The “Oracles du Phono” (an almost-anagram of “Orpheon Celesta”), is the new jazz-band sensation whose selfconfessed vocation is to reveal the innermost secrets of acetates… As itinerant prophets, the members of the band preach a return to the gramophone and primal jazz, that near century-old music which continues to vibrate thanks to its eternal freshness. The subtle arrangements of Nicolas Fourgeux and Stan Laferriere restore all the candour of titles by Jelly Roll Morton, Fletcher Henderson and various other sacred monuments of the pre-Swing era. As a plus, their faithful accomplice Daniel Huck puts on his finest MC clothes to sing, scat and play the saxophone with all the devotion and talent for which he’s honoured (fans please note: you won’t be disappointed!). Augustin BONDOUX & Patrick FReMEAUX

Now besieged with requests for classical/jazz "suites" for himself and big-time classical performers, Claude Bolling took up violinist Pinchas Zukerman's commission, and out came another attractive confection that allows a classical cat to play quasi-jazzman for a day. This time, Bolling chooses mostly classical dance forms for his eight movements, still inserting mostly mainstream jazz segments (and a few vintage ones) around and under his soloist without getting him involved. Although he isn't asked to play jazz, Zukerman's warm, Romantic-era-grounded virtuosity doesn't betray even a hint of feeling for it; that makes Bolling's close-knit merger even more remarkable.

Paris Budapest Caravane marks the meeting of three groups who individually are the best exponents of their respective musical aesthetics. Latcho Drom are represent the French style of swing and gypsy jazz, while the Hungarian ensembles Parno Graszt and Etno Rom are the keepers of the Tziganes' Olah music tradition and Rom music from Eastern Europe. After a successful live concert series, the popularity of this mix led to an international tour and the recording of this album.

“Another newcomer to the family of swinging songs? If Sandrine Mallick isn't exactly a newcomer as an artist, the family notion is still relevant, thanks to this reunion between some of the great representatives of Swing, Scat and Song: Ludovic Beier, Doudou Cuillerier and Antonio Licusati, not forgetting the guidance of Angelo Debarre behind the scenes. Sandrine Mallick has recorded songs that shimmer for "Luciole" (the title means "Firefly"), with the creative support of old friends like City Record and Ludovic Beier, who composed most of the music. This album brings together French chanson, an unhinged spectacle of sensual cynicism and the devastating Swing of the Beier Gang!” Benjamin Goldenstein & Patrick Fremeaux

“She didn't reinvent ‘How High The Moon’ every night; on the other hand, not once did she fail to reinvent Ella Fitzgerald.” Alain GERBER

From Hampton to Burton, in passing by Jackson and Hutcherson, the vibraphone, a most complete and unlikely percussion instrument has established itself as a jazz chromatic keyboard, as rich as any piano. Under the inspired mallets of Jean-Michel Davis, with elegance and fluidity, the vibraphone is affirmed in this triptych-like album as a wonderful instrument of caressing bars: long notes lingering in the ear, cascades of crystal beads, gentle tumbling of percussions, refinement of dosages, subtlety of nuances, friction and high frequency tremors, in short, everything that gives meaning to the etymology of the vibraphone: nearer and nearer to real voice vibrations. The great French percussionist Jean-Michel Davis (Les Movies Swingers, Les Primitifs du futur, Novelty Fox,…) author of two historic vibraphone-jazz method books, presents, for the first time on record, compositions and arrangements from these works. These ethereal tracks, like swirls of smoke, are reminiscent of the masterful contribution of this unique instrument to jazz history.

The Victory Concert by the 17-piece Claude Bolling Big Band is a re-creation of the mussic of D-Day. Pianit Bolling's French ensemble sound like Glenn Miller and features dislinguished soloisis. World-Herald Tribune.

An excellent ragtime pianist and wonderful arranger, Claude Bolling invented crossover and composed many memorable film soundtracks. Today he’s an unavoidable figure in jazz history, with a big band that has been touring the world since 1956 with a hot swing that has made him an icon. He retired from the scene in 2014, but his hugely successful Big Band continues, with the Master watching over its destiny. The band is now led by Vincent Cordelette, whose initiative led to this album which he produced himself: all the titles are big band standards composed by Bolling, often played but never recorded until now. Claude Bolling’s “guys”, as he affectionately calls them, pay him a great tribute with their playing in this demonstration of the power in the swing machine known as the CBBB! Patrick FReMEAUX

Classical Music

“In those days, music was in a period some have labeled the “cool school”. Most musicians spent their time practicing chord changes and checking out Stravisky or Bartok. Nobody was making money, but musically, it was an interesting time.” Helen MERRILL

Pianist Jean-Marc Montaut (Pink Turtle) shows brio in providing an offbeat tribute to film-music with these subtle versions of original soundtracks from films by Pedro Almodovar, Spike Lee, Jacques Demy and Bertrand Tavernier. His quartet takes us through a magnificent palette of styles in these great standards from composers whose lyricism and emotion — from Michel Legrand to Ennio Morricone and Vladimir Cosma — constitute a universe that is part of our universal. Augustin BONDOUX & Patrick FReMEAUX “Excellent arrangements, superb performance, and swing of course, especially in “Nous irons tous au paradis”. A disc that has everything… Bravo!” Claude BOLLING “Just a few words to congratulate you all and thank you for the pleasure you gave me in somehow “re-creating” my music with your sensitive, euphoric recording.” Vladimir COSMA

The rhythms and music of the world have aroused my curiosity for many years and have allowed me to color my musical universe with borrowed jazz, popular, and other music. With the poetry and talent of Heloise Lefbvre and Crestiano Toucas, the project 'Elbasan' is the culmination of my quest for a musical melting pot, an Indo-Balkano-Hispanic melting pot that will speak to the Slavic soul. (Thierry Vaillot) Guitarist and composer Thierry Vaillot produces music that is stunningly rich, conjugating Iberian rhythms and Indian ragas with the exhilarating spirit of the Balkans. Together with violinist Helo�se Lefevre and accordionist Crestiano Toucas, Thierry Vaillot and his Trio Elbasan reinvent the imaginary folk music of the "Total-world" in a genre that follows the wind, filled with rare strength and an expressiveness that is heterogeneous and many-colored.

