In the summer of 2008 multiple Grammy award winning jazz artist Wynton Marsalis and his quintet teamed-up with French accordionist Richard Galliano at the annual Jazz in Marciac festival in Southern France to pay tribute to the late jazz legends Billie Holiday and Edith Piaf.
Richard Galliano, a renowned French-born accordionist who has collaborated with musicians including Chet Baker, Ron Carter and Charlie Haden. Hailed as an extremely versatile musician who is able to masterfully navigate many musical contexts and genres, Galliano is the recipient of the prestigious Academie du Jazz Django Reinhardt Prize awarded annually to the best French musician.
The result is a live recording, CD/DVD deluxe combination that captures this magical performance by two modern legends. The album, entitled The Wynton Marsalis Quintet & Richard Galliano - From Billie Holiday to Edith Piaf: Live in Marciac, captures the magical 9-song set, translating classic jazz vocal compositions into artful instrumental versions that are striking in their rhythmic variety.
From the dizzying waltz tempo of “La Foule” to the infectious swing of “Them There Eyes” to the haunting performance of “Strange Fruit,” the magic of this concert has been faithfully captured in sound as well as in video through a special bonus DVD and is a must-have item for serious jazz collectors and casual listeners alike.
Musicians:
Wynton Marsalis, Trumpet
Richard Galliano, Accordion
Walter Blanding, Saxophone
Dan Nimmer, Piano
Carlos Henriquez, Bass
Ali Jackson, Drums
Track List:
1. La Foule
2. Them There Eyes
3. Padam…Padam
4. What a Little Moonlight Can Do
5. Billie
6. Sailboat in the Moonlight
7. L’homme à la Moto
8. Strange Fruit
9. La Vie En Rose