Le Chant Du Diable Bleu

Collection Contents

#		Title	Length
1		Daisies	2:40	Play
2		Kiss Of Fire	2:53	Play
3		Change My Way of Living	2:48	Play
4		No More Worries	5:39	Play
5		Sun is Shining	3:31	Play
6		Ballcrusher	4:57	Play
7		Single Malt Serenade	4:08	Play
8		Bad Dream Blues	8:57	Play

Items may be purchased individually.

Contributors

Details

Royalties

See the payment distribution when this media is bought.

Description	Amount
Bitmunk Marketplace Service	USD $0.78
CD Baby Artist Royalty	USD $4.78
CD Baby 9% Digital Distribution Cost	USD $0.43
Bitmunk Download Service	USD $0.50
Bitmunk MicroPayment Service	USD $0.01
Total	USD $6.48

Bitmunk uses a micropayment system that is accurate to 7 monetary digits.
Mouse over an individual amount to see its exact value.

Description

Le Chant Du Diable Bleu is the second disc, just out in 2002. This recording not only jumps and swings, but has a moodier quality at times, adding depth and showcasing the band's versatility. The sound is fuller with the addition of trumpet, and the band sounds more mature and seasoned while retaining energy. Hidden track? Buy it and find out.

The Grand Marquis prove that the jazz, swing and blues heritage that moved Kansas City in her prime are alive and well. Lead vocalist and guitar man Carl "Slim" Hanson belts out classics along with the band's original work. The 5-piece is made of Hanson, Lisa McKenzie jamming on drums, Bryan Redmond on every saxophone known to man, Ben Ruth slapping an upright bass, and Chad Boydston wailing trumpet.
Nailing down exactly how to refer to Marquis' style and music is difficult, due to their mixing and blending of swing, blues and jazz. Redmond refers to their style as "rhythm and roll," but no matter what you call it, their music is fun, distinctive and enjoyable. Redmond credits part of the Grand Marquis' unique sound to the African drumbeats incorporated by McKenzie. McKenzie took traditional African drum lessons while studying anthropology in Ghana. "I think it definitely adds a New Orleans style," said McKenzie. "That (Africa) is where the New Orleans style came from."

The musical quality of the album is simply superb.
On a self-produced and self-promoted CD from a band that still works day jobs to support themselves, the music is better than most mass-produced studio work.

The album opens with a swinging tune "Daisies" that, while the music is upbeat, laments over a love now gone and buried.
"Change My Way of Living" has a big band feel with a quick pace and features some wicked saxophone work.
"No More Worries" slows the pace down, digging into blues roots with a slow, sad saxophone playing counterpoint to a wailing trumpet.
Hanson's vocals are perfect for the sound Grand Marquis has created, lending a deep, rough edge and a clear power that carries listeners through every song.
The album finishes with two more slower tunes, "Single-Malt Serenade" and the heavy "Bad Dream Blues."
"Bad Dream Blues" is followed by an amazing hidden track that sounds like a spoken word piece with music rather than a song.

"Le Chant du Diable Bleu" (translated "The Chant of the Blue Devil") was named in honor of Walter Page's Blue Devils, a renowned "Territory Band" led by Walter Page, that included musicians such as "Count" Basie and "Hot Lips" Page.

"We've always stayed excited about our music because we know we've got something people need to hear," said Redmond.
-summary of review by Courtney Farr, JCCC Campus Ledger 01/2003