Barney Wilen - La Note Bleue

Cat. no: 5990439
Format: CD2
Barcode: 8435395503027
Release Date: 23rd July 2021
Genre: Jazz

Barney Wilen’s complete 1987 studio album ‘La Note Bleue’ + 4 bonus alternative takes, one previously unissued.

Newly remastered from the original analogue 24-track master tapes by the sound engineer of the original recording, Herv le Guil. ‘La Note Bleue’ was awarded the Grand Prix Jazz de l’Acad mie Charles Cros as “The Best French Jazz Album of 1987”, and features Barney Wilen on tenor and soprano saxophones, Alain Jean-Marie on piano, Philippe Petit on guitar, Riccardo Del Fra on double-bass, and Sangoma Everett on drums.

Bonus CD consists of a previously unissued 1989 Radio France live broadcast by the Barney Wilen Quartet. Recorded on September 27, 1989 at the Parisian jazz club Le Petit Opportun, the broadcast features Wilen offering fresh new interpretations of songs from La Note Bleue. It is issued here thanks to the collaboration of the INA (Institute National de l’Audiovisuel). Wilen is backed here by Jacky Terrasson on piano, Gilles Naturel on double-bass, and Peter Gritz on drums.

Includes a 28-page booklet featuring new liner notes by Philippe Vincent (Jazz Magazine), Francis Marmande (Le Monde), and bassist Riccardo del Fra. Showcases never before issued photos from the original studio sessions by Guy le Querrec, as well as other hitherto unpublished memorabilia.

French saxophonist Barney Wilen’s career was boosted in 1957 when he joined Miles Davis on the soundtrack of Louis Malle’s film noir classic Ascenseur pour l’ chafaud. However, Wilen’s popularity slowly waned starting in the 1970s, even though he would produce lots of wonderful music in the intervening years. The release of the LP ‘La Note Bleue’ marked a rebirth in his career.

That legendary album followed the success of a Jacques de Loustal & Philippe Paringaux comic book partly inspired by his life, titled Barney et la Note Bleue, which put the saxophonist’s name back into the scene.

CD 1: B same Mucho / No Problem (L’Habit De Lumi re) [The Matador’S Suit] / Pauline / Round Midnight [Round About Midnight] / Les Jours Heureux [Happy Days] / Mr Martin (Voleur D’Amour) [Thief Of Love] / Un Baiser Rouge [A Blood Red Kiss] / Portrait De L’Artiste Avec Saxophone [Portrait Of The Artist With Saxophone] / Whisper Not / Triste Again [Back To Sadness] / Harlem Nocturne / B same Mucho (Reprise) [Solo] / Goodbye / All Blues / No Problem [Soprano Sax Version] / Round Midnight [Quintet Version] / B same Mucho [Solo #2; Previously Unissued]

CD 2: No Problem / All Blues / B same Mucho / Commentary By Claude Carri re / Round Midnight / Goodbye