Barney and More Barney at The Club St Germain

My buddy Robert (french pronunciation) didn't stop with just the Roy Haynes disc, he also included both volumes of this epic live set from The Club St. Germain featuring American expats Kenny Dorham and Duke Jordan.along with French bassist  Paul Rovere and young Swiss drummer Daniel Humair.

This is some truly lovely music played here. All the participants share a reverence for 'The Song' as opposed to pyrotechnics and gymnastics, the result is quite refreshing. Wilen is by this time 21 or 22 and a more mature player than on the Haynes set. He has scored films, recorded with Miles and several other Giants of Jazz - all in all a rather impressive resume' for such a youngster.

It would appear that these recordings have become somewhat rare since their last reissue, hope you enjoy them.

Roy Haynes - Modern Jazz Group Swing 10", 1954, France

 My friend Robert is a saxophonist and a Frenchman and a big fan of Barney Wilen. His feeling is that Wilen is the most melodic of players in the hard bop/post bop era. Wilen's improvisations are always close to the bone of the song, he is remarkably UN-selfindulgent in his choices. Through Robert, I have grown to appreciate Wilen too, I think he appeals to me in the same way that John Park does. This rare French 10" was Wilen's first recording, he was 17! Roy Haynes had made his own professional debut at the same age 10 years earlier but this was only his second session as a leader. A lovely little session it is too, Gourley, Renaud and Cameron all have sparkling contributions and of course Roy and Joe Benjamin are impeccable - 20 minutes of bliss.

Roy Haynes - Modern Jazz Group
Swing 10", 1954, France

1. Red Rose
2. A Mountain Sunset
3. Laffin' And Cryin
4. Minor Encamp
5. Subscription
6. Dillon

Roy Haynes,Barney Wilen,Jimmy Gourley,Jay Cameron,Henri Renaud,Joe Benjamin