Born in 1926, American musician Jimmy Gourley was an early “guitar hero” who shaped the history of jazz, particularly in France where he settled in 1951. This anthology, which appears together with his official biography, is a major event that brings together the guitarist’s most emblematic recordings, including tracks that have never been released until now. Before he passed away aged 82, Gourley played not only with American stars but also in more intimate surroundings, such as his duo with son Sean Gourley. This set gives real insight into how this great guitarist’s six strings had the French capital vibrating for half a century.
Augustin BONDOUX / Patrick FRÉMEAUX 

CD1-1951-1954 : HENRI RENAUD : A NEW DATE - VENEZ DONC CHEZ MOI - PARIS JE T’AIME • BOBBY JASPAR : TOUT BLEU, TOUT BLEU - THE END OF A LOVE AFFAIR • LEE KONITZ : YOUNG LEE - LOST HENRI • CLIFFORD BROWN : ALL THE THINGS YOU ARE - GOOFIN’ WITH ME • HENRI RENAUD/JIMMY GOURLEY : NOT REALLY THE BLUES - WHO CARES? - MY HEART BELONGS TO DADDY - IT’S DE-LOVELY • GIGI GRYCE/CLIFFORD BROWN : BABY • HENRI RENAUD/BOBBY JASPAR : CAPRI - SCHABOZZ - EXPANSION • ZOOT SIMS : CALL IT ANYTHING - ZOOT’S SUITE • THE THIRD HERDSMEN : EMBARKATION.

CD2-1954-1961 : BOB BROOKMEYER : STEEPLE CHASE • ROY HAYNES : MINOR ENCAMP - RED ROSE • BUDDY BANKS : BAG’S GROOVE - YESTERDAYS • SANDY MOSSE/EDDIE BAKER : STRAIGHT LIFE - LET’S GO • CHUBBY JACKSON BIG BAND : FLYIN’ THE COOP • LESTER YOUNG : THREE LITTLE WORDS - NEW D.B. BLUES • LOU BENNETT : AMEN - BROTHER DANIEL - WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES • (PARIS BLUES) LOUIS ARMSTRONG : BATTLE ROYAL • (PARIS BLUES) JIMMY GOURLEY : GUITAR AMOUR • JIMMY GOURLEY : FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE - THREE LITTLE WORDS.

CD3-1972-2002 : JIMMY GOURLEY + RENÉ URTREGER : TAFIRA ALTA • JIMMY GOURLEY + EDDY LOUISS : FREEDOM JAZZ DANCE • JIMMY GOURLEY + TEXIER/HUMAIR/LUBAT : GRAFFITTI - COMON’ OVAH - MISS MAGIC • JIMMY GOURLEY : REPETITION • JIMMY GOURLEY + STAN GETZ : EMBRACEABLE YOU • JIMMY GOURLEY : MONTAGNE MADNESS - SHAMEFUL ROGER - LADYBIRD • JACK DIÉVAL : S.F.P. BLUES • JIMMY GOURLEY : OUR DELIGHT • JIMMY GOURLEY + ANDRÉ VILLÉGER : MAYBE YOU’LL BE THERE • JIMMY & SEAN GOURLEY : BILOXY BLUES WALK • JIMMY GOURLEY : BY MYSELF.

DIRECTION ARTISTIQUE : JEAN BUZELIN ET JEAN-PAUL RICARD