Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Jef Gilson - Archives


Jazzman Gerald says "Before Jef passed in 2012 he was kind enough to allow me to go through his personal archives which resulted in our 'Best of Jef Gilson' album.

Since then I've finally managed to go through his lifelong accumulation of tapes, acetates, records, photos, posters and music paraphernalia which has resulted in Jef Gilson - Archives, an album of previously unreleased demos, alternate takes and lost sessions. It's been a huge task requiring the assistance of many people and several months untangling tapes in the studio, but the results are definitely worth it.

Watch and share the video with all the recordings and pictures I made during all my visits below..."



Via Jazzman Records: "Since Gilson's passing in 2012, we have surveyed the substantial personal archive of his acetates, test pressings and reel to reel tapes with the kind permission of his widow, Geneviève.

The task has not been easy, it’s taken numerous trips to France and the generous assistance of a small army of translators, advisors, musicologists, amateur enthusiasts and record collectors, as well as the surviving members of Gilson’s musical entourage, for us to gather together the information required to make Jef Gilson - Archives (JMANLP/CD.063).

In it you will find music we‘ve chosen from having listened to literally hundreds of hours of alternate takes, rehearsals, live recordings, unissued sessions and personal recordings made from the ‘50s to the ‘70s; none of which has been officially released before.

Despite the limitations afforded by mastering some of these recordings from anonymous reels of twisted, buckled tape and scratched, dusty old acetate discs, we hope that the music contained herein affords a fascinating and otherwise impenetrable insight into the workings of one of the great unsung creative forces of European jazz.

There is also a companion deluxe 10" LP, Jef Gilson - Chansons de Jazz (JMANLP.064), that is a vinyl ONLY release and includes classic Gilson '60s repertoire with rarely heard vocal performances.

Both releases will be available worldwide on the 2nd December 2013 - but you can get them EXCLUSIVELY from our website all week."

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