Bebop & Bouillabaisse: A Survey of Modern Jazz in France, 1947-75

Bebop & Bouillabaisse is a survey of modern jazz in France between the years 1947 and 1975. Its main section is an A-Z of 50 musicians from France, Belgium and America who helped to establish and develop the music in the country. Key recordings are assessed and the principal aim is to argue for the music’s significance and pleasure-giving potential in the current age. There is also a brief history of modern jazz in France and a section discussing recordings made prior to the LP age. It concludes with a list of 39 essential albums. Bebop & Bouillabaisse is written in an accessible style with little in the way of complex terminology and is aimed at experienced modern jazz fans as well as younger readers wishing to get a handle on the music.Read more