Product Description France. .co.uk At the time of this 1958 recording Barney Wilen was only 20 but his precocious talent had already impressed not only European musicians but Americans too. Here he's accompanied by three quarters of the original Modern Jazz Quartet with Percy Heath and Kenny Clarke providing a formidable foundation. Milt Jackson is on piano instead of vibes and to hear his characteristic solo lines on the different instrument is quite fascinating. Wilen plays with bewilderingly mature authority, somewhat under the influence of Sonny Rollins but revealing a more lyrical side on ballads. The repertoire is entirely French, apart from a concluding "Epistrophy" by Monk, so two of Wilen's own themes, four by Reinhardt and five by Charles Trenet are the main platform for this inspired meeting of France and black America. A drummer from Senegal adds an African flavour to two tracks and re-mastering has produced more clarity than on previous reissues of this remarkable date. --Graham Colombé
M**T
The underrated Wilen
Good playing from the underrated ('though not by visiting American musicians) Barney Wilen doing a range of compositions with top class support - Milt Jackson (on piano), Percy Heath and Kenny Clarke. A must for anyone interested in jazz in Europe/Paris in the post war years.
P**R
Jazz nostalgia
A piece of nostalgia to listen to 1950s standards retracing the story of jazz over more than seventy years
G**T
relaxation on one cd
When I get stressed at work I play this in the car and I'm totally chilled , just a great cd would also be nice late at night with a couple of glasses of wine , G
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