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6CD BOX
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BIS 004CD
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The Workshop De Lyon (previously known as Free Jazz Workshop from 1967 to 1975) is one of the first French free jazz bands. They never stopped playing in 50 years. This boxset is a reissue of their seven LPs (from 1973 to 1997) plus a long out-of-print CD and some live bonus tracks from 1979 and 2010. After some changes of musicians at the very beginning of the band, they released their first album in 1973 with Jean Méreu (trumpet), Maurice Merle (sax), Patrick Vollat (piano), Jean Bolcato (bass), and Christian Rollet (drums). After the first album Jean Méreu left the band and the young Louis Sclavis joined the band. On the third album the pianist left which left the band as a quartet to this today. Louis Sclavis left the band after 14 years to be replaced by Jean-Paul Autin in 1988. The death of Maurice Merle in 2003 almost marked the end of the band. Jean Aussanaire replaced him quickly and has stayed in the band since. Workshop De Lyon played thousands of gigs all over the world: Brazil, Syria, Egypt, USA, and all over Europe. They have their very peculiar sound and tunes, you might call "ARFI soud", named after the musical collective they started in 1977 in Lyon including bands like Marvelous Band and La Marmite Infernale.
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LP
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FFL 032LP
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Souffle Continu Records present the first ever reissue of Workshop De Lyon's La Chasse De Shirah Sharibad, originally released in 1975. In France, in the years 1960-1970, musicians pondered over how to transpose the political struggle of free jazz onto a completely different political terrain. One of the first to do so was pianist François Tusques (agitator, theorist and militant) who recorded 1965's Free Jazz (CACK 020LP), and then continued with Le Nouveau Jazz (1967), French equivalents to the American "New Thing". The word spread, and was picked up by the Free Jazz Workshop which became the Workshop De Lyon in 1975 with the arrival of clarinetist-saxophonist Louis Sclavis. Still a source of joy, this lyrically feverish second album maintains a narrative dimension however subtle the textures developed through the contrasting collective improvisations. With their ever-inventive melodicism, the Workshop De Lyon invented an imaginary folklore on this album which is unlike any other. It is a knowing mix of the avant-garde and the traditional, collective playing vying, with panache and complexity, with the inspired urgency of the soloists. Even without filmed images the theatricality and humor of the group's live performances, essential components of their identity can be felt during the long thematic suites which are both expressive and full of joy. What better way to honor their imaginary mentors, Albert Ayler or the Art Ensemble Of Chicago! More, More! Licensed from Bisou. Reverse printing; 12-page booklet; Obi strip; Edition of 700.
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LP
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FFL 033LP
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Souffle Continu Records present the first ever reissue of Workshop De Lyon's Tiens! Les Bourgeons Eclatent..., originally released in 1978. The collective methodology of the Workshop De Lyon led to the creation of the Association Searching for an Imaginary Folklore (ARFI) in 1977, their aims were very much a mission statement "encourage improvisation, spread diverse musical styles and provide means of expression to others with similar ideas, establish a folklore..." Their reference was the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (A.A.C.M.) created twelve years previously with the similar idea of providing material assistance to and defending the interests of creative musicians, in order to encourage the emergence of new music. The open-structured ARFI self-produced their music thanks to their own label, on which almost all of the albums of the Workshop De Lyon appeared, from Concert Lave (1980) onwards. Their third album, Tiens! Les Bougeons Éclatent... is a perfect example of how the group sounded when it was released in 1978, about a year after the studio recording. Pianist Patrick Vollat had left but was still very much a part of ARFI (in particular as part of the excellent La Marmite Infernale), so the Workshop De Lyon stabilized to a quartet of Louis Sclavis, Maurice Merle, Jean Bolcato, and Christian Rollet, and already had at the time an unparalleled repertoire. This never ceased to expand, through the meetings and personnel changes, while losing nothing of its generosity, nor showing any signs of aging. This proffers on the Workshop De Lyon a certain universal dignity which honors their original models, Albert Ayler or the Art Ensemble Of Chicago to name but two, transfiguring them into a new, exciting aesthetic approach bursting with openings and exchanges. Irresistible. Licensed from Bisou. Reverse printing; 12-page booklet; Obi strip; Edition of 500.
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