Als Ergänzung zu den Jazz in Paris CDs gibt’s noch eine Fresh Sound CD (neu aufgelegt, ich hab noch die alte Version):
Au Chat Qui Pêche (digipack Limited Edition)
Donald Byrd Quartet
Featuring: Donald Byrd (tp), Walter Davis Jr. (p), Doug Watkins (b), Art Taylor (d), Bobby Jaspar (ts, fl on #1,3 &5)
FSRCD 388In the month of July 1958 Byrd made a lengthyvisit to Europe. He fronted a fine quintet that gave a concert appearances at festivals held in many different countries, followed an engagement at the Paris jazz club Au Chat Qui Pêche.
The group felt very comfortable at the club on Rue de La Huchette, Donald said: „Maybe you have noticed that, since I’ve been in Paris, I have been playing better than I did when I arrived in Cannes last July; we have all made a lot of progress since the festival. I think I have found an audience of connoisseurs, who come especially to hear us… it’s the ideal audience! I’m convinced that this has made us play much better.“Tracklisting:
1. All The Things You Are (Kern-Hammerstein) 11:35
2. It Might As Well Be Spring (Rodgers-Hammerstein) 6:34
3. Parisian Thorough Fare (Bud Powell) 17:28
4. My Funny Valentine (Rodgers-Hart) 5:51
5. Off Minor / Intro (Thelonious Monk)
Well You Needn’t (Thelonious Monk)
Salt Peanuts (Gillespie-Clarke) 9:45
6. Down (Miles Davis) 6:31
7. All This Time (William Walton) 7:04
8. Stella by Starlight (Washington-Young) 6:18
9. 52nd Street Theme (Thelonious Monk) 6:58Recorded live at „Au Chat Qui Pêche“, Paris, October 29, 1958.
Review:
„Were you to ask trumpeter Donald Byrd what moment in his career he would most like to relive, it would not be surprising if he selected the period documented on this recording. It was the late summer of 1958, and Byrd and his quartet had settled in for an extended gig, including practically carte blanche musical freedom, at a Parisian Left Bank jazz cave called Au Chat Qui Peche. On most occasions the quartet was augmented by the Belgian tenor saxophonist-flutist Bobby Jaspar, who at the time was married to American expatriate singer Blossom Dearie.
Today Byrd is the lone survivor, having long outlived not just Jaspar but an American rhythm section of young lions—pianist Walter Davis, Jr., bassist Doug Watkins and drummer Art Taylor. The stay culminated in a public concert, Byrd in Paris (Verve International), which cannot compare with the candid experience and moment of “verismo” history offered by this unrehearsed club date, released for the first time in the United States in 2005.There are no mics on the horns, so solo clarity is sacrificed to room ambience (most of the table conversations are in English). Although Davis‘ piano and Watkins‘ bass cut through the mix, the instruments of Byrd and Jaspar sound distant, except when Taylor switches to brushes or elects to drop out altogether. After a slow and rather tentative start on”All the Things You Are,” the horns respond with heat and conviction to Taylor’s insistent prods on “Parisian Thoroughfare,” which features the best work by Jaspar on the date. Though he’s perhaps most remembered for his flute work, the Belgian woodwind player goes to the smaller instrument only once—for a brief stretch on Monk’s “Well You Needn’t.”
Byrd sounds strongest on the ballads (partly because of not having to compete with the explosive thunder of Taylor’s drum kit), especially the seldom-performed “All This Time” by William Walton. Throughout the set his playing is flowing, logical and without surprises. At the same time, on Monk’s “52nd Street Theme” he makes it clear why he’s the leader (and future PhD). The piece, taken at a breakneck tempo, moves from Davis‘ fleet, Bud Powell-driven solo to an unaccompanied, masterfully constructed walking bass solo by Watkins. At the end of measure 32, Byrd alone comes in. Not wanting to be left hanging out to dry again, he cautions the musicians to get it right the second time, even calling off Davis at the bridge. Finally, the second time around, everyone is primed to come in after measure 32, bringing both the tune and the set to a satisfying close.
Au Chat Qui Peche 1958 may not be momentous music, but it nonetheless provides a rare and historic glimpse of music in the moment.“
– Samuel Chell, All About Jazz
Quelle:
http://www.freshsoundrecords.com/record.php?record_id=4038
Schade, dass Jaspar nicht überall dabei ist!
Und wenn ich grad bei Jaspar bin: seine CDs in der Jazz in Paris Reihe sind auch gut, v.a. die erste (die zweite ist ne Flöte/Vibraphon-Geschichte, daher wohl nicht für alle geeignet…), und seine Vogue Sessions sind auch spannend. Am allerliebsten mag ich aber die Sachen mit René Thomas (RCA und Mole Jazz), und die Alben mit J.J. Johnsons Quintett!
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"Don't play what the public want. You play what you want and let the public pick up on what you doin' -- even if it take them fifteen, twenty years." (Thelonious Monk) | Meine Sendungen auf Radio StoneFM: gypsy goes jazz, #159: Martial Solal (1927–2024) – 21.1., 22:00; #160: 11.2., 22:00 | Slow Drive to South Africa, #8: tba | No Problem Saloon, #30: tba