The Paris Reunion Band in Stuttgart

The relationship between the city of Paris and American jazz musicians has its roots in the years following World War Two where Paris, having fallen in love with this heady, multicultural music during the war, became a world center for concerts and the hedonistic lifestyle they brought. What's more, the African-American musicians who still suffered widespread segregation throughout the 40s, 50s and 60s (having to enter concert venues via the back door, not being able to eat with white musicians, segregated crowds and much more) found a much more welcoming audience France. As such, the country became a haven for jazz, something that remains true to this day.  

Here, the Paris Reunion Band play a show at the Stuttgart JazzOpen festival in 1988. It is a group formed by American jazzmen who feel a shared love for Paris and was founded by saxophonist Nathan Davis in 1985. Jimmy Woode, Woody Shaw and Davis are the only members remaining from the group's original lineup, with Idris Muhammad joining on drums, alongside Joe Henderson on saxophone and Nat Adderley on cornet, Curtis Fuller on trombone and Walter Bishop on piano. A classy concert full of virtuosity from start to finish.