SERGE GAINSBOURG

SERGE GAINSBOURG
DU JAZZ DANS LE RAVIN

Gainsbourg dabbled with many styles, but he loved jazz and produced a lot of jazz works, particularly in the earliest parts of his career. This album is the product of his admiration for and emulation of jazz. It is clear he is trying to carve out something original. Indeed his work is quite distinctive... vintage Gainsbourg with its roots clearly in jazz. Still the same tongue-in-cheek Gainsbourg (if you understand French, a pretty funny set of lyrics is to be had in the tune "Du jazz dans le Ravin".) All recorded in the early 1960s, this record is a collection of Gainsbourg's experiments with jazz. While some of the music sounds standard and repetitive, there are moments of originality and brilliance. My personal favourites are "Requiem pour un twisteur", "Chez les Yé-Yé, "Black Trombone" (which sounds sort of a like a lounge singer's act), "Quand Mon 6.35 me fait les yeux doux" and "Machins choses" (which strikes me as somewhat melancholy for some reason.) This is definitely a worthwhile listen/purchase.

1. Angoisse (intrumental) 2:38
2. Du Jazz Dans Le Ravin 2:11
3. Requiem Pour Un Twisteur 2:38
4. Chez Les Yé-Yé 3:20
5. Black March (instrumental) 1:37
6. Black Trombone 2:36
7. Ce Mortel Ennui 2:56
8. Générique (instrumental) 1:28
9. Coco & Co 3:01
10. Intoxicated Man 2:37
11. Elaeudanla Téïtéïa 1:37
12. Le Talkie-Walkie 2:02
13. Some Small Chance (instrumental) 1:58
14. Quand Tu T'y Mets 1:46
15. La Fille Au Rasoir 2:16
16. Quand Mon 6.35 Me Fait Les Yeux Doux 1:53
17. Fugue (instrumental) 1:06
18. Machins Choses 3:17
19. Negative Blues 1:31
20. Wake Me At Five (instrumental) 2:44

2/7: 1958, 1/5: 1959, 8/17: 1960, 3/6/10/14: 1962,
4/11/12/13/15/19/20: 1963, 9/16/18: 1964

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