Plays Brassens

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Audio Mixer: Vincent Mahey. Liner Note Author: Maxime Leforestier. Recording information: Studio La Fonderie, Sextan, Malakoff, France (06/03/2010-06/05/2010). Photographers: Yuji Suzuki; Jacques Aubert . Veteran French guitarist Christian Escoude explores the music of French songwriter/poet Georges Brassens, a popular artist in his homeland, though his music had been somewhat neglected until a flurry of recordings made after the turn of the century by various artists. Brassens' uncomplicated yet elegant melodies provide a great launching pad for improvisation. Though he plays electric guitar for most of the sessions, Escoude captures the essence of Gypsy jazz in many of the performances, though with instrumentation that varies from the format established by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli in their quintet. The lyrical interplay within "La Non-Demande en Marriage" is complemented by the solos of violinist Fiona Monbet and the leader. "Cupidon S'en Fout" swings like mad, with fellow electric guitarist Jean-Baptiste Laya providing a great foil for Escoude. "Dans l'Eali de la Claire Fontaine" features the young prodigy Swan Berger with two fine solos bracketing Escoude's feature. With American distribution of this rewarding record date (first issued by Universal France in 2011), perhaps the valuable music of Georges Brassens will gain greater exposure to American jazz fans. ~ Ken Dryden