FABULOUS Redditch-based band Montparnasse have cut their first album length CD.
The outfit, built around Parisian singer Celine Dommart and award winning guitarist Cris Tolley of Plymouth Road, have been joined by Paul Smith on double bass and Robin Payne on drums – both from a rock background – and the results are astonishing.
“We used Vale Studios near Pershore and they did an awesome job for with Celine recording through a 1950s Russian valve mike and the sound quality is amazing,” said Cris.
The band laid all 13 tracks down in one day – in true Beatles fashion – with the songs reflecting their passion for gypsy jazz, Argentinian tango, Parsian chansons and more including favourites like Besame Mucho and Old Devil Moon.
The result is an album which will appeal to a wide range of tastes as it showcases the fabulous fretwork of Tolley and the vocals of Dommart – not to mention the virtuoso rhythm section.
“Paul’s double bass used to belong to Micky Ashman, who played with Lonnie Donegan, and was borrowed by Ray Brown to play alongside Ella Fitzgerald,” said Cris.
“Robin’s a really good drummer, the things he was doing…well I don’t really know how he did them but you’ll see on the CD sleeve the endorsements he has from drum kit makers.”
The release of the CD coincides with a marked change in the band’s appeal as they step up from gigging to filling concert venues.
“It’s difficult to know how people have heard about us but our last gig at the Midlands Arts Centre sold out and we had more than 200 at our concert in Shipston,” said Cris.
Montparnasse are back at Mac to kickstart their 2017 touring season which will see them taking their sound beyond the Midlands and across the country.
Montparrnass play Mac on Saturday, February 4 – tickets £13 – for details visit http://bit.ly/2jMjRFi
For more on Montparnasse and to buy the CD, visit www.montparnassemusic.com .
To hear them, visit https://youtu.be/uizIAede8s0
