This album, originally issued in 1999, offers French café music, but with a twist, as you might expect when Robert Crumb is involved. The previous “Les Primitifs Du Futur” album I reviewed (in B&R 283) was strongly rooted in blues and jazz, and those elements, plus a few others, are again in evidence here, though admittedly not as frequently : try “Scattin The Blues”, with mandolin solo from Mr. Crumb, “Le blues De Dix-Neuf Heures Trente”, or the almost Paris sidewalk Dixieland jazz of “Fox Musette”, where everything is thrown into the mix – two accordions, alto, tenor and baritone saxes, scat singing, piano, a few guitars (including slide), mandolin, ukulele, and drums. The sound is set at vintage throughout the album, and besides those instruments already noted, North African oud, musical saw, and clarinets also crop up. Robert Crumb even speaks French on “Portrait d’un 78 tard” and fiddler Ian McCamy – also recently in these pages – contributes to a couple of numbers. Bandleader and guitarist Dominique Cravic somehow keeps everything together, whether it be tango, waltz, or rumba – and all with a smile on his, and everyone else’s face. Good fun, different, very, very, entertaining!
Par Norman DARWEN – BLUES & RHYTHM
Par Norman DARWEN – BLUES & RHYTHM
