Dave Burrell - La Vie De Bohême (1969) [re-rip]

La Vie de Bohême. Opéra de Giacomo Puccini, arrangements de Dave Burrell

A great free improvisation reinterpretation of Puccini's opera arranged and played by Dave Burrell. This musician played with some of the great artists of the '60s free jazz scene including Pharoah Saunders, Sonny Sharrock and Elvin Jones and the album was released on the legendary French jazz label BYG Records. If you have some interest in Free Jazz, it is worth the trip.

This album is Dave Burrell's free jazz take on Puccini's opera "La Bohème". Regardless of its French title it is not French. However, the LP was recorded in France and half the musicians are indeed French. For this album Burrell plays piano and occasionally harp, Rick Colbeck doubles on trumpet and piano harp, Jackie McLean-alum Grachan Moncur III blows his bittersweet trombone and rattles the chimes, Kenneth Terroade plays tenor sax and flute, Beb Guérin is on bass, Claude Delcloo tears it up on drums, and Burrell's mother Eleanor provides some rather abstract vocals. It's a suite in four acts; the ungainly ensemble takes up the occasional classical theme, enriching it now and then with jazzy themes and then launches into improvisation shifting into other avant-garde styled music with Burrell performing some insane lightning runs up and down the keyboard. The overall affect is quite dramatic, with quirky and melancholic overtones that create an atmosphere full of uplifting joy and harmony. The album maintains a common focus on collective improvisation with some soloing. Overall it is a well constructed and conceived arrangement of enthralling music which can be enjoyed with repetitive appraisals.

BYG/ACTUEL Records, 529.330, 1970

Recorded 21^st December, 1969 at Studio Saravah, Paris

Musicians:

Dave Burrell - Piano, Harp

Kenneth Terroade - Tenor Saxophone, Flute

Grachan Moncur III - Trombone, Chimes

Ric Colbeck - Trumpet, Piano Harp

Beb Guérin - Bass

Claude Delcloo - Drums

Eleanor Burrell - Voice

Tracks:

A1. First Act (20:03)

A2. Second Act [1st Part] (6:16)

B1. Second Act [2nd Part] (10:56)

B2. Third Act (4:51)

B3. Fourth Act (7:16)

Rip Info:

The music was taken from a well-loved old pressing. Some muffled surface noise is still apparent, especially in quieter sections. Tracks A2 and B1 have been carefully joined into Second Act, hence new Tracklist:

1. First Act (20:03)

2. Second Act (16:59)

3. Third Act (4:51)

4. Fourth Act (7:16)

Credits:

Producer - Jean Georgakarakos, Jean-Luc Young

Arranger - Dave Burrell

Liner Notes - Dave Burrell & Jean-Max Michel