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   Marcel JOLY Jazz Gazette (http://www.thejazzgazette.be/)  : J'avais entendu beaucoup de bonnes choses dites au sujet de Jean-Pierre. Elles étaient exactes. Nous pouvons l'ajouter à la liste des grands joueurs dans la tradition d'Emanuel Paul.(JCCD-3079 / 3081)

JCCD-3107/3108 Tu espères que j'aime les CD ! Je les adore! La musique est magnifique! Particulièrement les hymns sont formidables. Et Uptown Bumps alors? D'abord ton intro extraordinaire et magnifique et puis la trompette d'Alain qui entre...Formidable! J'avais pensé qu'il n'était plus nécessaire d'enregistrer Ice Cream encore une fois...mais c'était avant l'écoute de votre version. J'ai littéralement dansé dans mon fauteuil! Félicitations sincères. Tu as prouvé qu'on est capable en France de jouer du NO revival! Le bon Hugues Panassié doit se remuer dans sa tombe!  Si un jour tu as des autres enregistrements de ton Band j'aimerais bien les avoir pour ma collection. C'est exactement le style que je préfère! comme Kid Bastien te disait : Ne change pas ton style.

JCCD-3110/3111 So here you have Jean-Pierre Alessi's French Preservation New Orleans Jazz Band. The long name represents a program. If this isn't New Orleans jazz, my name is Bernard Niquet! Jean-Pierre became fascinated by the music of the great Manny Paul and decided to keep his memory alive, and made the tenor sax his main instrument.. He even created a web-site about this fine New Orleans reed man. Go and visit it at www.emanuelpaul.com , it is great. Jean-Pierre is not imitating the grand old master. If you have any doubts about it, try the following experiment: pick out a tune that Manny Paul recorded and Jean-Pierre too, play them and compare. You will find music with the same spirit but nevertheless completely different. I remember now I wrote the same thing about the late Kid Bastien from Canada and the late Kid Thomas from New Orleans. "Same old soup bone" Kid Thomas would have said. It suddenly occurs to me that these days more and more of our musician friends have become "late", which is a sad thought. I can only hope I will not be "late" myself too soon…One of the things I noticed is that JP uses a growl sometimes, which I can't remember hearing from Manny Paul. It's too easy to put down musicians who are continuing a tradition as mere copyists when they are not. Maybe the biggest surprise is "Burgundy Street Blues". You did hear that one a lot of times before? Sure, you did, but have you ever heard it on tenor sax?

FPCD10 avec SAMMY RIMINGTON et FRED VIGORITO    J'ai écouté avec énormément de plaisir ton dernier CD. Du début jusqu'à la fin ça me plait beaucoup. J'espère vivement qu'il y aura un volume 2. Mes morceaux préférés sont "Calcutta", "Pretend" et le magnifique "Closer Walk". Ce dernier est vraiment splendide! Quant au "Burgundy Street Blues" j'avais esperé de t'entendre aussi, mais tu as gracieusement donné l'honneur à ton invité. Peut-être un duo avec Sammy la prochaine fois? Merci beaucoup pour cette musique envoûtante et félicitations à tous!

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  JEMPI DE DONDER Jazz Gazette (http://www.thejazzgazette.be/)  : FPCD10 Waling with the king

I remember an evening at Mario’s place on our way to Tuscany when I showed a video cassette of the Kid Thomas Band in Denmark recorded during there 1971 world tour, Gérard told me about a guy from Lyon, a certain JP Alessi who wanted to play just as Emanuel Paul. I have to admit at first I was not too fond of his approach to the Manny Paul tenor. I thought he wanted to do things too well and played too many notes. I had some lengthy discussions about this with Marcel. During the two concerts I attended in December 2006 in and near Lyon, I heard a different JP, letting things go more and just filling in where it suited. So, now so many years later, JP is a very successful tenor saxophone player who already made some great recordings. Now we say that, Lyon which is the culinary capital by excellence, not only of France but also of Europe, also is the home of one of Europe’s top New Orleans tenor sax players..

