Yves Francois Blues For Hawk CD

Trumpeter Yves Francois has been active on Chicago's jazz scene since the '70s. Yves is a huge fan of early jazz and started out as a jazz/blues trumpeter. He is still active today as Yves Francois et Rocambu Jazz, a swinging group that still plays jazz

Personnel: Yves Francois (trumpet, flugelhorn); Yves Francois; Marc Smierciak (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Eddie Johnson , Eddie Johnson's Crackerjacks (tenor saxophone); John Gorman (trumpet, flugelhorn, valve trombone); John Gorman (trumpet, flugelhorn); Bud Johnson, Andy Johnson (piano); Jeff Lindahl (double bass); Odie Payne, Jr., Ken Voelker, Eric Haggard (drums); Franz Jackson (vocals, clarinet, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone).
Audio Mixer: Steve Wagner .
Liner Note Author: Lloyd Sachs.
Recording information: Sound Studio, Chicago, IL (03/23/1981-09/??/1986).
In the early '80s, the young trumpeter Yves Francois, who had only been playing his horn for a few years, decided that it was long overdue for saxophonists Eddie Johnson and Franz Jackson to be recorded in a freewheeling setting. He organized and recorded four sessions during 1981-1986, some of which was released on scarce LPs on Jackson's Pinnacle label. Now all of the music is available on one CD. The basic tunes allow the musicians to play swing, bits of Dixieland, 1950s-style R&B, and touches of more modern jazz. The spirit is certainly there and the rollicking feel and the spontaneity are quite appealing. There are missteps, mistakes, and brief lost moments along the way, but this CD succeeds as good-time music. Fortunately both Johnson and Jackson have recorded more extensively since this time and Francois has improved as a trumpeter. But even with its flaws, this is certainly a fun set. ~ Scott Yanow

JazzTimes (p.90) - "Francois' choruses have muscle, swagger and a generous quotient of growls."