The Haricots Rouges have been ambassadors for New Orleans jazz à la franCaise since 1963, and in the course of their 50 year career they've travelled the world, opened for Louis Armstrong, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones - or Georges Brassens! - and given almost 5000 concerts. This French mElodies album stands out particularly for the astonishing creative energy of these musicians, who not only make the repertoire here their own but succeed in giving the music abiguine Creole flavour. Call it a jubilee album if you like, but its New Orleans and Biguine accents also give this legendary band its eternal youth and generosity. Patrick FREMEAUX