Michel Hausser - Mr. Vibes

The vibraphone was still a relative novelty in the jazz scene of the 1950s, particularly in Europe. Its leading proponents in the modern jazz field were Belgian Sadi and French Geo Daly during the first half of the decade. It wouldn’t be until 1955 that another vibes player from France irrupted on the scene: his name, Michel Hausser, and his main influence the art of "Bags" Milt Jackson, his imposing skill, and the role it had in the success of the Modern Jazz Quartet.

It was at the end of 1956 that Michel’s trio had the opportunity to open "Le Chat qui Pêche", a new jazz club that would soon become one of the most popular in Paris. His exciting performances were the talk of the town and paired with the exposure that Hausser received recording with Lucky Thompson and such bandleaders as Christian Chevallier and Quincy Jones, they earned him first place in the 1958 Jazz-Hot poll awards, the first of many in his career.

Although the blues-oriented improvisations and emotional content of Jackson’s approach were evident in Michel’s playing, at the core, his style had a more outgoing flair. In this double CD we can listen to Michel Hausser’s recordings from his prolific Parisian years. Although he has never stopped playing, his name seems to vanish from jazz magazines in 1969, when he returned to his native Alsace, but even so, Michel Hausser will forever remain a referent for jazz vibraphonists everywhere. *Jordi Pujol*

Just like bebop clarinet players, the niche of European vibes players is pretty much an uncharted map. Frenchman Michel Hausser cornered the market back in the bop era of 1958-1960, with this two disc collection showing that he could hold his own against contemporaries Milt Jackson and Teddy Charles.

His sound is confident and relaxed, sometimes with a marimba-like timbre as displayed on his studio and concert recordings from France 1958. The team of Hausser with famed bopper pianist Henri Renard, bassist Ricardo Galeazzi and drummer Dante Agostini sound relaxed and warm on "Isn’t It Romantic" while comparing studio and gig takes of "Rue Dauphine" and "Blues Pour Le Chat" show that the team could kick up the juice in concert format. Ex-pat Bobby Jaspar loans his flute for a crisp "Moaning" and warm "I Remember Clifford" , and is joined by bebop drummer Kenny Clarke and bongo man Humberto Canto for a sleek "Cliff Cliff" and a beatnick'd take of "Mysterioso".

A horn section of Roger Guerin, Luis Fuentes, Dominique Canson and Bob Garcia round out an octet on a 1960 session in Germany hat includes an echoey "These Foolish Things" and MJQ-ish "Up In Hamburg" with some jabbing horns on "Opus De Funk". A year later, a similar conglomerate bops through "Made In Switzerland" while a jam session from 1958 includes boppers Donald Byrd, Zoot Sims, Doug Watkins, Art Taylor and Bobby Jaspar for a sizzling take of "Wee Dot" that has Taylor driving on all 8 cylinders. Sublime chimes. *George W. Harris*

*CD 1*

1 - Blues Pour Le chat

(Michel Hausser)

2 - Isn't It Romantic

(Rodgers, Hart)

3 - Rue Dauphine

(Michel Hausser)

4 - Everything Happens To Me

(Dennis, Adair)

5 - Now’s The Time

(Charlie Parker)

6 - H.E.C Blues

(Michel Hausser)

7 - Rue Dauphine

(Michel Hausser)

8 - Michel Hausser introduces the musicians

9 - These Foolish Things

(Strachey, Link, Marvell)

10 - Blues Pour Le Chat

(Michel Hausser)

11 - Moanin'

(Bobby Timmons)

12 - I Remember Clifford

(Benny Golson)

13 - H.E.C Blues

(Michel Hausser)

14 - Monsieur De...

(René Urtreger)

15 - It's The Talk Of Town

(Livingston, Symes, Neiburg)

16 - Made In Switzerland

(Michel Hausser)

17 - Willow Weep For Me

(Ann Ronell)

18 - Who, You?

(Michel Hausser)

19 - 4 R

(Michel Hausser)

20 - Taking A Chance On Love

(Vernon Duke)

*CD 2*

1 - Cliff Cliff

(Jacques Hess)

2 - Phenil Isopropil Amine

(Bobby Jaspar)

3 - Mysterioso

(Thelonious Monk)

4 - Lullaby Of The Leaves

(Petkere, Young)

5 - Waiting For Irene

(Bobby Jaspar)

6 - Chasing The Bird

(Charlie Parker)

7 - Speak Low

(Kurt Weill)

8 - Up In Hamburg

(Michel Hausser)

9 - Opus De Funk

(Horace Silver)

10 - These Foolish Things

(Strachey, Link, Marvell)

11 - Tadd’s Delight

(Tadd Dameron)

12 - Jive At Five

(Harry Edison)

13 - Blues A San Pauli

(Michel Hausser)

14 - Darn That Dream

(Van Heusen, DeLange)

15 - Tune Up

(Miles Davis)

16 - These Foolish Things

(Strachey, Link, Marvell)

17 - Made In Switzerland

(Michel Hausser)

18 - Wee Dot

(J.J. Johnson)

*CD 1*

#1 to #4:

from the 7" EP Au Chat qui Pêche Vol. 1 (Columbia ESDF 1224)

Micher Hausser (vibes), Henri Renaud (piano), Ricardo Galeazzi (bass), Dante Agostini (drums).

Recorded in Paris, April 23, 1958.

 #5 to #10:

Micher Hausser (vibes), Henri Renaud (piano), Ricardo Galeazzi (bass), Dante Agostini (drums).

Recorded live at Festival de Jazz de Cannes, July 11, 1958.

#11 to #16:

from the album Vibes + Flute (Columbia FPX 173)

Bobby Jaspar (flute #11 to #14), Michel Hausser (vibes), René Urtreger (piano #11 to #14), Paul Rovère (bass), Daniel Humair (drums).

Recorded in Paris, December 16, 1958 [#11 to #14] and February 9, 1959 [#15 and #16].

#17 to #20:

from the 7" EP Michel Hausser Quartet Vol.2 (Columbia ESDF 1254)

Michel Hausser (vibes), René Urtreger (piano), Paul Rovère (bass), Daniel Humair (drums).

Recorded in Paris, November 9 and 10, 1959.

*CD 2*

#1 to #7:

from the album Bobby Jaspar Quartet Featuring Michel Hausser (Barclay 84.063)

Bobby Jaspar (flute), Michel Hausser (vibes, xylophone), Paul Rovère (bass), Kenny Clarke (drums), Humberto Canto (bongos #1, #3, #5 and #6).

Recorded in Paris, December 19, 1958.

#8 to #15:

from the album Michel Hausser Octet -Up in Hamburg (Columbia FPX 189)

Roger Guérin (trumpet), Luis Fuentes (trombone), Dominique Chanson (flute, alto sax), Bob Garcia (tenor sax), Michel Hausser (vibes, piano #13), René Urtreger (piano out on #13), Michel Gaudry (bass), Daniel Humair (drums).

Recorded in Hamburg, March 1960.

#16 and # 17: Michel Hausser All Stars

Michel Hausser (vibes), Roger Guérin (trumpet #17), Bob Garcia (tenor sax #17), Georges Arvanitas (piano), Michel Gaudry (bass), Charles Bellonzi (drums).

Recorded live at Festival de Jazz d’Antibes Juan-les-Pins, July 18, 1961.

#18: Jam Session with the Donald Byrd Quintet

Donald Byrd (trumpet); Bobby Jaspar, Zoot Sims (tenor saxes); Michel Hausser (vibes); Walter Davis (piano); Doug Watkins (bass); Art Taylor (drums).

Recorded live at Festival de Jazz de Cannes, July, 11, 1958.