John Lewis, Sacha Distel – Afternoon In Paris

n 1956, John Lewis led this meeting in Paris together with Sacha Distel, a French guitarist who never really became well known in the USA, but enjoyed a great deal of respect in French jazz circles.

The same can be said of the other French musicians who took part in "Afternoon In Paris" - neither tenor saxophonist Barney Wilen nor bassist Pierre Michelot had a big name in the USA, although both were very well known in the European jazz scene.

With Lewis on piano, Distel on guitar, Wilen on saxophone, Michelot or Percy Heath on bass and Kenny Clarke or Connie Kay on drums, the partly American, partly French group of improvisers offers an above-average bop album, ranging from "Willow Weep For Me", "All The Things You Are" and "I Cover The Waterfront" to Milt Jackson's "Bags' Groove" and Lewis' title track.

The sonorous Wilen was only 19 when "Afternoon In Paris" was recorded, but his lyrical yet strongly swinging solos prove that he was quickly maturing as a saxophone player. An almost mythical LP and one of the best recorded in France!!!

Recording: December 1956 in Paris