[Dixielandjazz] Fwd: Fw: Keep (it) Swinging

[Marek Boym]

Part 2 of the Andre Ekyan story.
A wonderful player.
Cheers







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שולח: *Keep (it) Swinging, *
נושא: *Keep (it) Swinging*
   Keep (it) Swinging <http://keepitswinging.blogspot.com/>
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André Ekyan (1907 – 1972) – A French Saxophone Player, Part 2 (1940s)
<http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/KeepitSwinging/~3/MSB7bW2bUls/andre-ekyan-1907-1972-french-saxophone_11.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email>

Posted: 11 Apr 2015 02:17 PM PDT
*Georg Lankester**, *expert in pre-WW II French jazz history, continues in
this entry the story of *André Ekyans* career, this time focusing on *the
war and post-war years – the 1940s*.

First part of the story (1930s) is available following this link, *here
<http://keepitswinging.blogspot.dk/2015/04/andre-ekyan-1907-1972-french-saxophone.html>
*


<http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tYO2KBpoMpo/VSmEsNmKinI/AAAAAAAADMQ/cSi2ZE06k0w/s1600/ob_a5909c_andre-ekyan_poster.jpg>
*André Ekyan, a ‘sought after’ musician*

In the first year of the war (1940) our alto-sax player formed a new group
named “*Swingtette*” in which we find guitarist ‘Matlo’Ferret. This
formation played frequently in the “Moulin Rouge” and moreover made various
fine records for “Odéon”.

Due to the fact that the relationship between André and *Django* was quite
good and their musical feelings also matched, a series of new recordings
was organised in February. André’s fine sax playing, accompanied by Django,
was now completed with guitarist Pierre Ferret and bass player Emmanuel
Soudieux, also ‘masters of strings’.They recorded swinging versions of ‘
*Margie*’ and ‘ *Rosetta*’, as well as ‘*Sugar*’ and ‘*A pretty girl is
like a melody*’.Those records, supervised by Delaunay, were released by
“Swing” (Sw 98 & 194).


André was also the leader of a small formation  called “Kit Cat” which
performed in a luxary place at the Champs Elyssées, an illustration of his
popularity.

<http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oKjaETZXiNw/VSmFpjOQe3I/AAAAAAAADMc/Y6FQtck9-10/s1600/Hungaria_Swing%2B127_label.jpg>Swing,
Sw 127One year later, in September 1941 two more records with the new Hot
Club quintet followed viz. the titles ‘*De nulle part*’ (‘Out of Nowhere’)
and the exciting ‘*Hugaria*’ in wich sometimes  influences of Hawkins in
André’s playing are noticable.These two  tracks for “swing’were released as
Sw 127


*Outside Paris*

Shortly afterwards Ekyan remained in Switzerland because he now joined the
popular Ray Ventura orchestra. This French band which had firstly toured
through the South of France, went to Switzerland in order to escape from th
German occupation. At the end of 1941 Ventura even left Europe to settle in
South America till the war was over.

<http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B0cMt2pZLQM/VSmHFS5iS1I/AAAAAAAADMo/TslQGpmPleo/s1600/django%2Bin%2Brome.jpg>Django
Reinhardt, Andre Ekyan, Ralph Schecroun, Alf Masselier and Roger Paraboschi
in Rome (1950)
Back in France, André now became the leader of a formation in Baulieu,
where he would remain till 1950 when *Django* invited him to join his new
quintet which was going to play in  Italy. In April and May of that
particular year this quintet performed in Rome where also several
recordings were made.


 Note: in  those  sessions André was alternating alto-sax with clarinet
and….these  were historical sessions because it was the last time that  the
two men played together. Django died in May 1953 !

In the Fifties, André performed often in ‘*Maxim’s*”, however, the music
performed there  gradually had a somewhat lower level. Therefore he decided
to travel through Europe and so it happened.

<http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CoxMHCih75A/VSmIKu8WABI/AAAAAAAADM4/QZyxKuZSVhQ/s1600/ekyan%2Borch%2Bat%2BMaxim.jpg>André
Ekyan's orchestra at 'Maxim's'
He then played in a lot of  countries, but often in Spain. Unfortunately it
was in the town of Alicante that he died on 9 August 1972 because of a
tragic traffic accident.

<http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pfjg2-vdYTU/VSmJVT1SByI/AAAAAAAADNA/fQuY05jXlos/s1600/Ekyan.jpg>André
Ekyan (1907-1972)
*Summary*

Considering *André Ekyan*’s impressive activities and successes one can
certainly speak of an important jazz musician, not only for France, but in
general since he also played with a lot of great American jazzmen.

Worthwhile to mention is that he produced a soft tone on clarinet which
created a sometimes  melancholy atmosphere, fitting in so well with a
musician like e.g. *Django Reinhardt*. In his alto-sax playing one can hear
some influences from the Chicago jazz (Frank Trumbauer) and – later –
from Benny
Carter. Producing a warm tone, sometimes calm, in other moments excuberant
and fast, he could inspire other jazz musicians. Because of his technique
and creativity, this artist belongs to the best European saxophonists of
last century.

Some recommended records: *China Boy* ‘French Hot Boys’(1932),*Crazy Rhythm*,
‘Coleman Hawkins All Stars (1937), *Margie* with Django Reinhardt (1940)

*Georg Lankester*
---
*Jo*
*keepitswinging.domain at gmail.com <keepitswinging.domain at gmail.com>*


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