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RICHARD BOURCIER  (www.jazzreview.com): FPCD10 Jean-Pierre "JP" Alessi is a dedicated follower of his late idol, Emanuel "Manny" Paul. Manny Paul passed away in 1988 at the age of 84 and is remembered as one of the finest tenor players in the New Orleans tradition. He played with the Kid Thomas Algiers Stompers and Dejan's Olympia Brass Band before joining the internationally famous Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Walking With The King is the French band's 10th album and features guest appearances by the American cornetist, Fred Vigorito and British clarinetist Sammy Rimington. Both have enjoyed an international reputation for decades. This CD marks Vigorito's sixth and Rimington's third recordings with Alessi's band. The album kicks off with a hot number titled "Fred Vigorito's Boogie" and Alessi's tenor delivering the opening walking bass figure. New Orleans fans will compare the tune to the old "Kid Thomas Boogie Woogie" and every band had their own version. Everyone gets a chance to solo and the interplay between Vigorito, Alessi and Rimington is exciting. There's a nice banjo break by Henry Lemaire, one of the band's longtime members. Sammy Rimington takes center stage for a beautiful and imaginative reading of the well-loved "Just A Closer Walk." Rimington works through the full range of his instrument and Vigorito follows with a lovely muted cornet passage.
In typical New Orleans fashion, the group throws in a couple of hits that everyone remembers. They are Nat Cole's "Pretend" and Lawrence Welk's 1961 "Calcutta." The 1940s are not forgotten when the sextet launches into a nice version of "Rum And Coca Cola." Every album must have a highlight and my pick has to be "Burgundy Street Blues." Sammy Rimington delivers a "perfect" reading of the Crescent City classic accompanied by the seasoned rhythm section of Henry Lemaire, Dominic Molton and Vincent Hurel. "Victory Walk" is a New Orleans standard known by a multitude of titles but you'll recognize it immediately. The ever-swinging Fred Vigorito outdoes himself on this one and is joined by Alessi on tenor and Rimington on alto sax. They riff the day away! Good stuff! Walking With The King is a fine example of New Orleans music played by a most enthusiastic and inspired band

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  Brian WOOD : Brian do you like the 2 CD with Bill and Fred and my band ? Yes very much i think they rank with the best of Jazz Crusade (JCCD-3110 / 3111)

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Brian HARVEY : Radio Jazz Web (http://www.radiojazz.co.uk/)

French Preservation New Orleans Jazz Band with Sammy Rimington and Fred Vigorito Blues for Manny Paul The band’s own label FPCD12 –I’m not quite sure how Jean-Pierre Alessi, the tenor sax man who leads this band, comes to sound so much like a native New Orleanian, it’s uncanny, but he does. And so does Englishman Sammy Rimington who served his time with the Ken Colyer band, then with Big Bill Bissonnette in the USA. Whether playing clarinet or alto sax he’s totally at home in the idiom. And then there’s one of my favourite cornet men, the American Fred Vigorito who, when he’s at home leads the Galvanised Jazz Band with great skill and passion. He also sounds exactly like a native New Orleanian – at times not unlike Kid Thomas Valentine. And this band’s wonderful rhythm section too would not be out of place anywhere in the French Quarter – they’re that good. The result of all this amazing alchemy is that the tracks on this CD lay a wonderfully moving and often exciting tribute to the late New Orleans tenor man – the man with the very distinctive tone and delivery. This is a fine CD – superbly entertaining with five star performances by everyone involved. They obviously have a ball recording it – I hope that you will follow their lead when you hear it. Brian HARVEY

