Here’s a clever idea; take some French melodies made famous by the likes of Edith Piaf, Jacques Brel and others, and swing them with a hip jazz combo. The horn heavy team of Tom Artwick/as, Don Aliquo/bari, Chris Magee/tp, Rich Willey/tp, Tom Lundberg/tb and Rick Simerly/tb create a West Coast cool and warm interpretation of pieces like “Beyond The Sea (La Mer)” and “La Vie En Rose” with a toe tapping rhythm section of Tony Nalker/p, Rusty Hollowyay/b and Keith Brown/dr. You get a hip bass line on “Et Maintenant (What Now My Love)” and some gliding reeds that flow around Nalker’s piano on “Quand On N’A Que L’Amour.” Vintage boogie woogie and swing brings out the Lindy Hoppers on “Boum” while a chamber feel of the muted horns create Monet impressions during “La Vie En Rose.” Aliquo’s bari is dreamy on “LAccordeoniste” and bops on “Dans Le Vieux Montmartre.” A wonderful bon mot.
Max Frank Music