Troubadour Chris D reporting from Paris...

Renown novelist-singer-songwriter-raconteur Chris D recently tripped across the pond to sample the Continent's cultural offerings with longtime friend Jan.  His exclusive notes for johnnykmusic follow (caution: Msr. Chris sprinkles his reporting with French phrases and, as you know, those French have a different word for EVERYTHING!).

Hi John,

        

Your European reporter checking in.  Jan and I went to two jazz clubs in Paris last week.  Here are the reports (photos attached):

Msr. Lendower (on piano) and Msr. Olivier de Colombel

Sat Sept 17  Cafe Universel (rue St. Jacques, near Montparnasse), a tiny jazz club that hosts young jazz musicians and pays them out of the tip jar, was home to Pianiste/compositeur Vincent Lendower.  The night was advertised on-line as a jazz quartet, but Msr. Lendower's sister, the vocalist, and the bassist did not make it.  The resulting duo was Msr. Lendower on piano and Msr. Olivier de Colombel, who played a good alto sax, an adequate wooden Indian flute, and a mediocre guitar (not all at the same time).  Original compositions, improvisational and meandering, around a basic melody.  The duo have played together intermittently and did take a trip to India from whence the Indian flute evolved.  Cafe Universel might hold  50 patrons, 25 of whom have sightlines to the tiny "stage."  The Cafe has been operating for over ten years, having established a tiny but insistent footprint in the jazz scene in Paris.  The bartenders were a young man and woman from Ireland, the man having just arrived from two years of teaching English in Japan.  Jan enjoyed her Cosmo while I had the pleasure of tasty Mojitos.

Sun Sept 18 we found a long-established club, le Caveau de la Huchette (on rue de la Huchette) in St. Germain-des-Pres, on the Rive Gauche.  Le Caveau has hosted continuous jazz acts since the 1940s, every night of the week, tous les jours. Upstairs is a long bar; downstairs (in the cave, le caveau) is a small stage, a moderate dance floor, and seating for about 80 enthusiasts.  Patrick Cabon brought his trio to le Caveau.  Msr. Cabon plays piano with great talent, and the theme of the night was the music of Oscar Peterson (beautiful music, though I have to admit I cannot verify that Msr. Cabon stayed faithful to the Peterson cannon).  Msr. Cabon was accompanied by a talented bassist (on the standup bass, of course), and a drummer, who plied sticks and brushes effectively.  Show started at 10:30; Jan and I left at 12:00, though the show  was still steaming.  Some very smooth dancing couples working the lindy and swing.  Jan had imbibed Cosmos across the street as we awaited the 10:00 opening; I tried Mai-Tais.  Moderate cover ($12.00).  Great evening.  

  

One last item:  saw the poster for Raphael Saadiq, who will be playing at Olympia, a concert hall on rue Haussman, near our hotel, Amarante Beau Manoir, just off the square in front of Madeleine, an old sizable church.  Unfortunately, Msr. Saadiq won't be in Paris until November.  Maybe we'll be back.

  
Go Browns.  Chris