CCMusic.com

A major blues stylist, Memphis Slim was one of the most emblematic and eminent bluesmen to come out of Chicago. He widely contributed to break blues in Europe and moved to Paris in 1962. Anyone who was lucky enough to catch one of his shows will never forget those smoky nights where the audience was literally entranced by the power of his piano playing, serving his shouter, albeit distinguished voice. The Live in Paris collection by Michel Brillie allows listeners to hear previously-unreleased recordings (made at concerts and private- or radio-sessions) by the great 20th stars in jazz, rock & roll and song. These "live" takes, and the artists' rapport with their audiences, gives these performances an additional soul and sensibility in counterpoint to the rigorous demands of studio recordings. Particular care was taken when restoring the sound of these tapes in order to meet modern standards while preserving the original colors of the period.