Jean-Pierre Sasson (1918-1999) was a magnificent yet often overlooked figure in the history of French jazz guitar. Despite his remarkable contributions during the golden era of French jazz in the 1950s, Sasson's legacy has sadly faded from memory.
In 1939, he took his first steps into the professional music scene, initially drawn to the strong personality of Django Reinhardt, but ultimately developing his style based on the schools of Teddy Bunn and Al Casey. Listening to them, Sasson learned to interpret the blues with an authentically black spirit.
Amid the upheavals of World War II, Sasson moved to London in 1940, where he continued to interact with the English jazz scene until he joined the R.A.F., serving as captain-pilot until the end of World War II. Upon returning to France in 1946, Sasson was captivated by Charlie Christian's electrically amplified guitar and his single-string solo technique, marking a crucial moment in Sasson's musical evolution. Later, in the early 1950s, Sasson did not evade the significant influence, both in terms of rhythm and harmony, that Jimmy Raney and Tal Farlow exerted on many French guitarists and modern jazz in general. Nevertheless, Sasson gradually distanced himself from these influences to forge his own versatile path.
As a jazzman, Sasson's significant quality lay in an attack that is both flexible and incisive, generating swing with great ease of execution. His delightful sound evolved somewhat over the years, parallel to his evolving style. His entire approach was dedicated to one objective: producing swing.
The guitarist with the most recorded jazz sessions in France, Jean-Pierre Sasson, is featured in this CD set, presenting tasteful standards and casual originals that offer a variety of tempos and moods. Listeners can trace the evolution of his playing across the different ensembles featured on these recordings. This collection provides an inspiring experience and serves as a deserved tribute dedicated to showcasing the musicianship of Jean-Pierre Sasson.
Jordi Pujol
Source : https://www.freshsoundrecords.com/jean-pierre-sasson/57282-portrait-of-an-unsung-jazz-guitarist-2-cd.html
Jean-Pierre Sasson
Portrait of an
Unsung Jazz Guitarist
Tracks
Cd. 1
1 Blues in the Night (Arlen, Mercer) 3:06
2 Mop Mop (Hawkins) 2:44
3 Hit that Jive, Jack (Alston, Tolbert) 2:43
4 Byas-A-Drink (Byas) 2:13
5 Red Boogie Woogie (Dieval) 2:35
6 Good Time Blues (Trad.) 3:29
7 Old Time Blues (Trad.) 2:42
8 Just Another Blues (Lewis, Goudie) 3:22
9 Tea for Two (Youmans, Caesar) 2:51
10 Jumpin' at Pleyel (Coleman) 2:37
11 Montana Jump (Sasson) 2:25
12 Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (Kern, Harbach) 2:46
13 Pas si “cool” que ça (Sasson) 2:14
14 Melancholy Baby (McHugh, Fields) 2:46
15 Blues avec Pepe (Sasson) 3:17
16 Minor Swing (Reinhardt) 2:59
17 Artillerie lourde (Reinhardt) 4:17
18 Crépuscule (Reinhardt) 3:43
19 Swing 42 (Reinhardt) 3:24
20 Swing from Paris (Reinhardt) 3:33
21 I Remember Django (Sasson) 4:27
22 Blues for Ike (Reinhardt) 5:40
23 Summertime (Gershwin, Heyward) 2:24
24 Portrait of Django (Sasson) 2:28
25 The High and the Mighty (Tiomkin) 2:39
26 There's a Small Hotel (Rodgers, Hart) 2:25
*
Cd. 2
1 Once in A While (Green, Edwards) 2:27
2 Someone to Watch Over Me (Gershwin, Gershwin) 2:05
3 Almost Like Being in Love (Loewe, Lerner) 2:51
4 Tenderly (Gross, Lawrence) 3:00
5 Fascinating Blues (Sasson) 3:29