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I used to avoid French 'revivalist' jazz like the plague having worked in Dobell's Charing Cross Road, London record shop in the days of multi Claude Luter and similar French 'trad' band releases and I was recently torn to shreds in another journal for describing a current French New Orleans style band as having a distinctive and rather strange 'Gallic' tonality. Here - on two CDs however is the proof - if any were needed - that there are musicians in France who have so absorbed the New Orleans ethic and ethos that they sound for all the world like a current band based in that city.The wonderfully infectious spirit and atmosphere of the session on these two CDs is aided not inconsiderably by the fact that they were recorded 'live' at the Restaurant Le Prisca a Villeurbanne in October 2004. Both Big Bill Bissonnette - the owner and driving force behind the Jazz Crusade label - and I agree that there is no substitute in jazz for live "warts and all" sessions with no splicing and removal of 'clinkers'. To hear jazz truth the sessions must be cut 'live'.For me these are perfect sessions. You get to spend 153 minutes in the company of eight guys, the majority of whom have served their time in the Crescent City and learned the essential lessons. Like - relax - don't overblow - let the rhythm speak for itself - listen to the other guys - don't compete - compliment. Layback on the beat - go with the flow - let it happen. It would be unfair to pick out too many names here because everyone plays their part in making a series of superb tracks. But it would be equally unfair to not single out trumpet man Alain Martien whose absorption of the idiom is awesome - here he is a New Orleanian. Leader Alessi is so rhythmic its frightening but he's always in control, Kjeld Brandt on clarinet is amazingly sensitive and poetic - one of the modern giants. Frederic Espinoux' trombone is percussively effective but also melodic - he's a good man. And the rhythm section too is outstanding with the stride work of pianist John Royen being a great revelation. What a joy he is - wonderful. These guys are masters of the jazz art…..more please gentlemen……

Walking With the King  French Preservation New Orleans Jazz Band with Fred Vigorito and Sammy Rimington FPCD-10 (www.emanuelpaul.com)

J’adore cet orchestre mené par J-P Alessi (sax ténor) depuis la première fois que je l’ai entendu.  Ils « swinguent » et « groovent » comme presque personne depuis le grand orchestre de Kid Thomas.  C’est un des sons les plus joyeux et les plus communicatifs du jazz de nos jours.  Rajoutez à cela deux des plus excellents « vagabonds » à swinguer aujourd’hui – l’Américain Fred Vigorito au cornet et le Britannique Sammy Rimington a la clarinette et alto – et voilà une combinaison internationale unique et excitante.  Ensemble ils forment un des groupes New Orleans les plus complets que j’écoute avec plaisir depuis des années.  Avec les Happy Pals du Canada et le Britannique Phil Mason, ces gars comptent probablement parmi les plus grands.  Ne me prenez pas au mot cependant : écoutez le morceau que nous passons maintenant – Rhum and Coca Cola - décidez pour vous-mêmes ! De plus – ce n’est pas uniquement leur swing et l’ambiance générale qui sont contagieux – ces mecs jouent aussi en solo...  Encore, messieurs, encore !

 New Orleans Living Legends CD FPCD11 - notes  Jazz club and concert promoters are always looking for sure fire strategies which would ensure that they fill their venues with eager enthusiasts. They need look no longer!  I’ve found the unique magic formula. It goes something like this……..Take one Jean Pierre Alessi - add a large measure of Fred Vigorito and an equal part of Sammy Rimington. Mix those three well and then season with equal measures of Henry Lemaire, Dominic Molton, Jacky Boyadjian and Vincent Hurel.  Allow the overall mixture a little time to settle and then warm overnight ion a conducive atmosphere and watch the results - they will be spectacular - highly emotional - visceral even and the most rhythmic this side of the heavenly band led by Buddy Bolden,. Louis Armstrong, George Lewis and Sam Morgan.What I’m getting at is that by teaming up with Vigorito and Rimington monsieur Alessi has achieved the near impossible. He’s created a band that on the occasions recorded in the remarkable CD titled ”New Orleans Living Legends” was one of the hottest and most exciting I have ever heard. For sheer foot-patting infection and overall joie de vivre this group is among the very best. Alessi’s inspiration is the seminal tenor sax work of the great immortal Manny Paul, Sammy Rimington was originally inspired by George Lewis but is now a giant talent in his own right - a world talent. Fred Vigorito is inspired by exciting, original talents like Kid Thomas Valentine and Wild Bill Davison but add his own unique formula to - like Sammy - come up with something truly great in the annals of jazz cornet. The three together are a perfect combination - each inspiring the others. And this wonderful rhythm section. Where on earth did J-P find skill, understanding and totally absorbing rhythm and understanding on this level. These men ARE New Orleanians even if they’re playing in France. Bravo mes amis - bravo - encore - toujours encore.What a band - what a CD - thank you J-P - you made my day - month - year!    Brian Harvey Copyright 2008

