….A totally wild little record – and one of the most unique jazz collections we’ve ever heard – or seen! The original package of the record is a 5LP presentation of music that brings together four of the most important French piano talents of the postwar years – Georges Arvanitas, Michel Graillier, Maurice Vander, and Rene Urtreger – interlocking together to provide a “puzzle” of sound that really encompasses all that’s great about the French jazz scene! Each player gets one full record to themselves, then on the fifth album, they come together on one recording – working with larger arrangements by Ivan Julien, and a sound that’s really mindblowing. Individual highlights include Georges Arvanitas playing a bit of organ on his record, Rene Urtreger getting a bit of guitar help from Marius Lorenzini on his, and Maurice Vander playing both electric and acoustic, with vibes from Bernard Lubat. The whole thing’s great – and a treasure from the amazing Saravah label!….
Disc 1
(LP-1: Piano Puzzle “)
01. Suite pour 4 pianos
02. Meet Mickey
03. Quatre davout
04. Fingers Dance
05. Philly
(LP-2: Georges Arvanitas “Three Of Us”)
01. Three Of Us
02. High beat
03. Space Ballad
04. Trane’s call
05. Contine
06. Un P’tit Peu d’Soleil
(LP-3: Michel Graillier “Agartha”)
07. Agharta
08. Alga
09. Ankh
10. Pelado
11. Joa
Disc 3
(LP-4: Rene Urtreger “Didi’s Bounce”)
01. Didi’s bounce
02. Moment’s notice
03. Listen here
04. ‘Round Midnight
05. Pour tonton Monk
06. Chak-Poum-Poum
07. With a Little Help from My Friends
08. Yesterday
(LP-5: Maurice Vander “Philly”)
09. Philly
10. Apollo
11. Moon River
12. Siclienne
13. H
14. Do not Sleep On The Roast baby
15. Hommage A Monk
see also: http://graillier.free.fr/htm/lp_pianospuzzle.html
