INFECTIOUS, CREATIVE, FUN...

...and there are plenty of other adjectives for this wonderful recording - I'm sure I'll find more to use before I'm done here. This was my first exposure to this group - and I flipped over it so much that I went back the next day and picked up their previous effort, LIVING-ROOM, which is a fine album as well.

Paris Combo is an extremely talented, vivacious five-piece whose members skillfully combine elements of various genres into their own sound: Parisian café music, Gypsy jazz, be-bop, cabaret and other forms swirl together in a mix that would prove unwieldy in the hands of many. They are all accomplished musicians, and very obviously in tune literally and figuratively with each other on many levels - each member finds a way to both shine and blend on every single track, without ever seeming to eclipse the contributions of the others.

All of the tracks are truly standouts - for the sake of brevity (I looked up the word, for those of you who might wonder...), I'll limit my comments on individual selections to four. On track 2, 'Trois petits points', the band takes a breakneck 7/8 rhythm and makes it graceful and natural; tracks 7 and 10, 'Dans les bras dun loup' and 'Avril', respectively, have two of the loveliest melodies I've ever heard; track 12, the mostly instrumental 'Escapade', allows each member to step up in either solo or duo sections - the guitar on this track will bring to mind the stylings of Django Reinhardt, and the tandem work between the scat vocal and upright bass is incredible.

Belle de Berry is the quintessential chanteuse (although she's not limited to that style alone), and she adds some very tasty accordion here and there. Potzi's guitar is astonishing - he's quick and precise where he needs to be, but he never plays without feeling, never like a machine. Multi-instrumentalist David Lewis (trumpet, bugle, piano, string arrangements and co-producer) is excellent on the keys and never overbearing in his brass playing - the production/arrangement values are especially fine and unique in several places where he sounds like he's almost off-stage from the rest of the group, a nice, very effective touch. Mano Razanajato provides a steady (but again, never mechanical) bottom on his upright bass, as well as contributing vocals; and François-François is always inventive, being alternately supportive and driving with his drums and percussion.

The whole thing comes together marvelously - and the spirit of this music is so strong and delightful that knowledge of French is not necessary to enjoy it (or to sense the humor in some of the songs, such as 'Mais que fait la NASA?' ('...but who made NASA?'). Whenever I put this into the assortment of CDs I take in the car with me, I might as well leave everything else at home - it stays in the player for days.

NExt step

Okay.. Paris Combo does not need a lesson in many rythms, most of them known from very old cultures. Now we need a step ahead. This recording is a confirmation of what we already knew: the virtuosism of all performers and the domain of their specialty, Particularly Belle du Berry, whose voice captivates and seduces for its strong character and natural feeling.
Now we need real evolution...

Bon travail! Madame et Monsieurs

Another gem

I am a HUGE Paris Combo fan. I have worn out their first two CDs because I listen to them constantly. I couldn't wait for Attraction to come out. And it is just as fantastic as their previous albums. These five are brilliant musicians and you can't help but dance to their rhythms and melodies. And if you ever get a chance to see them live... GO... you will not be disappointed, it will be the best concert of your life.