I love French vocalese groups. The language is so lyrical and romantic—there's something impossibly seductive about vocalese lyrics (in many cases written by Jon Hendricks) sung by Parisians. The singers truly understood the music's intent and passion. Here are seven video clips of formidable French vocal groups in the early-1950s style of the Dave Lambert Singers and late-'50s approach by Lambert, Hendricks & Ross:
Here are the Blue Stars in 1956 singing George Shearing's Lullaby of Birdland, featuring Jean Liesse, Henri Tallourd, Jean Mercadier (solist), Nadine Young, Stevie Wise and Claudine Meunier (solist)...
Here's Les Doubles Six in 1960 singing Quincy Jones's Meet B.B., featuring Jean-Claude Briodin, Mimi Perrin, Louis Aldebert, Eddy Louiss (solist), Monique Aldebert (solist) and Claude Germain
(piano: Georges Arvanitas, bass: Michel Gaudry, drums: Daniel Humair)...
Here's Les Doubles Six singing Miles Davis and Gil Evans's Boplicity, featuring Claude Germain, Monique Aldebert (solist "Boplicity"), Jean-Claude Briodin (solist "Boplicity"), Louis Aldebert, Mimi Perrin (solist "Rat race") and Eddy Louiss
(piano: Georges Arvanitas, bass: Michel Gaudry, drums: Daniel Humair)...
Here's Les Doubles Six in Germany in 1965 singing Four Brothers and Moanin', featuring Gaëtan Dupenher, Jef Gilson, Bernard Lubat, Mimi Perrin (in dark glasses), Annie Vassiliu and Hélène Devos...
Here's Les Voice Messengers performing a tribute to Mimi Perrin and Les Doubles Six...
Here are Les Swingle Singers in Croatia in 1969. The group was formed in Paris in 1962 by Ward Swingle (far right), the group's vocal arranger and former member of Les Blue Stars and Les Double Six. The members are Claudine Meunier, Hélène Devos, Nicole Darde, Christiane Legrand, Jean Cussac, José Germain, Jo Novès and Ward Swingle......
And here's the contemporary incarnation of Les Swingle Singers aboard a London Underground train to sing Quincy Jones's Soul Bossa Nova...
A special thanks to Rémi Carémel.