egroj world: Henri Crolla & Co • Notre Ami Django

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Henri Crolla & Co • Notre Ami Django

Review by Ken Dryden
French guitarist Henri Crolla is heard with a variety of different groups in this compilation of recordings from the 1950s. Although the first ten tracks were recorded as a tribute to the late Django Reinhardt, Crolla stays in the background to allow violinist Stéphane Grappelli to dominate the brief rendition of "Swing 39." In "Minor Swing," Grappelli clarinetist Hubert Rostaing and alto saxophonist Andre Ekyan solo prior to the leader, with Crolla capturing some of the flavor of Reinhardt without copying him outright. But the ballad features without Grappelli are the most surprising tracks. Reinhardt's lovely but obscure "Anouman" showcases Ekyan with the rhythm section, minus Crolla, who evidently sat out this number. Crolla does justice to "Nuages" with a lively solo, complemented by Rostaing's clarinet. The final four selections come from an EP, with Crolla leading a sextet including Rostaing, trumpeter Roger Guerin, and pianist Martial Solal. The guitarist has a far more prominent role throughout this date and seems inspired by the material, which consists of standards of the swing era. This volume in Universal Music's extensive Jazz in Paris CD reissue series is definitely worth picking up.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/jazz-in-paris-notre-ami-django-mw0000225497

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Reseña de Ken Dryden
El guitarrista francés Henri Crolla aparece con diferentes grupos en esta recopilación de grabaciones de los años cincuenta. Aunque los diez primeros temas se grabaron como homenaje al difunto Django Reinhardt, Crolla permanece en un segundo plano para permitir que el violinista Stéphane Grappelli domine la breve interpretación de "Swing 39". En "Minor Swing", el clarinetista de Grappelli Hubert Rostaing y el saxofonista alto Andre Ekyan tocan en solitario antes que el líder, y Crolla capta parte del sabor de Reinhardt sin copiarlo abiertamente. Pero las baladas sin Grappelli son los temas más sorprendentes. La encantadora pero oscura "Anouman" de Reinhardt muestra a Ekyan con la sección rítmica, menos Crolla, que evidentemente no participó en este número. Crolla hace justicia a "Nuages" con un animado solo, complementado por el clarinete de Rostaing. Las cuatro últimas selecciones proceden de un EP, con Crolla al frente de un sexteto que incluye a Rostaing, el trompetista Roger Guerin y el pianista Martial Solal. El guitarrista tiene un papel mucho más prominente a lo largo de esta fecha y parece inspirado por el material, que consiste en estándares de la era del swing. Merece la pena hacerse con este volumen de la extensa serie de reediciones en CD de Jazz in Paris de Universal Music.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/jazz-in-paris-notre-ami-django-mw0000225497

Colaborador / Contributor: Mich58

Tracks:
CD 1 - Notre Ami Django

101 - Swing 39

102 - Minor Swing
103 - Manoir De Mes Rêves
104 - Swing From Paris
105 - Artillerie lourde
106 - Nuages
107 - Djangologie
108 - Anouman
109 - Swing 42
110 - Place De Brouckère

Credits:
Hubert Rostaing - Clarinet
André Ekyan - Sax Alto
Stéphane Grappelli - Violin
George Daly - Vibraphone
René Urtreger, Maurice Vander - Piano
Henri Crolla - Guitar
Emmanuel Soudieux - Double Bass
Pierre Lemarchand, Al Levitt - Drums

Recorded 1958 in Paris

CD 2 - Henri Crolla
211 - Jeepers Creepers
212 - What’s New
213 - Hallelujah
214 - Night And Day

Credits:
Roger Guerin - Trumpet
Hubert Rostaing - Clarinet
Martial Solal - Piano
Henri Crolla - Guitar
Emmanuel Soudieux - Double Bass
Christian Garros - Drums

Recorded 1956 in Paris

Note:
Tracks 1 to 10 recorded 1958 in Paris. Reissue of the Véga LP 30 805.
Tracks 11 to 14 recorded 1956 in Paris. Reissue of the Véga EP 45 1730.

Label:    Gitanes Jazz Productions – 014 062-2, Universal – 014 062-2, EmArcy – 014 062-2
Series:    Jazz In Paris – 60
Format:
CD, Album, Compilation
Country:    France
Released:    2001
Genre:    Jazz
Style:    Gypsy Jazz
https://www.discogs.com/release/5797631-Henri-Crolla-Co-Notre-Ami-Django