Kenny Clarke’s Sextet Plays André Hodeir
1. Bemsha Swing
2. Oblique
3. Blue Serge
4. Swing Spring
5. On A Riff
6. Jeru
7. The Squirrel
8. Eronel
9. Round Midnight
10. When Lights Are Low
11. Cadenze
12. Tahiti
Roger Guérin – Trumpet (tracks 1, 3-5, 7, 9-11)
Billy Byers – Trombone
Nat Peck – Trombone (tracks 5, 9, 10)
Hubert Rostaing – Alto sax (tracks 2, 6, 8, 12)
Armand Migiani – Baritone sax (tracks 1-4, 6-8, 11, 12)
Pierre Michelot – Bass (tracks 5, 9, 10)
René Urtréger – Piano (tracks 9, 10)
Martial Solal – Piano (tracks 1-8, 11, 12)
Pierre Michelot – Bass (tracks 5, 9, 10)
Jean Warland - Bass (tracks 1-4, 6-8, 11, 12),
Kenny Clarke - Drums
Kenny Clarke Plays Pierre Michelot
13. Love Me or Leave Me
14. Fun for Four
15. Fantasy for Bass
16. Jackie, My Little Cat
Ack Van Rooyen, Bernard Hulin - Trumpet
Billy Byers, Nat Peck – Trombone
Hubert Fol – Alto sax
Lucky Thompson, Pierre Gossez – Tenor sax
Armand Migiani – Baritone sax
Maurice Vandair – Piano
Raymond Fol – Piano
Pierre Michelot – Bass
Kenny Clarke – Drums
Kenny Clarke Plays Christian Chevallier
17. Dream Time
18. Gold Fish
Roger Guérin – Trumpet
Benny Vasseur – Trombone
Pierre Gossez, Rene “Mickey” Nicholas – Alto sax
Georges Grenu – Tenor sax
Armand Migiani – Baritone sax
Maurice Vandair – Piano
Pierre Micheolt – Bass
Kenny Clarke – Drums
19. Black Knight
20. Jean-Paul
Ack Van Rooyen - Trumpet (track 19)
Jean Liesse – Trumpet (track 20)
Nat Peck – Trombone
Hubert Fol, Jean Aldegon – Alto sax
Georges Greno – Tenor sax
Tony Scott – Clarinet, tenor sax (track 20)
Armand Migiani – Baritone sax
Maurice Vandair – Piano (track 19)
Raymond Fol – Piano (track 20)
Pierre Michelot – Bass
Kenny Clarke – Drums
Kenny Clarke Plays Francy Boland
21. Bell Hop
22. More Than You Know
23. Tampico
Christian Kellens – Trombone
Eddie Busnello – Alto sax
Don Byas – Tenor sax
“Fats” Sadi – Vibes
Francy Boland – Piano
Jean Warland – Bass
Kenny Clarke - Drums
In the 1950s several American jazz musicians began emigrating to France, both to avoid racial intolerance and in the hope of finding more steady work. One
of these was drummer Kenny Clarke, who moved to Paris in 1956. This collection illustrates how he immediately found a good deal of work. The compilation
contains recordings made between 1956 and 1960 by a variety of artists under Kenny Clarke’s leadership, spotlighting the arrangements of four different
musicians.
The first dozen tracks feature arrangements by André Hodeir, He was well respected not only for his musical writing but also for his rigorous scholarship,
evidenced in such works as his famous Jazz: Its Evolution and Essence. In fact Hodeir supplies some revealing sleeve-notes. Some of the dozen
arrangements here reveal the influence of the Birth of the Cool musicians, who explored new “cool” voicings and styles. Chords are often varied by
movement within the lines of the contributing instruments.
These qualities are present in the opening Bemsha Swing, which reflects Thelonious Monk’s style in the jagged changes in the final chorus. Martial
Solal’s piano solo here and on other tracks is radiantly clear. In fact André Hodeir seems to prefer piano solos in most tunes. Hodeir’s classical
background is present in Round Midnight, where the theme only emerges at the end of a long semi-classical build-up. When Lights are Low
is deprived of its charm by being performed at too fast a tempo. But Hodeir skilfully uses counterpoint to provide a frisson in the harmonies. René
Urtréger plays an airy solo. Hodeir’s arrangements may be rather “academic” but their intriguing ensembles coupled with some splendid solos make these
twelve tracks well worth hearing.
Bassist Pierre Michelot arranged the next four tracks, which might have come from the pen of a West Coast jazzer such as Shorty Rogers. Love Me or Leave Me gives Kenny Clarke the opportunity for a long drum solo. Like his other solos on this album, they are tight and disciplined.
Michelot himself takes the limelight in Fantasy for Bass.
The Christian Chevallier arrangements are possibly the most conventional in this collection, but none the worse for that. They bear the influence of Bill
Holman and swing along fluidly, including excellent solos from the likes of pianist Maurice Vandair and (in Black Knight) Kenny Clarke.
The personnel in the final three tracks are predominantly Belgian, like the arranger - Francy Boland - who later formed a marvellous big band with Kenny
Clarke. Don Byas contributes a beautifully flowing solo to More Than You Know.
This compilation proves that France had musicians the equal of the Americans – and that Kenny Clarke could fit into any kind of setting.
Tony Augarde
www.augardebooks.co.uk
CD Reviews
Fresh Sound FSR-CD 864