6 “Sass” is Groovy (Sasson) 2:18
7 Slightly Old Fashioned (Sasson) 3:06
8 Studio “B” (Sasson) 3:15
9 Blues in Yellow (De Villers) 3:43
10 Pickin' in “E” Flat (Sasson) 2:07
11 Montana Jump (Sasson) 3:29
12 Slalom Geant (Sasson) 3:22
13 Interpellation (Unknown) 3:08
14 Véritablement vieux style (unknown) 2:59
15 Artillerie lourde (Reinhardt) 2:42
16 Mon petit Meunier (Sasson) 3:50
17 You Are My Dream (Sasson) 5:08
18 Lucky Strikes (Sasson) 2:49
19 My Love Supreme (Sasson) 2:22
20 Two Guitar Blues (Sasson) 3:07
21 Joan (Sasson) 2:33
22 Goofy the Cat (Distel) 3:32
23 Winter Holiday (Sasson) 2:40
*
Personnel
[Cd. 1, # 1] Chico Christobal and His Boys
Alex Caturegly - tp
Hubert Rostaing - cl
Chico Christobal - as
Cleo Plateaux - ts
Paul Goudeau - bs
Bernard Peiffer - p
Jean-Pierre Sasson - g
Lucien Simoëns - b
Armand Molinetti - dr
Jack Vermont - vcl
Recorded in Paris ; December 1, 1946
[Cd. 1, # 2-3] Harry Cooper Quintet
Harry Cooper - tp
Eddie Barclay - p
Jean-Pierre Sasson - g
Emmanuel Soudieux - b
Ivan Levine - dr
Louie Williams - vcl [# 3]
Recorded in Paris ; May 10, 1947
[Cd. 1, # 4-5] Jack Diéval and his Quintet
Hubert Rostaing - cl
Jack Diéval - p
Jean-Pierre Sasson - g
Lucien Simoëns - b
André Jourdan - dr
Recorded in Paris ; September 23, 1947
[Cd. 1, # 6-7] New Stars of Hot Club de France
Raymond Cicurel - tp
Maurice Meunier - cl
Eddie Bernard - p
Jean-Pierre Sasson - g
Georges Hadjo - b
Gaston Leonard - dr
Recorded in Paris ; October 10, 1947
[Cd. 1, # 8-9] Jam Session
Raymond Circurel - tp
George Kennedy - as
Frank “Big Boy” Goodie - ts
Charlie Lewis - p
Jean-Pierre Sasson - g
Georges Hadjo - b
Benny Bennett - dr
Recorded in Paris ; December 16, 1947
[Cd. 1, # 10] Bill Coleman Quartet
Bill Coleman - tp
Jean-Pierre Sasson - g
Guy de Fatto - b
Gerard “Dave” Pochonet - dr
Recorded in Paris ; November 9, 1951
[Cd. 1, # 11-15] Jean-Pierre Sasson Quartette
André Persiany - p
Jean-Pierre Sasson - g
Jean-Marie Ingrand - b
Bernard Planchenault - dr
Recorded in Paris ; October 1952
[Cd. 1, # 16-22] Jean-Pierre Sasson and his Ensemble
Guy Lafitte - ts
Martial Solal - p
Jean-Pierre Sasson - g
Guy Pedersen - b
André "MacKac" Reilles - dr
Recorded in Paris ; December 7, 1954
[Cd. 1, # 23-26] Jean-Pierre Sasson and his Orchestra
Jean-Pierre Sasson, lead guitar
accompanied by unknown personnel
Recorded in Paris ; 1955
[Cd. 2, # 1-4] Jean-Pierre Sasson and his Quartette
Jean-Pierre Sasson, guitar & arr.
Michel Hausser - vb
Jean-Paul Mengeon - p & arr.
Charlie Blareau - b
Gérard Pochonet - dr
Recorded in Paris ; April 6, 1955
[Cd. 2, # 5-12] Jean-Pierre Sasson and his Orchestra
Roger Guérin - tp
Christian Kellens - tb
Guy Lafitte - ts
Michel de Villers - as & bs
Andre Persiany - p & arr.
Jean-Pierre Sasson - g
Guy Pedersen - b
André Baptiste “Mac Kac” Reilles - dr
Recorded in Paris ; May 27, 1955
[Cd. 2, # 13-16] Jean-Pierre Sasson Quartette
Jean-Pierre Sasson - g
Gerard Gustin - p
Guy Pedersen - b
André Baptiste “Mac Kac” Reilles, drums.
Recorded at R.T.F. Studios, Paris ; October 26 [# 13-14], December 7 [# 15], & December 21 [# 16], 955
[Cd. 2, # 17-19] Jean-Pierre Sasson Trio with Lucky Thompson
Lucky Thompson - ts
Jean-Pierre Sasson - g
Paul Rovere - b
Gérard “Dave” Pochonet - dr
Recorded in Paris ; March 27, 1956
[Cd. 2, # 20-23] Jean-Pierre Sasson with Sacha Distel
Jean-Pierre Sasson & Sacha Distel - g
Benoit Quersin - b
Christian Garros - dr
Recorded in Paris ; April 10, 1956