I fell in love with jazz as soon as I could figure out what was going on and probably even before but didn't realize it. I loved the feeling of swing, it was life, plus music. At the same time I feel in love with the "Great American Song". Exploration is still going on with american popular music and it's hardly finished in spite of all the "Experimenting" going on.. Anyway just subtitle this record "This is How I feel about jazz". Excuse me Quincy.
This is my first trio record and I'm lucky to have two "heavy" players with me. Marc Johnson is someone who, is already an accomplished artist. His time is impeccable -loose, yet urgent and when he solos he's lyrical, musical, and original. One of my all time favorites ! His two and a half years with Bill Evans and a lot of time with the Stan Getz 4 really got his ears and fingers together. Thanks Marc for making this date with me - I love it, I love it !
Philippe Combelle is going to surprise a lot of people. He practically steals the show. The sound he gets out of his set and the way he plays with the trio is just what the doctor ordered. With Philippe there were no problems, only happy times... "Mr Rhythm"' !!!
On the music ! I wrote three of the tunes on the album - "Montagne madness" which I dedicate to the "Caveau de la Montagne" a now defunct club where I spent many a happy evening. Listen to Marc rip into his second chorus - "There he goes" ! "Orgy Valley" or Orgeval the town where a lot of my favourite musicians lived for a while - nice memories. I bring my vocal cordes into play on the "Wrong Man Blues". A Song with a moral. Lyrics by Carol Bernstein.
Another blues tune is Manny Albam's "Shameful Roger". The blues, but with a difference. Joe Newman recorded it a few years back. "Ladybird" is the great jazz standard, recorded to thank TaddDanneron for having walked this earth.
Then there are three examples of the "Great American Song" - "You go to my head" at a bounce tempo, Marc Johnson is at his most lyrical. "I Thought about You", a very interesting tune to play - What a melody, beautiful lyrics too. Ella did the definite vocal reading a few years ago. Finally "Day by Day" another tune that lets you get off the ground. Enjoy !
Jimmy GOURLEY
(P.S. A big thanks to Dominique Lemerle and Luigi Trussardi for their very generous help. Merci "Les bassistes de Paris".)