Record date: October 2,3 1989
Another encounter with a French saxophone player…. and it’s the great Barney Wilen. To get one misunderstanding out of the air here: French Story on Alfa Jazz, Pony Canyon and M&I and Movie Themes From France on Timeless are really one and the same session. What makes it so confusing is the different title, the different song titles for some of the compositions and the fact that one of the Timeless releases mistakenly notes 1990 as the year of record. But really: it’s the same music. I know it for a fact as I own both releases (the Timeless and the M&I) because I mistakenly thought there were two records to get.
On the music now. This is some of Mal’s most atmospheric playing. Wilen is of course known for his excellent contributions to Miles’ ‘Ascenceur Pour l’Echafaud record but also for being one of Europe’s most solid tenor players. It’s that indescribable ‘film noir’, smoky jazz bar, Paris grey skies mood that dominates this session. Just like Miles’ soundtrack. And both Mal and Wilen are very capable for creating such an atmosphere. The music is pretty laidback with Wilen playing very smooth and fine solo’s and Mal being solid as a rock in the background. But it’s also the simplicity of Mal’s own solo’s that strike. They have that very same feeling as on his trio effort for Timeless. Just a huge joy listening to it. And it’s not only the beautiful ballads that are having the right vibe. The more swinging efforts like Les Liaisons Dangereuses 1960 are just as great with a hard swinging Stafford James in the background. And Mal, he just swing’s equally as hard on it. My favorite track is ‘Quiet Temples’ which really is the alternative title for Mal’s classic ‘All Alone’. In fact it was released first under that name on the 1964 Powertree release. This one is one of the few versions I know that are not played solo piano. Wilen know’s exactly how to handle this very moody Waldron original.
With almost 70 minutes of playing time, this really is worth every single penny of your money. There are quite a few versions one could choose from: the Dutch releases on Timeless that contain some nice session photography. And there’s the Japanese original on Alfa Jazz, the reissue on M&I. I have the Dutch Timeless and Japanese M&I which are both great. But I think the latest UHQCD from Japan on Pony Canyon is the best choice sound wise. Not sure as I don’t own it. The vinyl looks tempting but it’s not only expensive: you miss 2 full songs two including the beautiful ‘Quiet Temples’. To add more to all the confusion in all the different releases: there are 5 different kinds of artworks. What a mess. And there’s the song title disagreement for track 4, 5 and 6. But don’t let is scare you off, When it’s a foggy Sunday morning or a rainy autumn afternoon: it’s this record you want to put on.
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