John Lewis / Sacha Distel - Afternoon In Paris

Afternoon in Paris Review

 

by Alex Henderson

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It was in Paris that John Lewis co-led this 1956 date with Sacha Distel, a French guitarist who never became well-known in the U.S. but commanded a lot of respect in French jazz circles. The same can be said about the other French players employed on Afternoon in Paris -- neither tenor saxophonist Barney Wilen nor bassist Pierre Michelot were huge names in the U.S., although both were well-known in European jazz circles. With Lewis on piano, Distel on guitar, Wilen on tenor, Michelot or Percy Heath on bass, and Kenny Clarke or Connie Kay on drums, the part-American, part-French group of improvisers provides an above-average bop album that ranges from "Willow Weep for Me," "All The Things You Are," and "I Cover the Waterfront" to Milt Jackson's "Bags' Groove" and Lewis' title song. The big-toned Wilen was only 19 when Afternoon in Paris was recorded, but as his lyrical yet hard-swinging solos demonstrate, he matured quickly as a saxman. It should be noted that all of the Americans on this album had been members of the Modern Jazz Quartet; the only MJQ member who isn't on board is vibist Jackson.

John Lewis / Sacha Distel

Afternoon In Paris

A1 I Cover The Waterfront 00:00 A2 Dear Old Stockholm 06:50 A3 Afternoon In Paris 12:57 B1 All The Things You Are 22:21 B2 Bags' Groove 27:38 B3 Willow Weep For Me 33:50 Piano – John Lewis Guitar – Sacha Distel Tenor Saxophone – Barney Wilen Bass – Percy Heath (tracks: B1 to B3), Pierre Michelot (tracks: A1 to A3) Drums – Connie Kay (tracks: A1 to A3), Kenny Clarke (tracks: B1 to B3) Recorded December 4 & 7, 1956 Paris, France