Who Was Marcel the Furrier?

an incredible band on this one

Last night as I was making dinner I had jazz going, no surprise there. One of my all-time favourite songs came on, "Marcel the Furrier" as performed by Oscar Pettiford.

"Don't you love this song?" I asked my son.

"I don't really like jazz," he said. I still love him, though I hope to one day cure him of this lapse in judgement.

The song was written by Henri Renaud, who I don't know much about. One of the great European jazz players from the 50's. Played a lot with the great Bobby Jaspar. In fact, they recorded a version of this great tune, but it doesn't do it for me like Pettiford's version. George Wallington recorded an odd stilted version with strings that sucks all the toe-tappingness from the song.

Is one of these cats Marcel?

Maybe it's because I know that song so well. I've written about it before and probably will again. I think I could play every note in my mind at any moment. It's one of those perfect recordings.

I wonder, who was he? What did he look like, this Marcel? Did Henri like buying furs from him? For a lover perhaps? One day I'll find an answer and I'll be sure to have you over and tell you all about it.

I wonder what he looks like, this Marcel? Did he smoke Gauloise cigarettes? Probably.