When classical musicians asked him: René, why waste your time with those jazz people?, he said: Be quiet. There is one kind of music: "the good kind," and then there is the "bad" kind.(1)René Costy ("The Belgian Grapelli") (2) (1917-1997) was a classically trained, Belgian violinist, conductor, sound engineer, music teacher and composer in many genres. After he earned a first prize in violin, Queen Elisabeth asked him to become first violin in the Queen Elisabeth String Quartet.
During World War II he discovered jazz. He couldn't care less that the genre wasn't accepted yet in those days, he loved it. (1) In 1945 he played with Fud Candrix (Alfons "Fud" Candrix, 1908-1974) and his dance orchestra in a few fun recordings. Here are three samples featuring Costy's mean violin, the first two Latin inspired.
- Tico-Tico with vocals by Tohama (pseudonym for Nadia Altmann, 1920-1995).
- Perdido, also with Tohama.
- Special Delivery Stomp is a lively instrumental piece.
Costy also composed for his own instrument, a.o. Concha for violin and piano (1952 copyright), a beautifully syncopated work in Brazilian choro style.
In 1962 Costy became sound engineer and composer for the Belgian French-language radio and television. His record catalog includes more than 400 tracks, about 300 of which he wrote himself, a.o. a number of albums from the 1970s which focus on library music production for radio, television and film. Although obviously not intended for the hit parade, many of these are very attractive.
Costy wrote abundantly for strings. He wrote pieces in ancient and classical styles, ambient, dreamy pieces, but it is probably for the jazz groove and punk music that he is best known.
The album Danger, Suspense et Eprouvettes (Danger, Suspense and Test tubes) (1977), a mix of funk, jazz and soundscapes, produced by René Costy, was intended for the film music library. It became a collectors item, and many of its tracks have recently been re-released on the album Expectancy (2017). Here are seven of the 1977 album's eight tracks, a bounty of ambient, evocative and funk music. (3)
- Expectancy written by Costy and Lydia Altmann.
- Danger written by Costy and Janou.
- Alchimie written by Frank Engelen and Costy.
- Ostinato Bass by Lydia Altmann and Gabrielle Van Weynen, the only track not co-written by Costy, and perhaps the most popular of the lot.
- Like A Magic Dream by Costy and Lahna.
- Cosmogony by Costy and Engelen.
- Onirisme by Costy and Janou.
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(1) Michel Costy, "René Costy: portret van een vergeten Brusselse muzieklegende (René Costy: Portrait of a Forgotten Brussels Music Legend)." Video interview with René Costa's son by Ruben Lambrecht, Bruzz International, 02/28/2017. (http://www.bruzz.be/nl/video/rene-costy-portret-van-een-vergeten-brusselse-muzieklegende (12/10/2017))
(2)Stéphane Grapelli (1908-1997) was a famous French jazz violinist.
(3) Identification of Costy's many collaborators will require detective work. Not much can be gleaned from the internet. Frank Engelen used the pseudonyms "Bracca" and "Frank Burns.""Janou" was a pseudonym for Lydia Altmann. "Lahna" was a pseudonym for Jacqueline Van Hal. Gabrielle Van Weynen used the pseudonym "Asler." The last track of the album--not available on YouTube--Schizophreny was written by Costy and "Luoris" (pseudonym for Jacques Siroul (b. 1952).