Biography Barney Wilen

Barney Wilen (March 4, 1937 – May 25, 1996) was a French tenor and soprano saxophonist and jazz composer.

Wilen was born in Nice; his father was an American dentist turned inventor, and his mother was French. He began performing in clubs in Nice after being encouraged by Blaise Cendrars who was a friend of his mother. His career was boosted in 1957 when he worked with Miles Davis on the soundtrack Ascenseur pour l'Échafaud. In 1959, Wilen wrote his two soundtracks Un Témoin Dans la Ville and Jazz sur scène with Kenny Clarke. He wrote a soundtrack for Roger Vadim's film Les Liaisons Dangeureuse two years later, working with Thelonious Monk. Wilen returned to composing for French films in the 1980s and 1990s. In the mid-to-late 1960s he became interested in rock, and recorded an album dedicated to Timothy Leary. He also worked with punk rockers before returning to jazz in the 1990s. Wilen played with modern jazz musicians until his death in 1996. He died of cancer in Paris at the age 59.

In 1987, French comic book artist Jacques de Loustal and author Philippe Paringaux paid homage to Wilen in their "bande dessinée" Barney et la note bleue ("Barney and the blue note").

Discography

As leader

1957 : Tilt - Vogue Swing

1958 : Jazz sur Seine - Philips

1959 : Barney - RCA

1959 : Un témoin dans la ville - Fontana

1962 : Jazz Soundtrack From Mental Cruelty - Decca

1966 : Zodiac Suite - Vogue

1968 : Dear Prof. Leary - MPS Records

1968 : Auto Jazz: Tragic Destiny of Lorenzo Bandini - MPS

1972 : Moshi - Saravah

1975 : Free Jazz - Mouloudji

1986 : Flashback - Paris Jazz Corner

1987 : La note bleue - IDA

1987 : French Ballads - IDA

1989 : Wild Dogs of the Ruwenzori - IDA

1990 : Paris Moods - Alfa Jazz

1991 : Sanctuary - IDA

1991 : Modern nostalgie (Starbust Forever) - Alfa Jazz

1992 : Dream time - Deux

1992 : Aigre-douce - Alfa global

1993 : Essential Ballads - Alfa Jazz

1993 : Talisman - IDA

1993 : Inside nitty = Gritty - Venus

1994 : Barney Wilen Quartet, New York Romance - Venus

1994 : The Osaka concert - Trema

1995 : Passione - Venus

As sideman

With Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers :

1959 Les Liaisons Dangereuses 1960, Original Soundtrack

1959 : Paris Jam Session - Fontana

With Miles Davis :

1957 : Miles Davis And Barney Wilen Quartet - Carlyne

1958 : Ascenseur pour l'échafaud - Polygram/Fontana

With John Lewis :

1956 : Afternoon in Paris - Atlantic

With Bud Powell :

1959 : Cookin' at Saint-Germain 57-59 - Mythic Sound

1961 : Pianology - Moon

With Martial Solal :

1958 : Martial Solal et son Grand Orchestre - Swing

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