Jean Cocteau honoured him with the title “Prince of French Jazz,” but Christian Chevallier (1930-2008) was content to be a remarkable pianist, vibraphone player and bandleader, as well as one of the greatest arrangers of the fifties. Here Olivier Julien has brought together Chevallier’s first jazz albums, beginning with the wonderful soundtrack he wrote with Martial Solal for Jean-Pierre Melville’s film “Two Men in Manhattan.” The music is a spectacular demonstration of Chevallier’s work at his artistic peak, and this recording has left an indelible mark on French jazz.
Patrick FRÉMEAUX

CD1 : CHRISTIAN CHEVALLIER ET MARTIAL SOLAL (BANDE ORIGINALE DU FILM DEUX HOMMES DANS MANHATTAN DE JEAN-PIERRE MELVILLE) : SÉQUENCES 1 À 9. CHRISTIAN CHEVALLIER : DREAM TIME • MINOR • A MOUNTAIN SUNSET • QUARTET MIND • NICE JOKE • AURA • SAXOLOGIE • NEW DAY • LES COPEOS • BADINAGE • CONCERTINO • FICTION • NIGHT IN TUNISIA • PIERRE SPEAKING • OLYMPIA • DIZZ DELIGHT • VLINE.

CD2 : ALPHA • B.S.O.P. • FICTION • STREET IN SAINT-GERMAIN • LA CIENEGA • CRYSTAL • CHET • MYTHE • VLINE • BUGGY AND SOUL • MARATHON SUITE • RENDEZ-VOUS À MELBOURNE • MAD DOG • ACK’S DILEMNA • LABYRINTHE • WITCH • MICHEL ANGE • ASANA • AQUARIUM • LES ROIS MAGES • 6+6.

CD 3 : CROQUEMITOUFLE • IL FAIT DES BONDS... LE PIERROT QUI DANSE • LE MUR • SI JE POUVAIS UN JOUR REVIVRE MA VIE • STORMY WEATHER • THE MAN I LOVE • ROUND ABOUT MIDNIGHT • CARAVAN • JUMPOLOGIE (1... 2... 3... JUMP!) • JERICHO • L’AMOUR EST DANS LA RUE (ON THE STREET WHERE YOU LIVE) • J’AURAIS VOULU DANSER (I COULD HAVE DANCED ALL NIGHT) • SUMMERTIME • I GOT PLENTY O’ NUTTIN • BESS, YOU IS MY WOMAN • IT AIN’T NECESSARILY SO • ÇA TOURNE ROND (AFRICAN WALTZ) • WHISPER NOT • JEANNINE • JASMINA • THE MADISON (1ÈRE PARTIE) • THE MADISON (2ÈME PARTIE) • 23. THE BIG M • DRUG STORE MADISON. TITRES BONUS : KENNY CLARKE : DREAM TIME • GOLD FISH • BLACK KNIGHT • JEAN-PAUL.

DIRECTION ARTISTIQUE : OLIVIER JULIEN