Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen "Jazz from Paris"

“When I drink I don’t know what I’m doing. I usually wake up in some strange place with a kid with an accent playing with my feet!” 

Rodney Dangerfield

Bonjour de Paris …

Chers Amis,

We made it through winter and now we are square in the middle of Spring which in Paris means overcast skies and occasional rain with the odd day of sunshine and a hint of summer temperatures. Winter wasn’t all that bad. We had two snow events as I like to call them.  The snowflakes are typically heavy with a lot of moisture…

Bonjour de Paris...

                                                                 “It all has to come from the inside." Jimmy Hendrix                                                                                                                                                                                    
Chers Amis,

 It has been too long since I last wrote. At least that’s the way I feel. You may have an entirely different perspective on the matter. I sometimes begin writing and then usually due…

                                                                                                                               Bonjour de Paris...
 

                                                                                                                “Ciao Ciao Ho Ho."                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Noah D.           …

Bonjour de Paris...
 

        “Sometimes you have to play a long time to be able to play like yourself."                                                                                                           Miles Davis                                                                       

Chers Amis,

It has been a relaxing summer here in Saint Germain des Prés.  As our schedules slowed down, so did the way we felt the summer days where time slows in the usual way that it does when we have the time to…

Bonjour de Paris...
 

                Peter Giron: “I’m starting to realize how difficult I am!”                                                                                

Chers Amis,

We are into July which means the sun is out on a more regular basis.  There has been plenty of rain lately but it usually gives way to sunny skies. Our schedules are considerably more calm now.  I have been able to find the time to read again. This summer I plan to make a dent on the reading list that I compiled over the…

Bonjour de Paris...
 

Gerard and Leslie looking for information online about a DYI store in Paris:
Gerard: “What are the hours?                                                                           
Leslie: “They don’t tell you!”                                                                                                                                                           

Gerard: “Perfect.”

Chers Amis,

I am in the last three weeks of the school year. This past year has taken a toll on me both…

Chers Amis,

I reread last year's Christmas message and felt that it was befitting for 2023 as well.  So with deep appreciation and gratitude for your interest in our music, for your friendship and for the love you share with us, Leslie and I send you the following Christmas message.  

With hope for peace, wishes of goodwill, and the joy of giving, the world celebrates Christmas. 

We find joy and hope in the eyes of children on Christmas morning. It’s in the hearts of parents,…

Bonjour de Paris...
 

Bob Moses on playing with Jaco Pastorius: “playing with Jaco was kind of like jumping out of a plane, at night, naked and on LSD”.
 

Chers Amis,

I can’t believe that it’s taken me this long to write since the newsletter I sent in August.  I have thought about it many times and even had scoped out some time to sit down and do it but too many things here needed urgent attention.  So here’s the list:

Our residence permits expired last May.  Since then we’ve been on a temporary permit while…

Bonjour de Paris...

Peter: “There were buffalos in tutus dancing in front of me while I played one of the worst gigs in my life."                                                                                                                     Gerard: “I’m just guessing, but I’d bet there were pharmaceuticals involved.”

Chers Amis,

Sunday night Leslie and I crossed our "summer concert"  finish line when we returned home from a Funky Ella band concert in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, FR.  It was the last of six…

Bonjour de Paris...

I’m going to miss seeing him there, playing pool in the bar of a Hilton hotel. At least I think it was a Hilton. I probably wasn’t the best role model!
 

Chers Amis,

 Over this past few weeks Leslie and I logged a few miles crossing a few borders and playing music together with our friends. Almost like that Willie Nelson song! Just today we returned from a Funky Ella concert at the Munster Jazz Festival in France. Leslie had a few hours to get herself together before going to play a…