On Saturday, January 12, the French culture imbued in New Orleans’ lifeblood will be the subject of a unique musical evening.
Organizers wanted to put French Soirée together because, despite there being French culture all around us, hearing live French music is a rarity in New Orleans. “Besides the famous La Foule and Les Feuilles Mortes, very little French music composed after the ’50s is actually performed in the city,” say Romain and Phil of Megaphone Productions.
The Clara Sinou Trio will perform the music its leader draws from the famous Jazz Manouche of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli. According to organizers, “they play scalding hot jazz and will delight you with a selection of French chansons and other jazz standards played the way they used to do in St. Germain back in the day.”
Also performing is acclaimed vocalist Cyrille Aimée, whose style approaches improvisation as not just a technique, but “a way of life.” She’s gone from singing on European street corners to the world’s most prestigious jazz festivals. Cyrille will perform solo with a looping pedal, creating textures and back up tracks using only her voice.
Following Cyrille, Coyah & Les Provocateurs present a selection of popular music with songs from Brassens, Renaud, Aznavour, Brel, even Indochine. These songs are hugely popular in France but are rarely performed on this side of the Atlantic. Les Provocateurs will also perform some of their own original music, created right here in New Orleans.
Camille Gac closes out the night with her DJ set of vintage 45s and LPs from the ’60s , classics from the yéyé era.
The French Soirée takes place at Circle Bar (1032 St. Charles) from 9 p.m. ’til.