First released in 1994 and 1996, these two now-legendary albums have equal reputations as being both rare and major works in the genre they incarnate to perfection. The spirit of Django Reinhardt guides the playing of Fapy Lafertin: his choruses all show a rare elegance and precision together with a rhythmic pulse second to none, which make Lafertin more than a mere heir to the Master. Reissued in 2012 through Lejazzetal, this edition, re-mastered and augmented, presents Swing Guitar and Hungaria, recorded under pre-war conditions (direct sound-takes encircling a Thirties’ mic) and produced by Dave Kelbie, an unavoidable iconoclast and jazz figure, and probably the genre’s greatest producer (with credits including Evan Christopher’s Django A la Creole, Tcha Limberger etc.) Swing Guitar and Hungaria are indispensible to any jazz fan’s collection. Benjamin GOLDENSTEIN & Augustin BONDOUX

From the waltzes of the rue de Lappe to the songs of Jean Sablon, and from Swing on BBC Radio to Bop in the cellars of Saint-Germain, Dominique Cravic and his troupe are experts in the colorful world of Django. Originally produced for the Japanese label Respect Records, this album joins the distinguished discography of the band Primitives du Futur, here with (almost) all it's members.

Both the public and the critics have been won over by Django A la Creole, the group led by Evan Christopher, no doubt the greatest jazz clarinettist on today’s New Orleans scene. Reaching the end of a hugely successful world tour, the band decided to record a live album that would show the rapport they’d created with audiences thanks to the extraordinary colour and savour of their music. And here it is. Soaring swing, soft and elegant Creole excursions, sidesteps into bossa nova… its taste explodes in your mouth like a great wine. The music is intimate and generous, and the band goes way beyond gypsy swing and the jazz of New Orleans: the concept here is to take music outside the notion of genres. In fact, Django A la Creole is a genre of its own: a fantastic universe of sound somewhere between the Old World and the New. Combining solid roots with crossbred identities and the simple pleasure of playing, this is music we can all share. Augustin BONDOUX

The soundtrack includes multiple versions of one of the film's key dances, "My Funny Valentine," performed by Elvis Costello, Kronos Quartet and Chet Baker. Tracks from Julee Cruise (of "Twin Pea ks" Fame), Kronos Quartet and Yo-Yo Ma plus score music by Van Dyke Parks round out the album.

THREE STORIES is Eldar's first solo piano album for Masterworks Jazz. Originally trained as a classical pianist, Eldar turned his attention to jazz in the beginning of his career but always hoped to combine the two worlds. THREE STORIES reflects the Grammy-nominated pianists existing love for jazz, his growing passion for classical, and his evolution as a composer, thus: THREE STORIES. THREE STORIES showcases the merging of Eldar's worlds: classical, jazz and his own compositions which are influenced by his training in both genres.

80TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

VIRTUE, the new recording from jazz keyboard virtuoso Eldar, affirms his position at the forefront of contemporary jazz and is a fitting follow- up to his 2008 Grammy nominated album, re-imagination. Partnered by bassist Armando Gola and Ludwig Afonso, VIRTUE features mostly original compositions by Eldar and demonstrates the continued development of his writing. Eldar also welcomes guest appearances by trumpeter Nicholas Payton and saxophonists Joshua Redman and Felipe Lamoglia.

Deodato's arrangements and Airto's percussion brought Brazilian undercurrents to the smooth, bluesy sound of this 1971 Turrentine gem. His sax is equally sultry on the driving grooves and ethereal pieces: Salt Song; Vera Cruz; Storm; Gibraltar; I Told Jesus, and more!

BIG BAND:THEME SONGS

For this 2014 album, GUITAR IN THE SPACE AGE, guitarist and composer Bill Frisell mines the catalog of guitar based music from the '50s and '60s that first inspired him to pick up the instrument. Joining Frisell for this album of musical memoriesare the members of his working trio, bassist Tony Scherr and drummer Kenny Wollesen, along with frequent collaborator Greg Leisz, a master of the lap and pedal steel guitars. This superb quartet explores the music of Pete Seeger, the Byrds, Junior Wells, Dick Dale, the Ventures, the Astronauts, Chet Atkins, Merle Travis and others with Frisell's own compositions sprinkled in. The album offers a rare look into Frisell's formative influences, from a time when the electric guitar was in it's infancy and creating a startlingly new sound, pushing popular music into the future.

Jazz fests and top venues everywhere were after Esther during her '70 rebirth on the Kudu label. Bob James, Bernard Purdie and Steve Gadd are among those backing her on this 1974 LP; the bonus Mr. Bojangles joins I Feel the Same; Such a Night; Living Alone; Disposable Society; Doing Our Thing, and more!

LATIN

The Telarc Collection, Volume 9