Freedom Jazz France

Heavenly Sweetness records presents their first collaboration with Digger's Digest - a compilation covering a wide spectrum of jazz styles recorded in France from the late 60s to early 80s. Covering Modal, Spiritual, Hard Bop, Free Jazz, Creole-influenced and Library Music, with the focus on rare, obscure and some totally unheard gems, by famous or less well-known names. Featuring François Tusques, Eddy Louiss, Octet de Dreux, Chêne Noir, Sylvain Krief, Noah Howard, Michel Roques and others.

On this disc you will find what seems like an odd assortment of music at first listen. What's the link between the jazz of American exiles like Stella Levitt and Noah Howard, the boundless imagination of the band Chêne Noir and pupils at the Dreux music school? Spirituality, that's what, a heavenly sweetness that reaches back to Father John Coltrane and also a desire to bring a touch of French diversity to American jazz standards. Noah Howard sings about a "Creole Lady", and there's that same Creole feeling about V.S. Quartet's track. Eddy Louiss gives a jazz twist to the popular ditty "Cochiques", Sylvain Krief takes jazz and pop off on his Israel-bound ark, and François Tusques and his Intercommunal group mix jazz, oriental sounds and social demands on a Corsican label! This selection's manifesto is not political but musical - to showcase the rich diversity of a multicultural French tradition. So stop, look and listen!