Customer Reviews

Jazz In Paris - Jazz Sous L'occupation

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It has not been easy to find recordings made in France during the war; then we came across this. The engineers have done a great job rehabbing the old recordings, and the jazz is first rate.

1. Josette Musette Swing Royal Orchestra

2. Philippe's Stomp Musette Swing Royal Orchestra

3. Douce Georgette Joseph Reinhardt Et Son Ensemble

4. J'Attends L'Amour Joseph Reinhardt Et Son Ensemble

5. Un Peu De Rêve Joseph Reinhardt Et Son Ensemble

6. L'Oeil Noir Joseph Reinhardt Et Son Ensemble

7. Chiffon Le Quintette Français

8. Juin Le Quintette Français

9. Bruxelles Le Quintette Français

10. Loin Le Quintette Français

11. 67 Rue Couperin Christian Bellest Et Son Orchestre

12. Elle Et Lui Christian Bellest Et Son Orchestre

13. Palm Beach André Ekyan Et Son Orchestre

14. Irène André Ekyan Et Son Orchestre

15. Nuit Et Jour Danny Kane Et Son Ensemble

16. Saint Louis Blues Danny Kane Et Son Ensemble

17. Caravane Danny Kane Et Son Ensemble

18. Agatha Rhythm Danny Kane Et Son Ensemble

19. Star Blues Eddie Barclay Et Son Orchestre

20. Etincelle Eddie Barclay Et Son Orchestre

21. Trop Tôt Eddie Barclay Et Son Orchestre

22. Hot Club Swing Eddie Barclay Et Son Orchestre

23. Zazou-Zazou Jo Reinhardt Swing Orchestre

24. Ballade Jo Reinhardt Swing Orchestre

These recordings were all made in Paris betweeen 1940 and 1944, and show how jazz survived despite the German occupation. One of the subterfuges used was to alter the title so as to disguise its American origin; thus Sweet Georgia Brown became Douce Georgette, and I Got Rhythm was phonetically converted to Agatha Rhythm. Many of the other titles included here were composed by the French musicians involved, in particular accordionist Gus Viseur, and clarinettist Hubert Rostaing.

The first six tracks feature some of Django Reinhardt's former sidesmen and are remniscent of his earlier recordings. Lucienne Delyle takes the vocal on "J'attends l'Amour".The four Quintette Francais numbers feature Hubert Rostaing with piano and rhythm accompaniment, a la Benny Goodman Quintet. Both sides by Christian Bellest et son Orchestre are excellent examples of an 8-piece ensemble sounding like a bigger band, and contain some fine tenor sax playing. I'm puzzled by the two sides listed as by André Ekyan et son Ensemble, because he does not feature in the line-up, and it seems more likely that they are by Hubert Rostaing-Aime Barelli et leur Orchestre.

Dany Kane leads on harmonica, with a clarinet and rhythm accompaniment, on four standards. Pianist Eddie Barclay recorded four titles with a 10-piece band in February 1944 but they were never issued. The compilation finishes with two 1942 recordings by the Orchestre Swing Jo Reinhardt (actually the Gus Viseur Quintette). This is an excellent compilation of mainly Decca recordings, with a complete discography and an English translation of the French liner-note.