Last year Night Lights began an annual Bastille Day-week salute to the convergence of all things French and jazz with Paris Noir, a program about post-World War II expatriate African-American musicians in France. This year our tribute show focuses on jazz interpretations of the many songs that have been written about the City of Light. “Jazz Impressions of Paris” features music from Bud Powell (”The Last Time I Saw Paris”), Clifford Brown (his and Max Roach’s take on Bud’s “Parisian Thoroughfare”), Duke Ellington (the title theme from the movie Paris Blues), Charlie Parker (Cole Porter’s “I Love Paris,” from Parker’s last studio recording session), and more, including two instrumental odes to the Champs Elysees from Miles Davis and pianist Mal Waldron.
Watch a clip from Louis Malle’s Ascenseur pour l’echafaud, with music from Miles Davis’ score (”Nuit sur les champs-elyseees”):
Watch a big band led by Tubby Hayes perform Bud Powell’s “Parisian Thoroughfare”:
Air date: July 12, 2008
