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"Leslie Lewis and Gerard Hagen" Bonjour de Paris 11 mai, 2024

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 physically and mentally.  I took on too much responsibility at the school and between that and our regular concert schedule, this has been a very busy year.  This letter has been one of the casualties of my schedule. I haven’t taken the time to write since last December. Oddly I feel like it was a year of growth both as a musician and a teacher. But it was growth due to necessity.  In order to accomplish everything, I had to be more organized and be able to streamline my to-do lists. No one has ever accused me of being organized!  Because of my schedule, Leslie and I didn’t really have the time to book festivals for this summer.  We have a few concerts coming in July and August but not like usual. In retrospect I think that has worked out okay for us. This summer we are happy to stay in Paris and play our local gigs and have some down time at home.  The summer Olympics are being held in Paris.  We haven’t taken the time to check out which, if any, events we’d attend. So given the lack of inertia I’m guessing that means we’ll lay low and follow the action on TV.  We both remember the 1984 Olympics in L.A., as well as being in London right before the summer Olympics were held there in 2012.  In both cities there was an energy that was palpable so I suspect that we’ll feel that here as well.  Even if it’s just in the comfy confines of our home in Saint Germain des Prés.

 

Leslie has really out done herself with the work that she has done on our terrace/garden. I’m waiting for this town to finally offer some springtime weather.  It has been a long slog of cloudy days with intermittent showers. The showers always arrive when we have a day without anything booked! I’m hoping that this Sunday the weather will hold and we can have our first outdoor dinner of the season.
The 2024 Summer Edition of Leslie's Garden.
Another Shot of Leslie's Garden.
Speaking of Leslie, a while ago she was asked to respond to a series of questions which ultimately became one of the chapters in a new book called Moments: Interviews About Womanhood And Resilience by Ulrike Waldbach.  https://tinyurl.com/4zfu8k7k   It is a really fascinating read.  I am so grateful and proud that Leslie was recognized for her accomplishments.
The book that features the story of how Leslie got to this place in her life/career.
 Last year I bought a Yamaha YC61 keyboard because I liked the B-3 sounds and the fact that it had drawbars and some other effects that made customizing the sound pretty easy. My idea was to incorporate it into the Funky Ella band.  At the time I didn’t realize how light and portable it was and consequently it has become my go to keyboard on those rare occasions (and they are rare) when there is no piano available.  I have been using it to play swing music with Leslie, Ron Baker (trumpet & voice) and Jean-Philippe O'Neill (drums) on our gigs at the Caveau de la Huchette in Paris. We joke that it is Leslie’s organ quartet. That gig has lead to another “organ" gig coming up in Rouen later in June. I’ll be taking the keyboard on the train from Paris. I’m certainly no Jimmy Smith, but it has been fun to get a taste of doing an organ gig.
Leslie and Gerard "organ" concert in Rouen, FR.
At the end of June Leslie is going to Dijon to work with saxophonist Nicolas Fourgeux who produces many concerts in that area.  We’ll be in Paris for most of July and in early August we’re doing several concerts with our quartet at the Jazz au Phare festival on the Île de Ré.  The Île de Ré is a beautiful island on the Atlantic coast near La Rochelle.  At the end of August we’re flying to Majorca for a late summer island get away followed by some time in the French fishing village of Collioure on the Mediterranean Sea near the Spanish border. Like I said, we’re taking it easy this summer.
Leslie with the Nicolas Fourgeux Band in Dijon, FR.
At the end of March we travelled to La Chapelle sur Erdre, which is near Nantes, to do a concert with a quartet at the Château de la Poterie. We worked with David Salesse bass and Gabor Turi drums. Both very fine musicians living in that area.  There was a beautiful Yamaha C-3 piano that had been rented for the evening which for me was a nice surprise. Jean-Philippe Vidal produced the concert.  He has lead a big band in France for many years. His arrangements have been used by many bands in Europe and the U.S. That day the C-3 wasn’t the only surprise. Jean-Philippe picked us up at the train station in his London black cab. This thing is an authentic cab, the passenger section still had the posters advertising the shows that were currently playing in London’s West End at the time he bought it. We had about a 30 minute ride to get from the train station in Nantes to where the venue was located in La Chapelle sur Erdre. The ride was a really fun, but strange, experience. One is used to being in a London black cab in London, not so much in the suburbs of Nantes. 
Venue in La Chapelle sur Erdre, near Nantes.
Bandstand in La Chapelle sur Erdre, near Nantes.
The band for the concert in La Chapelle sur Erdre, near Nantes. David Salesse (bass), Leslie, Gerard & Gabor Turi (drums).
The audience enjoys dinner before the concert in La Chapelle sur Erdre, near Nantes.
In April we spent a few days in La Baule visiting our friends Lois and Michael. There is a new grocery store nearby that is geared for people vacationing at the beach.  It is very small but, being France, it has a decent selection of wines. We needed some things so Leslie and I stopped in.  We were the only people in the store. The owner was very friendly and the next thing you know we are having a wine tasting together standing next to the frozen foods section.  Only in France! 
Beach in La Baule, FR.
Another shot at the beach in La Baule, FR.
We’ve got some Funky Ella concerts booked in September but I feel like I let that project stall a little bit.  We need something to jump start that band so some new music is in order.  Leslie and I plan to work on new material this summer and look to be in the studio this fall.
Leslie and band after a concert at Paris Opéra Garnier.
Coco restaurant at Paris Opéra Garnier.
As always we’ve been so happy to see so many friends visiting Paris. We are very fortunate that so many people make the effort to come to our gigs here in Paris. So most recently we’ve seen Margie and Jim Young, Lisa Goodwin, Anthony and Tina Terrezza, Crystal Lewis, Marcy Vaj and newlyweds Julia Rampone and Kurt Schmidt. I apologize if I’m leaving someone off the list, please know that we are truly happy to see you.
Jim and Margie Young enjoying a night in Paris w/ Leslie & Gerard.

During the next few months we have many cool concerts happening in Paris.  We are doing some trio dates with percussionist Jean-Philippe Naeder. Those are always great fun. We have a couple of dates booked with bassist Christian Duperray and our quartet is booked at Le Cercle Suedois on July 3rd.  Café Laurent has re-opened after a renovation. Leslie and I are happy to be there on May 28th and June 25th.  You can find out more at: https://surfcovejazz.com/tour 

The Funky Ella CD can be streamed on any number of platforms but the main ones are: 

"I Put A Spell On You" first recording by "Funky Ella". 
 
 

Our calendar is available here: https://surfcovejazz.com/tour Leslie and I are at Chez Papa Jazz Club on May 23-24-25 & 30 and on June 6-7-8, 13, 20 & 27.  http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr   We are at Café Laurent on May 28 and June 25. https://www.hoteldaubusson.com/cafe-laurent The 3rd of July our quartet is at Cercle Seudois in Paris.  https://cercle-suedois.com/fr/rivoli-mercredi-jazz-2/ Also please look for more dates to be added in July and August.

   

Jean-Philippe Naeder will join Gerard and Leslie at Chez Papa Jazz Club on June 7 & 8.

Thank you for giving us your time and attention, we appreciate it very much. Please check our website for news and updates. While you are there please sign up for our weekly email to learn where you can hear us. http://www.surfcovejazz.com   If you have any comments feel free to contact me. I enjoy hearing from you. This email appears on our website where you may also comment. http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/ As always thanks for staying in touch with us. 

Until next time,  Leslie et Gerard

 


 

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