Nothin' Sez Somethin': French Guiana

29 September 2013

French Guiana

Henri Salvador was born in 1917 in Cayenne, French Guiana. He studied music in Paris & played with Django Reinhardt on one occasion. He started playing guitar seriously in Paris in 1935. When he returned to South America, he lived for a while in Brazil. His stay in the interior of Brazil is evident in much of his music. His sound is a perfect combination of Parisian cabaret, Brazilian bossa nova, & French Antillean influences.

This particular album shows his range of influences very well. His soothing vocals infuse an ambience of sensuous silk & soft tropical breezes. He also displays his great sense of humor in his lyrics, for which he is renowned. The instrumental accompaniment throughout the album is very much muted but exceptional in its evocation of the ambience that his voice creates. The duet with Francoise Hardy on "Le Fou de la Reine" is a fine example of the greatness & adaptability of both artists. The album won the Victoire de la Musique award in France for the year 2000. A highly recommended introduction to this prolific artist.

On Room With a View, the musicians are: Henri Salvador – vocals; Dominique Cravic & Thomas Dutronc (track 11) – guitars; Bernard Arcadio – piano; Laurent Vernerey & Vincent Artaud (track 13) – bass; Michelino Silvano – percussion; & Regis Ceccarelli – drums with Hervé Meschinet – flute; Denis Leloup – trombone; Eric Lelann, Nicolas Folmer, & Patrick Artero - trumpet; Daniele Scannapieco & André Village – saxophones; Florin Nicolescu – violin; Toots Thielemans – harmonica; & Lisa Ekdahl & Francoise Hardy on vocal duets.