With Les Liaisons dangereuses 1960, Roger Vadim stirred up a scandal. Based on the famous epistolary novel by Laclos, the director presented audiences in the early 1960s with a film in which libertinism, scheming and the upper middle classes intertwine in 1960s Paris. Gérard Philipe and Jeanne Moreau excel, and the film is often considered one of Vadim's best. It also owes much to its music, which reflects Vadim's taste for jazz. For the soundtrack to Les Liaisons dangereuses, the director called on Art Blakey and his Jazz Messengers whose exceptional musical qualities make for a record full of daring musical ideas and a marvellous choice of brilliant themes. The majority of the tracks feature Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers of mid-1959 with trumpeter Lee Morgan, tenorman Barney Wilen, pianist Boby Timmons and bassist Jymie Merritt joining the explosive drummer/leader.
This beautiful re-issue of the original recording is pressed on 180g vinyl at GZ, and packaged in a deluxe gatefold tip-on jacket with the original liner notes and a photo of Gérard Philippe and Jeanne Moreau from the film, and additional notes by recording producer Marcel Romano from 1988.
Track Listing:
Side 1
1 No Problem (1st version) 7’18
2 No Hay Problema 4’32
3 Prelude In Blue (à l’Esquinade) 6’53
4 Valmontana (1st version) 5’42
Side 2
1 Miguel’s Party 4’18
2 Prelude iIn Blue (chez Miguel) 5’49
3 No Problem (2nd version) 5’55
4 Weehawken Mad Pad 3’00
5 Valmontana (2nd version) 3’26
Music by Duke Jordan
ART BLAKEY'S JAZZ MESSENGERS (tracks 1, 4–9)
Lee Morgan (trumpet); Barney Wilen (tenor sax); Bobby Timmons (piano); Jymie Merritt (bass); Art Blakey (drums)
ART BLAKEY and the AFROCUBAN BOYS (track 2)
Bobby Timmons (piano); Jymie Merritt (bass); Art Blakey (drums)
ART BLAKEY and BARNEY WILEN QUARTET (track 3)
Barney Wilen (soprano sax); Duke Jordan (piano); Jymie Merritt (bass); Art Blakey (drums)
Recorded in New York, July 28 & 29, 1959
