Search - Guy Lafitte :: Definitive Black & Blue Sessions

Guy Lafitte,french jazz genius

JEAN-MARIE JUIF | BESANCON France | 11/06/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Guy Lafitte was one of the greatest french jazz musician.A friend of one of my mother's cousin,this pleasant,sympathetic man from the Pyrenees,a mountainous region of the south of France,near Spain,started his career in Paris just after World War II,and often played with great american soloists,including Bill Coleman,Lucky THompson,Sammy Price or even Sonny Rollins.He loved music,friendship,good wine and cassoulet,and his death a few months ago,aged 71,was a great loss.In this Black & Blue reissuue,he pays his dues to his master,Coleman Hawkins ("It's the talk of the town","Stuffy","One for the Bean"),gives us a marvelous version of "Body and soul",Hawk's tune,and even plays a Charles Trénet's song,"Bonsoir jolie Madame";this is great mainstream jazz,great tenor saxophone,and listening to it,I remember a TV broadcast where Guy was filmed in a New York club,playing with Ray Bryant,and reaching the stars."