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From the Vault...
11/24/2019
#1700 |
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info
Philippe Saisse Trio
"The Body And Soul Sessions"
© G&N/Rendezvous Records
Year of Release: 2006
Rating:
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track listing
Do It Again
September
Lady Madonna
Harley Davidson
Lovely Day
Fire And Rain
Constant Rain
(Chove Chuva)
The Dolphin
Comment Te Dire Adieu
Body And Soul
We're All Alone
If I Ever Lose This Heaven
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Philippe Saisse Trio
"The Body And Soul Sessions"
Philippe Saisse is a French smooth jazz and new-age music multi-instrumentalist, composer, record producer and arranger. He has recorded albums since
1987, and on Various Artists compilations. His albums are credited as Philippe Saisse, and The Philippe Saisse Trio. This week's review is from one his
Trio albums, from 2005 - The Philippe Saisse Trio's The Body And Soul Sessions. From this album, appeared a #1 song, from Billboard's Smooth Jazz
songs chart -- "Do It Again" (originally recorded by Steely Dan.) Not only does this album feature this cover, there are other covers on this
album too: Earth, Wind & Fire's "September," The Beatles' "Lady Madonna," James Taylor's "Fire And Rain," "We're All Alone,"
written by Boz Scaggs, and most popular by Rita Coolidge. This album is fantastic in it's own rights -- 1) Sasisse being a fellow keyboardist as myself,
and 2) it's Smooth Jazz at it's finest.
The Steely Dan cover of "Do It Again" is simply fantastic. Likewise the next two covers from the album, Earth, Wind & Fire's "September"
and The Beatles' "Lady Madonna." Each cover is defined as perfect Smooth Jazz, and quite honestly, Saisse's Trio just maybe a bit better than
the originals. Sassie puts his own signature jazz sounds to each. You really can't go wrong with Smooth Jazz, and especially Sassie's versions of
well-known Rock songs.
"Harley Davidson" was written by Serge Gainsbourg, and in researching, it was recorded by actress Bridget Bardot in 1967. Like Sassie,
Gainsbourg was from France, and was regarded as a very popular composer. He wrote over 550 songs, and have been covered by many artists. Most likely
many would not be familiar with his songs, was they were written in French (Petula Clark recorded his songs, translated to English), and because his lyrics
incorporated "wordplay," with humourous, bizarre, provacative, sexual, satricial or subversive overtones. Gainsbourg passed away in 1991 of a heart attack,
short of his 63rd birthday. His legacy is much popular in France, than here in the U.s. Saisse's version of "Harley Davidson" is funky jazz, and
I'm sure he has put his own signature sound on it, as I am not familiar with the original version, by Briget Bardo.
"Lovely Day' was written by Bill Withers. Withers of course, is most famous for songs such as "Lean On Me," "Use Me", " "Ain't No Sunshine."
"Lovely Day" was from his 1978 album Menagerie. I am not familiar with this song, but an interesting information on Withers' version --
At the end of the song, Withers holds a note for 18 seconds, which is one of the longest ever recorded.
"Fire And Rain" is definitely different than the original, written and recorded by James Taylor. Again, Saisse puts his own touch on his cover,
making it superb, outstanding, fantastic.
"Constant Rain (Chove Churva)" was written by Jorge Ben, a Brazillan musician. Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 recorded this one in 1966. Jorge
Ben is commonly known for recording different jazz style fuses -- samba, funk, rock, and bossa nova. His career started in 1963, and has continued
throughout the 21st Century. Luis Eca was another Brazillan musician, as he wrote the next track, "The Dolphin." He was known for his style of
bossa nova. His "Dolphin" song is considered a Jazz standard, being recorded by such popular Jazz artists, as Stan Getz, Bill Evans, and Denny
Zeitlin. Eca recorded albums from 1965 to 1992. He passed away in 1992, he was 56.
Serge Gainsbourg has another song here -- "Comment Te Dire Adieu." It's smooth, it's a little funky, this is a great recording by Saisse's
Trio. "Body And Soul" was originally written in 1930, by Johnny Green (music) and Edward Heyman, Robert Sour and Frank Eyton (lyrics). This is
pure Jazz. Louis Armstrong recorded it, yet it was Paul Whiteman and Jack Fulton who made it popular. Other artists who recorded this song were Billie
Holiday, Coleman Hawkins, Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse. The lyrics have been changed among the years, and is another song as one of the many recorded jazz
standards.
"We're All Alone" is simply beautiful, smooth jazz at its finest. Saisse's piano playing shines. It was originally written by Boz Scaggs.
He recorded his own version, but it was Rita Coolidge's version that became the most well-known. Ending the album is "If I Ever Lose This Heaven,"
Co-written by Leon Ware and Pam Sawyer, it was recorded by Quincy Jones. Many other artists have also recorded this song, such as Sergio Mendes, the
Average White Band, Nancy Wilson.
Philippe Saisse and his Trio consists of Saisse on piano, fender rhodes, keyboards; David Finck on acoustic bass; and Scooter Warner on drums and
percussion. A truly talented trio, playing great Smooth Jazz music.
The Body And Soul Sessions by The Philippe Saisse Trio is a must for your Jazz collection. It defines Body. It defines Soul.
Body and Soul in Smooth Jazz music. The cover versions are simply fantastic. They are all cover versions. Of course, some will you easily recognize.
As for the others, you're curious in listening to the original versions. Saisse puts his own touches, and his own style to each and every song here.
It is well worthing listening to, and having in your music collection.
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