Looking back, 44 years after the passing of pianist Raymond Fol (1928-1979), it ishard to understand why neither in life nor after his death was he recognized as he deserved. It is only possible to think that perhaps it was because of his modesty and discretion that Raymond never became as famous as other French pianists of his generation.
Compared to themany excellent recordings of his as a sideman during the 1950s —the golden age of jazz in France— his discography as a leader was reduced to a single EP which evidently did not help himachieve the same status as such pianists as Martial Solal, René Urtreger, Maurice Vander, or Henri Renaud, to name a few. Despite everything, we can say that Raymond Fol was a respected and admired musician, both by critics and fans, but little valued by the record companies of those years. His melodic yet swinging style meshed equally with traditional, mainstream, and modern jazz artists, always with exquisite elegance and good taste. This double CD presents a series of recordings, most of them previously unissued, which allow us to rediscover several of the facets that characterized his striking and expressive personality.
As Michel Laverdure wrote in JazzMagazine: “It is important that those who love
jazz never forget Raymond Fol.”
—Jordi Pujol
Tracklist
Total time: 150:11 min.
CD 1
01. John's Groove (Raymond Fol) 2:38
02. Tune Up (Miles Davis) 2:39
03. Ro-ma-no (Raymond Fol) 2:43
04. Lazy Lady Daisy (Raymond Fol) 3:01
05. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (Arlen-Koehler) 3:47
06. Unknown No.1 (Raymond Fol) 2:58
07. Unknown No.2 (Raymond Fol) 3:16
08. It Never Entered My Mind (Rodgers-Hart) 2:37
09. Pannonica (Thelonious Monk) 3:18
10. Time in My Hands (Youmans-Adamson-Gordon) 3:12
11. I Let A Song Go Out of My Heart (Duke Ellington) 2:27
12. It Had To Be You (Jones-Kahn) 3:33
13. Why Do I Love You? (Kern-Hammerstein) 2:20
14. Circeo (Raymond Fol) 2:34
15. De Concilio (Nunzio Rotondo) 4:17
16. Noi e loro (Nunzio Rotondo) 4:45
17. Thrilling (Nunzio Rotondo) 4:06
18. Oh My Lord (Raymond Fol) 3:51
19. Out of Art (Raymond Fol) 3:38
20. Lazy Lady Daisy (Raymond Fol) 3:08
21. Circeo (Raymond Fol) 3:44
22. Afternoon in Paris (John Lewis) 3:16
23. Oh My Lord (Raymond Fol) 5:45
CD 2
01. Blues (Raymond Fol) 3:19
02. Where Is Salvador? (Raymond Fol) 2:31
03. Out of Art (Raymond Fol) 4:32
04. It Ain't Necessarily So (Gershwin-Heyward) 4:55
05. Unknown No.3 (Raymond Fol) 3:36
06. Hush (Donald Byrd) 6:48
07. Little Niles (Randy Weston) 5:35
08. Melancholia (Duke Ellington) – Solo 2:45
09. Scandianavian (Raymond Fol) 3:18
10. Andox (Raymond Fol) 10:06
11. Where Is Salvador? (Raymond Fol) 5:07
12. Circonference (Raymond Fol) 4:31
13. Aquarius Mood (Raymond Fol) 4:55
14. Tristan (Raymond Fol) 6:36
15. Out of Art (Raymond Fol) – Incomplete 2:58
Album details
Sources CD1:
Tracks #1-4, from the Columbia EP, Raymond Fol “Au Club Saint-Germain” (ESDF-1112)
Tracks #12 & 13, from the Ducretet Thomson LP “Annie Fratellini” (260 V 102)
Tracks #14 & 17, from the Music EP “The Artistry of Nunzio Rotondo” (EPM 20106)
Tracks #15 & 16, from the Music LP “The Artistry of Nunzio Rotondo” (LPM 2076)
Tracks #18-21, from a Jean-Christophe Averty O.N.R.T.F. TV-show
All other tracks come from various radio and TV broadcasts
Sources CD2:
All tracks come from various radio and TV broadcasts
Personnel on CD 1:
Tracks #1-4: Raymond Fol (p), Michel Finet (b), Jean-Baptiste “Mac Kac” Reilles (d).
Recorded at Club Saint-Germain, Paris, April 13, 1956
Tracks #5-11: Raymond Fol (p), with unknown, bass & drums.
Recorded in Paris, 1957-1958
Tracks #12-13: Annie Fratellini (vcl), Roger Guerin (tp), Raymond Fol (p), Sacha Distel (g), Pierre Michelot (b), Kenny Clarke (d).
Recorded in Paris, 1958
Track #14: Raymond Fol (p), Gilbert “Bibi” Rovère (b), Gilberto Cupini (d).
Recorded in Rome, March 26, 1959
Tracks #15-17: Nunzio Rotondo (tp), Enzo Scoppa (ts), Raymond Fol (p), Gilbert “Bibi” Rovère (b), Gilberto Cupini (d).
Recorded in Rome, March 26, 1959
Tracks #18-21: Raymond Fol (p), Gilbert “Bibi” Rovère (b), Christian Garros (d).
Recorded in Paris, October, 1960
Tracks #22-23: Raymond Fol (p), Gilbert “Bibi” Rovère (b), Philippe Combelle or Charles Bellonzi (d).
Recorded in Paris, circa 1960
Personnel on CD 2:
Tracks #1-4: Raymond Fol (p), Gilbert “Bibi” Rovère (b), Charles Bellonzi (d).
Recorded in Paris, circa 1961. Alliance Française, Paris, 1962 (#3).
Maison de la Radio, Strasbourg, February 23, 1963 (#4)
Track #5: Raymond Fol (p), Michel Gaudry (b), Charles Bellonzi (d).
Recorded at the Theatre des Capucines, Paris Decembre 7, 1964
Track #6: Raymond Fol (p), Donald Byrd (tp), H. Fol (as), Michel Gaudry (b), Art Taylor (d).
Recorded at the Theatre des Capucines, Paris, Decembre 7, 1964
Tracks #7-9: Raymond Fol (p), Alby Cullaz (b), Charles Bellonzi (d).
Recorded at Salle 105, Maison de l’O.R.T.F., Paris, May 22, 1965
Tracks #10-15: Raymond Fol Septet: Roger Guerin, Maurice Thomas, Ivan Jullien (tp); Raymond Fol (p); Jean-Charles Capon (cello); Luigi Trussardi (b); René Nan (d).
Recorded at Salle 105, Maison de l’O.R.T.F., Paris, April 22, 1967
Liner notes: Jordi Pujol
Cover photo: J.C. Bernath; other photos: X
Original recordings produced by Marcel Romano (CD-1 #1-4), Jacques Plait (CD-1 #12 & 13), Walter Gürtler (CD-1 #15-17). All others: producer name unknown
This CD compilation produced by Jordi Pujol
© 2023 by Fresh Sound Records
Hi Fi · 24-Bit Digitally Remastered
Blue Moon Producciones Discograficas, S.L.
______________________________________________________________________________________
This CD is dedicated to the memory of Raymond Fol, but also to all the musicians who appear on these recordings and who, with the exception of Charles Bellonzi and Enzo Scoppa, are unfortunately no longer with us.
Press reviews
"I really liked Raymond, his subtle playing, his sensitivity, a very good pianist. I knew his brother Hubert a little better, an excellent saxophonist very influenced by Parker. A family of musicians. I was able to see Raymond one last time in his hospital room, some time before his disappearance. He was one of the five or six good pianists capable, at the time, of sitting on the famous stool of the Club St. Germain."
—Martial Solal, January 2023
