Some of the best jazz recordings being released these days come from small independent labels. That was the way it always was.
One must remember that labels like Blue Note, Verve and Impulse, just to name a few, were all independents at one time. They were more interested in the art form than the bottom line, but that all changed when most of those labels became part of corporate giants and turning a profit was the only reason to produce music.
Fortunately the jazz culture of independence is still alive today and there are many new labels sprouting out of the “bass & treble clef” to fill the void. One of these labels is from France. It is called Dreyfus Records, named for its founder Francis Dreyfus. It has attracted many of the musical giants young and old of Europe and America
Recording the Best of America And Europe
Names on the Dreyfus catalogue include: Ahmad Jamal, Roy Haynes and Lester Bowie of the U.S. Martial Solal, Richard Galliano and the late Michel Petrucciani all from Europe.
Looking for a way to enhance the image of the label Mr Dreyfus decided to gather some of the musicians and put together a couple nights of musical togetherness.
Dreyfus Jams On a Cool Paris Night
On the second of those Dreyfus Nights July 7th 1994 He invited five of these giants to get together and jam. They had never played together as a group before, but you could never tell from the results. It was a monster Jam.
Dreyfus released the taped result of that night a few years later calling it: “Dreyfus Night In Paris”; it must have been a real hot night, because those guys set it on fire.
Marcus Miller and Friends Play Their Heart Out
Together for the first time in a spontaneous jam: Marcus Miller Bass, Michel Petrucciani Piano, Lenny White drums, Kenny Garrett Sax and Bireli Lagrene on guitar, really worked it. The result is a recording of about 50 mins divided into three tracks.
Opening with 'Tutu', a track made famous by Miles Davis, but written by Marcus Miller, who took it back that night and took it into a whole new direction. Beginning with a flurry of chunky chords on a bed of funky bass, Kenny Garrett sax followed, stating the theme.
There is a quiet lull before Garrett really takes flight followed by a laid-back tension-filled guitar solo by Bireli Lagrene. Petruccianni comes back in with a sweet piano solo. This is all followed by Mr Miller snapping and thumbing his way around the song until the tracks ends to loud applause from the appreciative crowd that bore witness to the event.
They followed 'Tutu' with another of Miller’s compositions: 'The King Is Gone'. This one starts with some nice brush work by drummer Lenny White before Garrett takes over, the song has a quieter much more bop-ish style with a bit of walking bass and straight-ahead drums, near the end Marcus puts down his bass guitar picks up his bass clarinet and trade subdued licks with Kenny who is playing the Soprano sax.
The guys close out the night with 'Looking Up' a composition of pianist Michel Petrucciani which has a beautiful melody and must have captured the essence of what was going through Mr Dreyfus’s head, because this was truly a night when he must have been Looking Up!
Dreyfus night in Paris is funky, soulful and straight up jazzy enough to be included in any real jazz lovers collection.
Tien Providence - Hi Let me tell you a bit about me. I am a writer: author, playwright & director. and I have done some acting. Since moving to Canada ...
