Les Double Six

Les Double Six (also known as the Double Six of Paris) was a French vocal jazz group established in 1959 by Mimi Perrin. The group established an international reputation in the early 1960s. The name of the group was an allusion to the fact that the sextet used overdubbing techniques to achieve twelve-part singing. The membership of the group varied from recording to recording.

They sang in French jazz standards, particularly themes by Quincy Jones and Dizzy Gillespie, thanks to the poetic or humorous texts written by the imaginative Perrin.

Inspired several American groups, the singers vocalized in the manner of instruments, reconstructing brilliant improvisations of saxophone, trumpets or trombones.

The group was not long-lasting. Due to Perrin's health problems (she had contracted tuberculosis in 1949), Les Double Six dissolved in 1966. They recorded four albums between 1959 and 1964. Many members of the group went on to join the Swingle Singers, which notably reproduced the works of Bach in the jazz vocal style.

The Double Six were nominated for Best Vocal Group Performance at the 1965 Grammy Awards for their LP The Double Six of Paris Sing Ray Charles, and were beaten by The Beatles' A Hard Day's Night.^[1]

Members

(changing according to session, but generally in sextets)

• Mimi Perrin (founder)
• Monique Guérin
• Louis Aldebert
• Ward Swingle (future arranger of the Swingle Singers)
• Jean-Louis Conrozier
• Roger Guérin
• Christiane Legrand
• Claude Germain
• Jacques Denjean
• Jean-Claude Briodin
• Eddy Louiss
• Claudine Barge
• Robert Smart
• Bernard Lubat

Discography

• The Double Six of Paris, Capitol Records 1961 (recorded 1959-1960)

1. For Lena and Lennie (En flânant dans Paris)
2. Rat race (La course au rat)
3. Stockholm sweetnin' (Un coin merveilleux)
4. Boo's bloos (Au temps des Indiens)
5. Doodlin' (Tout en dodelinant)
6. Meet Benny Bailey (Au bout du fil)
7. Evening in Paris (Il y a fort longtemps)
8. Count'em (T'as foutu l'camp)

• The Double Six of Paris: Swingin' Singin', Philips Records 1962 (recorded 1960-1961)

1. Tickle Toe
2. Early Autumn
3. Sweets
4. Naima
5. Westward Walk
6. Night in Tunisia
7. Ballad
8. Scrapple from the Apple
9. Boplicity
10. Moanin'
11. Fascinating Rhythm

• Dizzy Gillespie and the Double Six of Paris, Philips 1963

1. Emanon
2. Anthropology
3. Tin Tin Deo
4. One Bass Hit
5. Two Bass Hit
6. Groovin' High
7. Ooh-Shoo-Be-Doo-Bee
8. Hot House
9. Con Alma
10. Blue 'N' Boogie
11. The Champ
12. Ow!

• The Double Six Of Paris sing Ray Charles, Philips 1964

1. One Mint Julep
2. Yes, Indeed
3. Georgia On My Mind
4. Lonely Avenue
5. Sherri
6. Let The Good Times Roll By
7. Halleluja, I Love Her So
8. Hit the Road, Jack
9. Ruby
10. From The Heart
11. Stompin' Room Only

• Les Double Six [two-fer reissue], RCA Victor International 1999

1. For Lena and Lennie (En flanant dans Paris)
2. Rat Race (la course au rat)
3. Stockholm Sweetnin' (Un Coin Merveilleux)
4. Boo's Bloos (Au temps des Indiens)
5. Doodlin' (Tout en dodelinant)
6. Meet Benny Bailey (Au Bout du Fil)
7. Evening in Paris (Il y a fort longtemps)
8. Count'em (T'as foutu l'camp)
9. Tickle Toe
10. Early Autumn
11. Sweets
12. Naima
13. Westwood Walk
14. A Night in Tunisia
15. A Ballad
16. Scrapple From The Apple
17. Boplicity
18. Moanin'
19. Fascinating Rhythm
20. Walkin'

Reference

• Les Double Six at Allmusic

This article is based on a translation of the corresponding article on the French Wikipedia.