Jazz Anniversary: June 15-17, 1995 @ Paris “I Love New York in June”

June 15-17, 1995 “I Love New York in June”
by Stephane Grappelli, Michel Petrucciani, George Mraz & Roy Haynes at Studio Davout, Paris for Disques Dreyfus (Flamingo)

This is a Paris recording featuring a mix of European and American members, produced by the French label Dreyfus, which is known for its vibrant, wide-dynamic-range recordings.

Since it is a recording of a song named after New York, the members must have been imagining New York in June while playing in a Paris studio that June. That said, perhaps because the cheerful French violinist and pianist are participating and playing with each other's melodies, the performance conveys the atmosphere of Paris.

Violinist Stephane Grappelli was a pioneer who developed jazz violin, and his performance, which dramatically follows smooth and bright melodies with a glossy tone, is captured brilliantly, including the overtones and incidental sounds. And at this time, he was 87 years old. In his youth, he burst onto the stage by forming a quintet with the great European jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, and he continued his long career thereafter.

In this song, I would like you to listen closely to bassist George Mraz. Born in the Czech Republic, his precise rhythm and pitch, unique to European performers, match perfectly with the resonance of the wooden body, and yet it is not mechanical but swinging, making it flawless. This may be a testament to the difference in recording philosophies between Europe and the US and the evolution of recording technology over 20 years, as it is not fully captured in the recordings of the songs introduced below where Mraz appears.

I would also like you to listen to the drums of Roy Haynes, who represents the crisp and energetic school of clear sound. Because it is a relatively flat recording with a wide dynamic range, you can fully enjoy his brilliant drumming. By the way, Haynes is also a heavyweight in the jazz world, and he was 70 years old at the time of this recording. Even compared to Grappelli, one cannot help but admire his vibrant and youthful performance.

By the way, when comparing the climate of Paris and New York in June, Paris seems to have an average temperature about 5 degrees lower and about half the rainfall, so the musicians might be playing while thinking of the lush and refreshing New York.

And why is June in New York so good? From personal experience, I think it is because the temperature, which rises from spring, exceeds 20 degrees Celsius, but the humidity is low, the sunlight is pleasant, the greenery is lush, and you can feel the breath of life. With that premise, if you listen to songs recorded in New York in this month, you might feel something in common. And many outdoor events such as festivals and parades are held. The NYC Jazz Festival, which continued for 25 years from 1984, was also held in this month, and it can be said to be one of the seasons when jazz is particularly exciting in New York.

The title of this song is “I Love New York in June,” but the correct name is “I Like New York in June,” a song from the musical film “Broadway” starring Judy Garland that became a standard. Here, it seems that “Love” is used in the song title to express even more affection.

This song has become established as a standard, partly because Tony Bennett sang it, but its song title is different: “How About You.” It is taken from the lyrics, “I like New York in June, how about you?” The following performance by Bennett at Carnegie Hall in New York was recorded on June 9, 1962, so it falls exactly in that season. And as a medley, please enjoy the standard song “April in Paris,” which has the same combination of “month” and “city,” sung lightly. What kind of Paris is Bennett imagining while he sings?

If you want to enjoy Roy Haynes' drumming, please listen to this masterpiece as well. It is a so-called typical jazz-oriented recording.

Finally, if you are interested in the performance by Petrucciani, the pianist who represents the Dreyfus label, and the studio where this was recorded, please see this article as well.

Please have a wonderful day thinking about New York in June.