Jazz Guitarist / Jazz in Paris - Hors-serie 01

Well, even Karel Gott has had amazing albums before but I can’t remember if he played any instrument in his early years. Sacha Distel did in the 50’s and quite few people kept him in their minds for being a smart jazz guitarist too and not only the mister »Scoubidoo« or Brigitte Bardot’s lover. Once more Universal Jazz France makes the difference here presenting the most clever and appropriate reissues one could dream of. Six different sessions between 1956 and 1968 in a »hors-serie«-double-CD, most of them since long unavailable, in small combos or large orchestras and Sacha only playing guitar. How was that? Hum, probably close to a memorable photo reproduced here in the booklet and showing guitarists Renè Thomas, Jimmy Gourley and Distel all around Jimmy Raney’s first venue in Paris in 1954. Sacha’s playing has undoubtly been influenced by Raney but also has something else, a weak touch that gives it a more personal voice, more like Kenny Burrell than Grant Green, something diaphane played by a future young playboy and star. This album is also very valuable by the presence of sidemen like Slide Hampton, Bobby Jaspar, René Urtreger or Hubert Fol. It has definetely this impressive touch of a time that would bring Eddie Barclay’s productions to the top of these years, a smell of innocence and swing. And it’s an economic serie as well.