Barney Wilen - French Ballads (2021 Remastered Version) (1987)

"French Ballads" is Barney Wilen’s perfect synthesis between Jazz and the French chanson.

Following the unexpected success of his comeback album "La Note Bleue", iconic French Saxophonist Barney Wilen embarked right away on his following project, an album consisting of jazz versions of wonderful French chansons. According to Philippe Vincent: “Barely three months after the release of "La Note Bleue", I thought that he was going fast, but he was not completely wrong to want to strike while the iron was hot. In addition, it is true that many musicians quickly turn to their next project as soon as the previous one has emerged. His idea was to devote a recording to a repertoire of French melodies, and I was immediately seduced by this proposition, as his playing style and his saxophone phrasing could approach singing.” The new album constituted another success and is, because of its repertoire and approach, quite unique work in the whole story of jazz.⁠