Among the French jazzmen of the period, baritone saxophonist William Boucaya (1922–1985) stood out as one of the most distinctive voices. Born in Algiers, he first dabbled with the banjo before switching to alto saxophone at seventeen. After the war interrupted his studies, he returned to music on tenor and soon met clarinetist Hubert Rostaing, whose style left a lasting influence. Moving to France in 1945, Boucaya played clarinet with Tony Murèna, alto with Rostaing’s Ambassadeurs, and later baritone—a decisive turn that revealed his true voice. Admiring both Gerry Mulligan and Harry Carney, he forged a sound at once modern and deeply rooted, balancing elegance with power.

By 1950 Boucaya had joined Claude Bolling’s orchestra, and soon appeared in small groups, in sessions with Roy Eldridge and Rostaing, and in the orchestras of Bernard Hilda, Marcel Coëstier, and Raymond Fol. By the mid-fifties he was the most in demand baritone in France, admired equally as a soloist and section player. His recognition culminated in 1956 with an EP for the Ducretet-Thomson label under the name "William Boucaya and His New Sound Quartet." Featuring Boucaya, Christian Bellest (trumpet), Georges Barboteu (French horn), Pierre Michelot (bass), Arthur Motta (drums), and Ben Ahmed Zoubir (congas), the record offered three Chevallier compositions—Golden Sky, Confucius, and Pre’s Wiggins—alongside Hubert Rostaing’s Rêve. The addition of French horn lent the music a sonority reminiscent of the cool ensembles of John Graas, Shorty Rogers, and Mulligan, yet with a distinctly Parisian flavor [...]

At the beginning of the 60s he played with Martial Solal (soundtrack of 'Si Le Vent Te Fait Peur') and in the studio band, which recorded the soundtrack to 'Paris Blues' (with Louis Armstrong). In the early 1960s, he worked again with Rostaing and Guy Lafitte, also with the singer Tony Milton. In 1963 he was a member of the big band of Jef Gilson. In the field of jazz he was involved in 76 recording sessions between 1947 and 1969, most recently with Maxim Saury and The Three Dimensional Band.

—Jordi Pujol (Excerpts taken from the inside liner-notes of the compilation FSRCD 1166)