Tags
An Alien Parisienne, Eden Ahbez, Erhu, France, Guo Gan, Guy's Eye on Culture, Hal David, Hiroshi Murayama Trio, Integral Jazz, Jazz, Jazz photos, Jazzin', Jazzin' mp3, Nature Boy, Nature Boy mp3, Paris, Paris Jazz, Paris Karin, Paris Photo, Paris photographs, Sunside, Tina Provenzano, Tina Provenzano mp3, Wives and Lovers, Wives and Lovers mp3, Xavier Richardeau
Press ‘Play’ for a sample of the concert: Nature Boy (written by Eden Ahbez). Plus you’ve got to scroll down to hear the most sexist song ever written, which I’ve graciously tacked onto the bottom of this post.
Paris Karin and I caught a Jazz concert at the Sunside on the rue des Lombards a couple of weeks ago. Tina Provenzano and the Hiroshi Murayama Trio were there to promote their CD Jazzin’, which was put together by my good friends at Integral Distribution. (This time I knew they were my good friends because we got in free, were seated in the front row and got comped drinks.) Soon after we were settled in, the show started. But you know me–and if you don’t they’re still looking for a cure–as just a guy I’m not qualified to give a professional review of the show so what I did throw together came out something like this.
Sunside (Sunny Side Up – Sunset down)
19:25 Oooh, I’m on “The List”. I don’t think I’ve ever been on a list before. OK, not a list for good things. Plus I got a Plus 1. #ParisKarin
Guo Gan on Erhu
19:38 Tina Provenzano is late. #Boozing
19:42 First song is one of my favorites. “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is to love and be loved in return.” [This would be "Nature Boy", which is what you're listening to right now because I posted it at the top and you pressed 'Play'.]
19:47 There’s a Chinese thing and it’s cool as hell and adds a lot to the slower songs. #Erhu
20:03 Asian pianist makes ivory ticklish, the saxophonist is tight and the drummer is a mouth breather but he knows his stuff.
20:10 The vocalist would do really well at a wedding.
20:16 Yeah, I’m guessing she had a little liquid courage before going on stage.
20:27 Oops, the singer is wearing a Jesus jacket. I may have been wrong about the boozing. Or she had some Jesus juice. #SwearToGod
20:33 Comped drinks. I got a Perrier with ice and a lemon wedge. Ahh, the life of a teetotalling VIP.
20:47 An original song called “Blessed”, based on a Psalm. #bouncy
20:56 Either I’m nearsighted or she’s got a Christmas tree ornament for a brooch.
Tina Provenzano
21:17 She’s gonna do Billie. You don’t want to miss a note when you’re singing on thin ice and in over your head.
21:19 Oh yeah, she should’ve stayed away from Billie. Let this be a lesson to all you jazz singers out there: Billie Holiday is not show tunes, people.
21:23 I like reviewing. It’s a lot easier than everything else. #Funner
21:32 The guy with the cool hat did a kicking solo on his funky 2-stringed coconut box guitar. Oh yes, I am cut out for reviewing.
Guo Gan on Erhu
21:36 Hmm, there’s a reason there are no solo jazz albums with the erhu.
21:40 Yikes, busy jazz. 3 different songs at the same time. I already hear this in my head… #LikeTheVoices
21:58 The stage reminds me of the sound set from ‘Round Midnight. The movie that converted me to jazz. #ReligiousExperience
Xavier Richardeau on Saxophone
22:07 I’m not a professional critic but I play one in bars.
22:11 She covered Dean Martin. She’s like an old blanket in a cheap hotel: she’ll cover anybody.
22:14 “Wives should be lovers too.” “Don’t think because there’s a ring on your finger, you don’t need to try anymore.” It’s not the blues but it’s pretty sad. [This is the song I placed at the bottom of the post for your amusement.]
22:19 The French say that too much love kills love. I wonder if the same is true for jazz.
22:25 She’s following all the right rules, but jazz isn’t about following the rules. Or breaking them. Jazz is all about no rules.
22:36 She hit her stride on the “Sunny Side of the Street”.
Tina Provenzano
22:51 Somebody loves you? No, “Somebody loves you and you and you and you.” A new take on “I want to thank each and every one of you.”
22:59 The drummer dropped a stick mid-song. I love this guy. #He’sReallyVeryTalented
23:16 Off to meet the singer and get my comped, autographed copy. No, I don’t think I’m acting like a sophomore in a limo on his way to his first senior prom. #WhyDoYouAsk?
Here’s the song I promised (lyrics by Hal David): Tina Provenzano – Wives & Lovers
All photos © Paris Paul Prescott 2011
Hullo, my dear! Professional critic you are not, but professional amuser, you definitely are.
“22:59 The drummer dropped a stick mid-song.”
What was absolutely awesome was that he retrieved it without apparently (to me**) missing a beat! He acted very professionally about losing his stick.
**But musician, I am not. Sounded like he kept rhythm with the other one while he skillfully picked up the other, though.
I absolutely *loved* the erhu making an appearance in this group. To me, it really added a dimension that I had never heard before in jazz and it really worked for me. I was super-impressed with the erhu dude. But then I have always loved Chinese music with erhu in it. The tunes and performances were average to above-average, like, I’d given them a B to B- if I were grading, but the erhu, IMO, moved things up a notch to make it something really interesting and unique.
And the pineapple juice I had was really yummy, too.
It was a fun evening. It made me feel like I was in a big city, listening to jazz — a very urban-sophisticate thing to do, so this Colorado girl felt pretty special just being able to be present at something she’d only ever seen in movies about New York and shit.
As a final word, I am really impressed with what Integral Music is trying to do by keeping forms of music such as classical and jazz alive and well, both for performers and listeners. They are trying to bring music to the people, regular people, not just aficionados, and I give them high marks for this. They have opened my world a lot more here in Paris through the events and shows they host.
Fun at the show and fun reading / writing about it. The happy couple we are.
And yes, the erhu on the slow songs really added a whole ‘nother depth. It was terrifically beautiful.
See you in the streets,
Paris Paul