TO BERNARD LION
This entire work is dedicated to my friend and partner Bernard Lion that left us too quickly at the age of 69 in April 2008. Bernard Lion, TV director and producer, A&R man, Jazz Festival producer, was one of the most famous TV director for Jazz in France. Along with J.C. Averty, it can be said that Bernard did all the Jazz programs in France in the 60’s thru the 90’s.
His series “Jazz Portraits” presented most of the jazz Musicians passing Paris (Earl Hines, Duke Ellington, Oscar Peterson, Thelonious Monk, Bill Evans, Jimmy Smith, Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, Johnny Griffin, and many others…).
Bernard created and organised with André Francis (Mr. Jazz at Radio France), from 1969 to 1973 the Jazz Festival in Châteauvallon, one of the very first Jazz festival in France where so many great musicians had the pleasure to perform : Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, Jimmy Smith, Gerry Mulligan, John McLaughlin, Don Cherry, Weather Report, Oscar Peterson, Sonny Rollins.
All these sessions exist today on video and are well archived and maintain by INA (National Audiovisual Institute of France).
From 1981 to 1988, Bernard was the A&R man for the most famous venue in Monte Carlo (la Société des Bains de Mer) bringing such celebrities as Frank Sinatra, Harry Belafonte, Sammy Davis Jr., Paul Anka, Dionne Warwick, Liza Minelli, Jerry Lewis, Stevie Wonder, etc.
Bernard had an incredible knowledge of Jazz and filming Jazz worldwide, up to his passing he presented to the public in New York and France unseen footage of the great masters in Jazz.
We had a great project within Laser Swing Productions to bring out his works from the vaults of INA, not simply by releasing the programs as they were broadcasted, but by researching the rushes and assemble them to produce a more valuable program. Bernard left us too early, but we have faith that his work (some programs on Duke, Duke and Stephane Grappelli were completed) will surface soon for the sake of Jazz History.
Bernard Lion was made Officer of “Arts et Lettres” and Officer of the “Légion d’Honneur” for his entire career.
In Working with Bernard since 1987, we had put out on LaserDisc format his “Jazz Portrait” that he had done with another of great friend of our Henri Renaud (one of the greatest Be-Bop pianist in France, Great A&R men, writer) on Thelonious Monk, recorded solo, in a Paris studio… and in Color. This time we are bringing this program on DVD with a restored sound as it was broadcasted with the narration of Henri Renaud. For years, Bernard told me that there was more footage (that explains the ‘’Part 1’’ on the introduction !), but after many research nothing was found… may be one day we will complete his work…
The Monk watch was a project he liked much, he saw the beginning of the concept and wanted to have one… For sure his wife Christine will wear one.
Thank you my friend.
Jacques Muyal, 2009
CREDITS
Studio Recording, Paris Dec. 1969
- Directed by
- Bernard Lion
- Presented by
- Henri Renaud
- Thank you to
- Robin for the great liner notes
- Special thanks to
- Gale & TS Monk
- Release on DVD
- PI Production
- Graphic design
- Contreforme
- Watch design
- Jacques Muyal
- Watch production
- Ermanno Sordi & Lorena Perini
Limited Edition Watch & DVD 1000 Quantity