René Urtreger - H.U.M.! Live at Club Saint-Germain-des-Prés & Two Radio Broadcasts (2018)

The men behind the acronym H.U.M. (which uses one letter from each musician s name) were drummer Daniel Humair, pianist René Urtreger and bassist Pierre Michelot. And they were a trio in the true sense of the word, as its members melted together musically to form a separate entity by habit of playing together, but more so by the affinity of their tastes, ideas and style. These performances were recorded live at Club Saint-Germain in September 1960, and they show René Urtreger blazing furiously with inspired conception, swinging deeply and shaping lucid and provocative jazz statements. Of course, he had the superb support of probably the best one-two rhythmic punch available in European jazz, at the time Michelot, who also solos effectively, and Humair, who does as well in the more open passages. They are the anchor to these sides, and keep the fire alight until the last bar.
The label Vega released an LP with these performances, but in addition to the original album, this CD includes two radio broadcasts previously unreleased. These recordings are a reminder of the wonderful soirees of late summer and early autumn that these three artists shared. At engagement after engagement, the trio that formed H, U and M, met to find perfect harmony. This record is a lasting memento of their joy.