This compilation of amazing cinematic grooves featuring Alan Hawkshaw, John Schroeder, Janko Nilovic, Vladimir Cosma, Alan Moorhouse, Sandro Brugnolini & many more... Compiled & mixed by Be Hard Bop.