Paris Jazz Corner

Jacques Schols

"What is there to stay"

1965/67 (réf. BJJR 007).

Wonderful work from a hip Dutch group of the 60s -- one led by bassist Jacques Schols, and featuring some killer tenor from the great Ruud Brink! The material was all recorded for radio in the mid 60s, with wonderful clarity -- hardly the scratchy stuff you might expect from the 'broadcast' in the title, and instead coming across like some great lost studio sides from these top-level players! Brink's tenor work is superb throughout -- well-phrased, and beautifully blown -- with a poise that's almost like Sonny Stitt at his best, especially given the way Ruud can be sensitive one minute, and forceful the next. The rhythm section's killer too -- with the great Cees Slinger on piano and John Engels on drums, both players who'd been in the previous Diamond Five combo -- led beautifully here by bassist Schols, whose warmly round tones really seem to hold the whole thing together. Titles include 'Tickletoe', 'Sweet & Lovely', 'Karen', 'Blues For Robin Mark', 'Moonlight Becomes You', 'Who Can I Turn To', 'The Gentle Rain', 'What Is There To Say', and 'Corner Pocket'.

Zou Mai

"J'attendrai"

2001 (réf. BJJR 002).