7 Videos of French Vocal Groups

I love French vocalese groups that take on jazz of the 1950s. There's something about hearing the lyrics (in many cases written by Jon Hendricks) with a Parisian feel. Here are seven video clips of formidable French vocal groups in the style of Lambert, Hendricks & Ross:

Here are the Blue Stars in 1956 singing George Shearing's Lullaby of Birdland, with Christiane Legrand in front at the opening singing the high notes...



Here's Les Doubles Six in 1960 singing Quincy Jones's Meet B.B....



Here's Les Doubles Six singing Miles Davis and Gil Evans's Boplicity...



Here's Les Doubles Six in Germany in 1965 singing Four Brothers and Moanin'. Founding member Mimi Perrin is in dark glasses...



Here's Les Voice Messengers performing a tribute to Perrin and Les Doubles Six...



Here are Les Swingle Singers in Croatia in 1969. The group was formed in Paris in 1962 by Ward Swingle (far right), the group's vocal arranger and former member of Les Blue Stars and Les Double Six...



And here's the contemporary incarnation of Les Swingle Singers aboard a London Underground train to sing Quincy Jones's Soul Bossa Nova...