Customer Reviews

Jazz a Saint-Germain

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If for no other reason, listen to this album for its beautiful tracks by Angelique Kidjo and Les Nubians (and less so for those by Patricia Kaas, Jane Birkin, China and Jimmy Rowles--though still very nice). Kidjo does a fantastic job with her native African version of one of my all-time favorite songs--"Summertime." It's absolutely beautiful, though really quite un-jazzy. Similarly, the slow, sexy French version of "'Round Midnight" by Les Nubians ("Autour de Minuit") is quite fantastic.

Alone, these two tracks might have been enough for me to enjoy this album, but there are also some great songs on here by other artists, though their styles are, generally, a bit more like that of traditional jazz. The version of "These Foolish Things" as performed by Jane Birkin and Jimmy Rowles, for example, is great in its beautifully slow pace--sleepy and reminiscent, like its lyrics. Patricia Kaas does a very nice, if rather awkwardly accented, job of "Black Coffee" similar to China's "Lover Man" from an earlier track. The unreleased "J'Suis Snob" by Boris Vian is great fun.

The rest of the album is a bit more avant garde for my personal taste with the exception of Iggy Pop and Fracoise Hardy's version of "I'll Be Seeing You" (which seems a little un-inspired) and Dee Dee Bridgewater's version of "Watermelon Man" (which is really quite good, but seems a little robust for the rest of the songs here). Brigitte Fontaine's "La Caravane," Princess Erika's "God Bless The Child" and Elli Medeiros' "Sophisticated Lady" all seem very choppy in addition to having rather severe and awkward accents for the chosen tunes.

Still, it's definitely an enjoyable collection of tracks, for the most part. I'd recommend it for just about any jazz lover or Francophile and definitely for fans of Les Nubians and Angelique Kidjo.

This is an intimate, eclectic vocal collection that has been getting alot of play at my place. Now that you're tired of all those lounge reissues you've been playing at cocktail time, try switching over to this. Smooth, smoky, and just the right amount of vermouth.

French Jazz. So bohemian it hurts. This album is a collection of various contempory jazz artists doing covers of the songs circa "the nocturnal world of libertine Paris in the 40's and 50's". All the songs on this album are worthy listens and jazz lovers may only be disappointed with China's version of "loverman", a song that really can't be performed with out calling comparisons to Billie Holiday. Catherine Ringer & The Renegade Brass Band present us with the fantastic "Les Joyeux Bouchers". Iggy Pop shows up to perform with Francoise Hardy on "I'll be seeing you" (perhaps the album's best track).The Jazz Passangers give us Deborah Harry doing "Il n'y a plus d'apres", another sparkler. Patricia Kaas does an inspired cover of "Black Coffee", which can make any smoker enjoy their stay at their local coffee joint more. Other artists of interest are Princess Erika doing "God Bless the Child" and Les nubians with "Autour de Minuit". All int all the album is great. A fabulous survey for newcomers to jazz and for long time fanatics.

The marketing gang at Amazon.com are certainly doing their job - at the expense of my pocket book. I picked this up from a multiple recommendations link. Unable to find Lainie Cooke's new cd locally I knew Amazon woudld have it. While ordering LC's CD I looked at the suggestions and was intruiged by Pink Martini's, Sympathique. While impulse ordering it, I saw the suggestion for Jazz A Saint-Germain. This disc is definately awesome. I must be getting really frustrated by recent pop/rock and am going full blown eclectic/world/retro - I'm sure it's not that I'm growing up!! Jazz A Saint-Germain isn't just a compilation of great music, but really takes you back to a time of the intimate, live jazz club.

If this is what you looking for - buy this album - all I've listed above as well as SoulSkin, and the latest kd Lang /Tony Bennett project.

No, I don't work for Amazon, but they should put me on payroll - don't ya think?

Sometimes you feel this CD is channeling the 40s and 50s, and sometimes it seems to be deconstructing the period and its sound, but it's almost always fun to listen to. I admit I needed time to warm up to it, but track 2 blew me away the first time I really paid attention to the bloodthirsty lyrics set to a funky death march. As a francophone, I enjoy it when I'm in the mood for hearing French, though Patricia Kaas or Paris Combo offer more subtle and sophisticated visions, if you can use that term for song. My only complaint is Debbie Harry's abominable French accent and her Ohio-flat American "r" spoiling a lovely song. I love her, am an old Blondie fan, but girlfriend should stay away from singing French.

I got this because I like jazz and Pink Martini. I'm pretty disappointed. I guess I was expecting something different. I'm not that thrilled with the vocalists. The arrangements strike me as odd. Several tracks are a lot more electronic than I was expecting. I was shooting for something more natural and recreative of a scratchy Paris-in-the-50s jazz album.

This is a mixture of old standards with a twist, fresh funky beats, with a touch of early French radio. I hadn't set to purchase this CD, but it was recommended. As it turns out I liked this selection and wished that I had not wasted money on my original selection. Jazz A Saint Germain has a couple of songs that I can do without, but overall I liked it.

A blues, soulful collection of Jazz & Blues, you can almost smell the
cigerette smoke in a dark club, with people dancing a little too close to each other.

A fun compilation of songs performed by an unusual array of performers. As a bonus the sound production quality is excellent.
Not for everyone's taste, it's not jazz but cabaret style and I think this CD will appeal to baby boomers best. Listen to sampler before you buy.

This CD provides an eclectic selection of suprises. Easy to listen to, with quirky undertones from well known artists.