Art Blakey - Paris Jam Session

[Tom 1960]

I just had the opportunity to hear 2 tracks off this release a short time ago during WKCR's birthday celebration of the music of Wayne Shorter. Both tracks featured Barney Wilen and Bud Powell sitting in with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. Sounded great! The question I have is that I see 2 identical releases of this album. One on the Verve label, the other on Emarcy. Is one preferable to the other? Your thoughts are appreciated.

Edited August 25, 2013 by Tom 1960

[Dan Gould]

I don't know Tom I think the CD I have/had said Fontana.

I'd grab whatever copy you find.

[Tom 1960]

I don't know Tom I think the CD I have/had said Fontana.

I'd grab whatever copy you find.

Hey Dan. The one you mention indeed has the Fontana label on the cover of the album. However, in the description of the album on Amazon's website it states Emarcy. No matter, I'm sure were talking about the same animal. I was reading one of the reviews of the Verve release and one of the reviewers cited the audio mix was far from ideal. That was not my impression when I heard this played earlier. I thought perhaps one release was superior to the other in terms of sound? But what the hell do I know?

[jazzbo]

If you're a member of the Hoffman board, you'll order the oldest one because it has to sound better.

I have heard both, they both sound pretty good. I don't remember one sounding better than the other to be honest.

Edited August 25, 2013 by jazzbo

[king ubu]

there are three ... at least speaking of the "Jazz in Paris" series ...

first one:

(digipack, 2002 - there might be four if this one was re-pressed in a jewel case edition ... not sure how many JiP discs were, but good chances this was, since Blakey's one of the bigger names in the series)

then more recently, the "Collector's Edition", using original covers (and I assume the same remastering, but I never bothered to check):

limited digipack edition (four-fold, kind of like the old Verve Elite Edition)

and slightly cheaper jewel case version of the same:

I guess in the end it really doesn't matter much, which one you get ...

[Chuck Nessa]

If you are interested in vinyl, in the US it was issued on Epic:

[Gheorghe]

I remember well the Epic LP and have the Fontana CD (japanese edition). It´s a must for Bud Powell fans, since Bud really is in top form, his solos on Dance of the Infidels and Bouncing with Bud are at least as exiting as the original versions from 1949. And dig the second side with the regular Messengers playing "The Midget" and "Nite in Tunisia". One of the great live albums of Americans in Europe, together with the 1960 Essen Festival with Hawk and Bud, and the 1963 "Americans in Europe" for Impulse! with Don Byas, Idrees Sulieman, Bud, Kenny, Lou Bennett etc. ....

[CJ Shearn]

I have the Jazz in Paris digipack version.

[Gheorghe]

by the way: two days ago I did a jam session at some club and a young guy and a young lady (never saw them before) , both playing alto came on stage callin´out "Bouncing with Bud" which we did. Anyway it´s one of my favourites.....

I was so glad young people dig his music and play it, never thought it might happen. Really inspired me to stretch out on that, always had in mind the "Paris Jam".

[Clunky]

If you are interested in vinyl, in the US it was issued on Epic:

Isn't this a different session ?

[king ubu]

Yep, says Golson there ... that's the other one, I assume, that was also in the JiP series? Very good one!

This one here:

Other cover:

There's one more by the band with Golson from Paris, 2CD edition:

I'm a fan of that Morgan/Golson/Timmons band, maybe even more so than of the Morgan/Shorter/Timmons one ... there's also Morgan/Mobley/Timmons on one Blue Note double, love that one a lot, too!

The Morgan/Shorter/Timmons did plenty of live recording in Paris in 1961, look for this 2CD set:

There's a second one but I can't seem to find a cover (the above is the "second concert" as the cover states, the "first concert" is - or was - around, too)

[sidewinder]

There's one more by the band with Golson from Paris, 2CD edition:

My 3LP box set 70s French reissue on RCA, bought as an import, has that cover design too.

Edited August 29, 2013 by sidewinder

[CJ Shearn]

There's one more by the band with Golson from Paris, 2CD edition:

My 3LP box set 70s French reissue on RCA, bought as an import, has that cover design too.

A great session!