Jazz in Paris: Paris Jazz Piano

by Michel Legrand

Overview

Near the beginning of his career, Michel Legrand was primarily known as a jazz pianist, so it shouldn't be surprising to learn that none of his compositions are present on these 1959 studio sessions, which were issued by Phillips. With bassist Guy Pederson and drummer Gus Wallez, Legrand covers songs by French composers of the day along with the ever-popular "Moulin Rouge" and a somewhat upbeat arrangement of Edith Piaf's usually maudlin "La Vie en Rose," as well as standards from the Great American Songbook by Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, Vernon Duke, and Mack Gordon. Most of the songs have a Parisian theme to them. Legrand's piano style is hard to define, as he shows a variety of influences without letting any of them overwhelm his sound. His eventual fame as a composer would grow tremendously during the decades that followed the making of this recording, but this LP from the Jazz in Paris series is well worth purchasing to get a taste of his early career. ~ Ken Dryden

Product Details

Release Date:	09/29/2023
Label:	Universal
UPC:	4988031581681
Rank:	104545

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Michel Legrand   Primary Artist,Piano
Michel Legrand et Son Trio   Primary Artist
Guy Pedersen   Bass
Gus Wallez   Drums

Technical Credits

Vernon Duke   Composer
Jacques Aubert   Original Cover Photography
Edith Piaf   Composer
Clifford Grey   Composer
Victor Schertzinger   Composer
Vincent Scotto   Composer
Leo Ferre   Composer
Jerome Kern   Composer
William Engvick   Composer
Georges Auric   Composer
Mack Gordon   Composer
Oscar Hammerstein II   Composer
E.Y. "Yip" Harburg   Composer
Hubert Giraud   Composer
Harry Revel   Composer
Louis Guglielmi   Composer
H. Giraud   Composer
Marcel Louiguy   Composer
Francois Le Xuan   Research,Coordination
Jean Drejac   Composer
Alain Tercinet   Text
Marie Carette   Design
Martin Davies   English Translations
Jean Rodor   Composer
Yann Ollivier   Supervisor
Bill Engvick   Composer
Henri Battaille   Composer
Aurelie Bourguet   Illustrations
Louiguy   Composer
Cole Porter   Composer