John Lewis & Sacha Distel - Afternoon in Paris (2012) CDRip

Pianist John Lewis, the musical director and founder of the Modern Jazz Quartet, has always loved Paris, which in turn has always adored him. This 1957 recording is a lyrical love note to the City of Light. It features the original MJQ drummer Kenny Clarke along with the great French masters: bassist Pierre Michelot, tenor saxophonist Barney Wilen, and guitarist Sacha Distel, a musical descendant of Charlie Christian and the composer of "The Good Life." Lewis's spare, Count Basie-like piano softly swings in this open and intimate combo setting. "I Cover the Waterfront," "Dear Old Stockholm," "Willow Weep for Me," and "All the Things You Are" appear with an absence of excess that borders on genius. The blues "Bag's Groove," from another MJQ mate, Milt Jackson, dances with Clarke's silken syncopations, and the title track, written by Lewis, highlights his cool, harmonically sophisticated compositional style, laced with Wilen's lovely Lester Young-influenced sound. Compare this CD with John Lewis's 2001 offering, Evolution II, and you'll find that his musical excellence is timeless.