Bolling, Claude
Claude Bolling Big Piano Orchestra Plays Ray Charles
Recorded in 1962, this album explodes with vitality.Just when teenagers were discovering the Twist on English and American records, pianist Claude Bolling avoided the trap of playing cover-versions and began writing jazz arrangements of rhythm & blues songs_ and those who listened to the quality of Claude Bolling's swinging piano in this Big Band fronted by GErard Badini immediately fell under its spell.Now reissued by FrEmeaux & AssociEs in agreement with Claude Bolling, this is the dance-album which originally received the Charles Cros Academy Prize. Syncopation from the rhythm-section, efficient brass, a chorus well in place, plus the perfection of Claude Bolling s piano, demonstrate just how much this record deserved that prize.Patrick FREMEAUX