Jazz In Paris, Vol. 74: Go-Go Goraguer

The Go...Go...Goraguer sessions are a rare opportunity to discover what a potent jazz pianist Alain Goraguer was before he embarked on a new career as an arranger and a composer that would take him away from the realm of jazz. He would have been part of a great generation of French jazz pianists that includes fine stylists such as René Urtreger, Martial Solal, or Georges Arvanitas. The program is comprised of standards, songs from the French repertoire, and two originals. Classically trained, Goraguer's technique is beyond reproach, and his quite marvelous touch can be enjoyed on a wide range of material — from his tender version of "Darn That Dream" to a percussive reworking of "What Is This Thing Called Love?." Regardless of the tempo, his playing has a sparkling quality that does not fail to draw the listener in. Having assimilated the bebop vocabulary, Goraguer was also quite interested in innovations brought by musicians like Monk, in particular, whose influence can be heard on "You Are Too Beautiful" or the pianist's "Gogo's Goggles." Paul Rovère on bass and Christian Garros on drums are competent and sympathetic players who usually provide a shuffling beat — and the successfully remastered and balanced recording does justice to their playing. This CD reissue combines an LP and an EP, both recorded in 1956, and is much more than a mere curiosity.