Les Double Six

Mimi Perrin established this French ensemble in 1959 and served as its director along with chief arranger, supplying original lyrics to jazz instrumentals. The group’s name arose from an audio technique that layered two separate recordings to produce the sonic illusion of twelve singers. Sessions gained notice through contributions from visiting American musicians such as Quincy Jones, Benny Bailey, Dizzy Gillespie, and Jerome Richardson. Perrin guided a second lineup beginning in 1965, but illness prompted Jef Gilson to keep the members together until the group disbanded in 1966.