French Blue Note Sample Compilations

[sidewinder]

Just recently picked up a Blue Note/Capitol compilation by French DJ/Sampler 'Booster' called 'Chips and Cheers'. This one comes on CD or audiophile vinyl 2LP, which is the one I went for. Mainly a late-60s/early 70s compilation, a bit commercial at times (marketed with the 'Ibiza Chill-Out' market in mind I guess ) but good for that late-nite/laid back groove. The audiophile version sounds pretty stunning too !

Line up includes the 3 Sounds (from 'Vibrations'), Gene Harris, Duke Pearson, Jack McDuff, Elvin Jones ('Pollen'), Eddie Henderson, Donald Byrd, Buddy Rich ( ) Jeremy Steig and Bobbi Humphrey. I've always given Humphrey's BN work a bit of a wide berth in the past but in this context it fits well.

There's also another Booster compilation out there called 'Scotch and Sofa' which is even better, with good stuff on there from Lee Morgan, Duke Pearson ('The Phantom') and Electric Byrd again.

Both good compilation sets to bring out and try on the 'uninitiated'.

Anyone out there on the Board have opinions on these sets and have they made it across the Atlantic for release in the US?

[Ed S]

I have Chips and Cheers - bought it at Dustygroove. You nailed it when you said it was "good for that late night/laid back groove" I'll have to look for Scotch and Sofa.

I find that these sorts of comps are great for parties or like you said for late night listening. Many on the board don't care for comps but recent threads have indicated that there are quite a few who burn their own compilations. I don't have a burner and if I did, don't have the time to play around making my own discs, so these fit the bill perfectly.

I'm also a heavy multidisc changer user. Load it up and hit random. Compilations like this help add to the variety.

[sidewinder]

Yes, totally agree. There's occasions that you just can't put on your copy of 'Out to Lunch', 'Transition', 'Free For All' etc without risking possibility of a mass exodus so these compilations then come in useful (along with some of the 'lighter fare' BN releases from Duke Pearson, Jack Wilson etc). Not sure about programming a listen to this one after the likes of 'Basra', 'Gigolo' and 'Indestructable' though.