Le grandstanding

[Serial_Apologist]

Sun 5 Jan

http://www.alynshipton.co.uk/blog

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0026ks9

Mon 6 - Fri 10 Jan

Michel Legrand is Composer of the Week (1932-2019) - jazz tracks are included in some episodes

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0026ktp

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0026kv0

[Ein Heldenleben]

I’m rather looking forward to this. Not just an ultra talented popular composer but a superb jazz pianist . I can’t think of any other song writer who relied so heavily on cycles of fifths. They feature in just about all his better known hits : Windmills of Your Mind , I will Wait for You, Chanson de Maxence (You Must Believe in Spring ) , How Do You Keep The Music Playing. Of course it’s his extended use of these seductive harmonies that really catches the ear. A trick Rachmaninov also uses endlessly.
Two outstanding versions of the latter two songs Bill Evans / Tony Bennett (Spring ) and George Benson / Carmen Bradford (music) with the Count Basie Band - two of the all time great vocal jazz / pop recordings those .

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

"What are you doing the rest of your life" (Legrand) Barney Wilen quartet. A favourite.

https://youtu.be/DiCjmzpqUA0?feature=shared

[Serial_Apologist]

I would strongly recommend jazz lovers the Wednesday programme, which includes exquisite solo piano from Legrand of a number of his own tunes. But they can keep the saccharine stuff from Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. The final programme dealing with some of the late concert works is of some interest.

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

I would strongly recommend jazz lovers the Wednesday programme, which includes exquisite solo piano from Legrand of a number of his own tunes. But they can keep the saccharine stuff from Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. The final programme dealing with some of the late concert works is of some interest.

I was just about to post on this! Agree totally, the solo piano material (from the Legrand on Legrand CD) was a revelation. Some of his early piano trio (late 50s) material was Ok but really nothing special but this later recording was majestic, a great explorations of his own material. What slightly disturbed me is that a lot of the program narrative was lifted directly from Wiki or from John Fordham's Guardian obituary, especially the Miles story, verbatim! Work experience kids on the case?

Also it would be have been good to have featured some jazz recordings. Phil Woods, Art Farmer and Art Pepper have all fallen for "The Summer Knows" here's Mr Pepper's from "The Trip", avec George Cables and Elvin ... beautiful.

http://youtu.be/geaUeW7cZTw?feature=shared

[Ein Heldenleben]

I was just about to post on this! Agree totally, the solo piano material (from the Legrand on Legrand CD) was a revelation. Some of his early piano trio (late 50s) material was Ok but really nothing special but this later recording was majestic, a great explorations of his own material. What slightly disturbed me is that a lot of the program narrative was lifted directly from Wiki or from John Fordham's Guardian obituary, especially the Miles story, verbatim! Work experience kids on the case?

Also it would be have been good to have featured some jazz recordings. Phil Woods, Art Farmer and Art Pepper have all fallen for "The Summer Knows" here's Mr Pepper's from "The Trip", avec George Cables and Elvin ... beautiful.

http://youtu.be/geaUeW7cZTw?feature=shared

i think he could be a bit hit and miss with his extended improvs. What Are Doing FTROYL in Weds programme was superb with a rolling Errol Garner four in a bar left hand and a right hand completely off the beat section at one point . But some of the piano on Friday’s Prog struck me as over extended. He was very very talented pianist but sometimes less is more. Thinking back to the recent Bud Powell COTW - he was a model really.

But talented jazz pianists are fairly common. First and foremost he was a composer of half a dozen of the best songs of the 20th Century - songs that avoid Tin Pan Alley cliches and show considerable harmonic sophistication. That Chanson De Maxence from Les Demoiselles de Rochefort (aka You must Believe in Spring ) - no wonder Bill Evans loved it. The keys it modulates through and so elegantly.

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

He also recycles! Why waste a good theme. The music from the music room scene in Les Demoiselles where Catherine and her sister dance around in pastel frocks - the circus is coming to town, and very catchy, is also used briefly in Godard's Femme est une Femme with Anna Karina and Belmondo.

Another favourite is the opening to Bay of Angels (1963) with the over the top piano "dramatics" as they track away from Jeanne Moreau coming out of the casino at dawn. A great opening scene....

https://youtu.be/41CH8c3yq1Q?feature=shared