Flac French

A lesser-known fusion set recorded for the Japanese Electric Bird label – but one that features great contributions from a host of American players – including Lew Soloff on trumpet, Jerry Dodgion on alto, and Peter Gordon on French horn – as well as Michel Camilo on piano! Calmilo did the arrangements with Gordon and Dodgion, and the overall vibe is more acoustic than usual efforts of this type from the label – especially given that there's a fair bit of extra percussion used alongside the drums, which brings in some occasional Latin touches. Titles include "Joe Cool", "Why Not", "Ion You", "BA Express", "Calentando Man", and "Butter".

One year after its first Chandos recording, the young Neave Trio explores some of the most prominent French composers of the early 20th century in their new album.

The second instalment in the Trés Chic series gathers together many of the legendary icons of 1950 and 60s French music. Featuring Françoise Hardy, Gilbert Bécaud, Charles Aznavour and Sacha Distel alongside a select number of hip American jazz musicians who spent serious time in France and made music there such as Miles Davis and Art Blakey.

The cantate francaise flourished during the first half of the eighteenth century. Morin and Bernier were among the most interesting early exponents of it, Campra, Monteclair, Clerambault and Rameau among the most impressive. Indeed, it is generally recognized that the cantate francaise reached its zenith in the hands of Clerambault. He is represented on this new disc by Le Soleil, vainqueur des nuages. It appeared in none of the composer’s five published collections of chamber cantatas but was issued separately in 1721

French music always sounded different from english or american pop music. Not only because of the language, but also because of it’s very unique sound. Blank & Jones have been travelling to france since the 1980s and always brought home some musical souvenirs. It started with names like Mylene Farmer, Niagara, Etienne Daho or Vanessa Paradis, later artists like Benjamin Biolay or Keren Ann followed. After their Paris trip in spring 2013, where they shot the music video for “Days Go By” with Coralie Clement, they decided to present these new Pop Sensations from France on Bonheur & Mélancolie. This exclusive collection brings you stars like Benjamin Biolay or Sébastien Tellier but also presents new talents like Éléphant, Rose, Berry, Loane or Vincent Delerm…

Those who've heard Masaaki Suzuki's patient, reflective journey through Bach's Partitas will find similar traits in his recordings of the French Suites. At first the breathing spaces and tiny caesuras in the Allemandes and Sarabandes strike a precious pose. Listen again, though, and you realize that Suzuki is phrasing from a singer's perspective, undoubtedly influenced by his experience conducting the Bach Passions and Cantatas.