Jazz Sous L'Occupation [Import]

Gus Viseur | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 25, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Emarcy Import
• ASIN: B000068WT4
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #385,186 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

VARIOS INTERPRETES JAZZ IN PARIS - JAZZ SOUS I OCCUPATION

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Love it!, February 10, 2011

By 

Judith G. Bronsonstem Svcs "Judith Gunn Brons... (Bandera, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Jazz Sous L'Occupation (Audio CD)

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.

4.0 out of 5 stars FRENCH JAZZ UNDER NAZI OCCUPATION, January 23, 2011

By 

Barry McCanna (Normandy, France) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jazz Sous L'Occupation (Audio CD)

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.