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Gérard GUICHARDON (Jazz Macon Club) : JCCD 3107/3108 et JCCD3110/311 J'ai écoute tes 4 derniers disques et j'ai été bluffé. Je ne pensais pas que tu jouerais aussi bien quand on pense que tu joues seulement depuis 12 ans, c'est extraordinaire. Ton jeu est identique à Emanuel PAUL sur les morceaux que lui à joué et sur les autres qu'il n'a jamais joué on croit l'entendre. Félicitation c'est du top niveau, je t'avais entendu en 99 mais maintenant cela n'a rien à voir tu es devenu un PRO. Je comprends maintenant pourquoi MARCEL JOLY adore tes disques. Continue dans ce style et surtout n'arrête pas. Je ne connaissais pas Alain, Kjeld et John mais ils jouent aussi très bien.

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Geoff BOXELL : JCCD 3110/3111 One note on Jean-Pierre Alessi which blew me away: he started playing only in 1993. Well if that middle-aged man can do, so can we all (if only my wife would let me get that trombone I’ve always desired maybe I could replace B3 in the line up). Certainly his feel for New Orleans jazz is very real and I suggest you listen to ‘Burgundy Street Blues’ to understand what I am talking about.

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  Houcine HARRABI : (GHB Records)

I met JP in New Orleans in 2000 during the French quarter festival. He's one of the most enthusiastic to the New Orleans Style jazz and to believe that visit his Website and you would think that Emanuel Paul rose back again from the dead.

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USA Jazz Encyclopedia Scott YANOW : JCCD3110/3111  The French Preservation New Orleans Jazz Band is a pianoless quartet that features the raspy and emotional tenor and alto playing of Jean Pierre ALESSI. For this live set, the first of two Cd from the same performance, ALESSI and his group are joined by cornetist Fred VIGORITO and trombonist Big Bill BISSONNETTE. ALESSI puts plenty of feeling into his playing, sometimes recalling altoist Capt John HANDY and sometimes tenor MANNY PAUL.

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Ecole de Danse Fred et Nico :(1ere soirée du French Préservation) Ce fut une soirée extraordinaire. Superbe formation, très bon esprit, le Jazz New Orleans comme on l'aime. Super Ambiance........Merci encore pour votre prestation.

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Alain MEAUME : (Louisiana Jazz Band) JPA02  J'ai reçu ton CD ce midi je l'ai immédiatement mis sur la platine et j'ai entendu le début, c'est bluffant...t'as vraiment beaucoup  écouté ce vieil EMANUEL. Tu peux aller jouer la bas tu ne seras pas dépaysé. C'est en tout cas un bel hommage et il me languit d'écouter le reste ce soir. Je te dirai même si mon avis n'a d'autre valeur que celle que tu voudras bien y accorder.

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Guillaume NOUAUX (Vintage Jazz Band) Je suis tombe sur ton site alors que j'étais en train de fouiller des informations sur Sammy Penn sur le net. Ton travail et tes recherches sur Emanuel Paul son fabuleux ! Beau travail fait avec passion, je suis étonné de lire la discographie que tu as pu reconstruire. Bravo et à bientôt sur la route du Jazz

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Anne Marie MARTEL (Jazz Dixie Swing N°38) : Ils jouent dans le style New Orleans Revival............Jean Pierre lui est un cas. C'est un des musiciens qu'on est heureux de découvrir et qu'on n'oubliera pas. Ancien danseur de rock acrobatique, on lui a proposé un jour de danser sur du jazz et il est tombé dans la marmite. Il joue depuis neuf ans et depuis c'est un musicien épanoui et heureux.............sur Tin Roof Blues super solo de ténor, son bien plein, bien rond vibrant mais jamais agressif.

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Envoyez un courrier électronique a  jp-alessi@emanuelpaul.com   pour toute question ou remarque concernant ce site Web.

Copyright © 2000  Emanuel Paul / JP Alessi