André Hodeir - "L'écume Des Jours, Bande Originale du Film" Vinyl 7" EP

André Hodeir – L'écume Des Jours – Bande Originale Du Film

Vinyl 7” EP, 1968

Phillips

It took me forever to find this 7” EP. Found it once at Baby Doll in Tokyo but it was too expensive for me. Eventually found it on Ebay for around $50 – and worth every cent! André Hodeir's mixture of choir, electronics and jazz is a remarkable record. The soundtrack to a very obscure film that's based on Boris Vian's novel of the late '40s called L'écume des jours (Foam of the Daze), and although that film does have its moments, its the soundtrack that is the main interest here.

Also the EP cover is fantastic. I think it pretty much describes the novel visually, and I often find this image on postcards. But the beauty of this haunted music is superb. It's sad, a mood piece that fits the mood of the novel more than the film itself.  Also I collect anything that deals with Boris Vian, and this EP is probably my most precious part of my collection.

André Hodeir - "Jazz et Jazz" Vinyl Mono Album

André Hodeir – Jazz et Jazz

Vinyl album, Mono 1960

Phillips

The opening track “Jazz et Jazz” is a piece of music that is ahead of its time. Its a combination of jazz (of course), Musique Concrete, and tape manipulations. The swilling of the horns and then the beat comes in with the bop piano is one kick in the air. On the surface its gimmicky, but it is a beautifully arranged tune. Why this record didn't make a bigger noise out there is a total mystery to me. There is small combo jazz and then there's this. Jazz orchestration used by Hodeir almost as a singular vision. There are aspects of the music and arrangement that is over-studied, but that is also part of the charm with respect to Hodeir's work. 

André Hodeir - "Anna Livia Plurabelle"

André Hodeir – Anna Livia Plurabelle

Vinyl LP, 1966

Phillips

An jazz opera? A conceptual jazz recording? It's André Hodeir which means something unique, a tad strange, and beautifully played. Hodeir was a jazz composer, jazz theorist, film composer and conductor. Almost border-line avant-garde but with strong be-bop roots. In many ways he's the Gil Evans of France. Also a pal of Boris Vian and other American jazz players as well as working with the leading French jazz musicians of his time. So in my book that makes him an exceptional fellow.

Here he's working with the French greats including the dynamic vocalist Nicole Croisille, with words by James Joyce, this is a textural jazz big band piece. Which sounds like its forced on paper is actually an incredible listening experience.  I smell a whiff of genius whenever I hear the name of André Hodeir.