Our contribution to Record Store Day 2014 - Jef Gilson et Malagasy 5LP set

Over recent years, we've delved deep in into the life and work of the late French jazz pioneer Jef Gilson. The outcome has been two double albums featuring the best of his life’s work, and has included many previously unreleased tracks. Now we're about to dig even deeper for Record Store Day!

RSD is on 19 April this year and we've been working hard behind the scenes to get ready our most ambitious project yet - a 5LP box set from Jef Gilson & Malagasy:

• 5 LPs including the 3 original LPs from Malagasy and 2 LPs previously unreleased
• 7" single of the super-rare $1000-rated 45 that was only released in Madagascar in the early '70s
• booklet with previously-unpublished photographs and liner notes featuring interviews from members of Malagasy. Notes are in English and French.
• free download card for 320kbps MP3 files of all tracks
• Limited to 500 copies only

As well as spending his days (and nights) composing, recording, producing, arranging and performing, part of Gilson’s life involved the study and exploration of music, and in the late 1960s his curiosity led him to the ex-French colony of Madagascar, the island just off the south eastern coast of Africa. Indeed, Gilson was fascinated by all kinds of music, not just jazz, and his thirst for musical knowledge led him to make several trips to Madagascar not only to study the indigenous music, but also to spread his passion for jazz. His absorption of Malagasy culture and the strength of his personality would eventually result in the release of 3 exceptional albums of Malagasy jazz, as well as a string of Malagasy concerts, events and radio shows performed across France.

Here we present in their entirety all 3 of these albums, as well as 2 further albums of previously unreleased Malagasy material, in an attempt to address the profound contribution that Gilson and Malagasy have made to world jazz.

THE MUSIC

Early experiments in Ethnic Jazz created as a direct result of Jef Gilson’s expedition to Madagascar in 1969. Three LPs of super rare Malagasy jazz restored and available again for the first time in 40 years. Two LPs of unheard and previously unissued Afro-Spiritual jazz. An impossibly rare 7” single made available for the first time ever outside Madagascar.

*** If vinyl isn't your thing we have a 4CD set also available. In keeping with RSD rules the set will be available in selected RSD stores on 19 April, and if any copies are left they will be available one week later in other stores and online. 

AND FINALLY - all vinyl copies bought from the Jazzman website will get a FREE bonus Malagasy tote bag!