PARIS, 1957 - TWO FRENCH MAINSTREAM GIANTS

LAFITTE – PERSIANY

“LES CLASSIQUES DU JAZZ – VOL.2”
(LP Columbia, Jazz Stars Series, France, 1957)

Two Masters of Mainstream Jazz in Europe: saxophonist Guy Lafitte (1927-1998) and pianist André Persiany (1927-2004).  Both are jazz legends in their native France but are not especially well-known outside of France and neighboring countries.

GUY LAFITTE was a tenor in the school of Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins and Don Byas. At the beginning of his career he worked and recorded with Mezz Mezzrow (1951–1952) and toured with Big Bill Broonzy in 1951.

In 1954 Lafitte made Paris his home, and worked with Lionel Hampton and Emmett Berry. Lafitte had also been a collaborator on various other projects with musicians such as Wild Bill Davis and Bill Coleman.

ANDRE PERSIANY: Born André Paul Stephane Persiani in Paris on November 19, 1927, he was a versatile jazz accompanist who led his own groups from 1946 on. Influenced by Milt Buckner, Persiany played in the pianist/organist's familiar locked-hands style. He recorded in Paris with American expatriates like Sidney Bechet, Buck Clayton, Lionel Hampton, Bill Coleman and Mezz Mezzrow until 1956, when he came to America. Persiany spent most of the 1960s working in trumpeter Jonah Jones' quartet.

Persiany's career hit a peak in the 1970s after he returned to France. His expat collaborations continued with Buckner, Cat Anderson, Arnett Cobb, Buckner, Charlie Shavers and Budd Johnson. Among Persiany's own recordings were Swinging Here and There (1958, Pathé), The Real Me (1970, Black & Blue) and Every Night at Furstemburg (1977, Open).

Thanks to Onxidlib for the rip of this classic French LP.

Credits

Guy Lafitte, tenor saxophone

André Persiany, piano

Paul Rovere, bass

Christian Garros, drums

Tracks

Side A:

01. I'm Coming Virginia

02. St. James Infirmary

03. Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams

04. Dear Old Southland

05. When It's Sleepy Time Down South

06. I Ain't Got Nobody

07. Ain't Misbehavin

Side B:

08. I've Found A New Baby

09. Frankie And Johnny

10. Chicago

11. Sugar Blue

12. Baby Won't You Please Come Home

13. Rockin' Chair

14. Squeeze Me

Recorded in Paris on October 28 (tr.3, 4, 9, 13) & October 29 (all other tracks), 1957.

COLUMBIA FPX 145

Vol.ume 1 is already floating in the blogsphere.  See link in the comments (with thanks to cvllos)