"Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen" 2 Juillet 2018 Bonjour de Paris

Bonjour de Paris ...

Chers Amis,


Six years ago today, July 2, 2012, we arrived in Paris with two suitcases and no clue as to what we had gotten ourselves into. Our apartment was a short-term rental (two months). It was a fifth floor walk-up, furnished studio with one window that was around 270 square feet. The rent was 1,400 euros per month. Our first neighborhood was in Bastille. We loved it because it was lively 24 hours a day and there was so much energy. Our street was two blocks from all of the activity and was quiet except for the occasional drunken 20 somethings who happened to be speaking way too loud as they passed by our building at 3:00 am. I also remember lying in bed and hearing the sounds of ambulances heading to the hospital which was down the street. We lived there for two months before moving to an apartment near Parc Monceau in September. The day that we arrived was very hot. Having taken an over night flight from L.A. we had arrived around 8:00 am. By the time we negotiated the train into Paris and carried our luggage up five flights I was pretty much out of patience. We unpacked and went back down the stairs and out into our new neighborhood in search of groceries. We stocked up at a little store around the corner. Upon learning that this was our first day in Paris, the store owner filled a brown paper bag with cherries, handed them to us saying "welcome to the neighborhood". I actually teared up. We can both remember that day like it happened yesterday. Looking back it is amazing how little we understood about our situation. It is also amazing how much has happened in these past six years. For us, this has been a wild, sometimes frustrating, but always interesting journey that we are grateful to be on.

Leslie performed at the Jazz and Cheese Festival last month in the French Alps. I still don't know exactly where it was held and I doubt that she does either. Her train took her into Italy where she got on another train heading back to France in order to get to the gig. After learning this I was pretty sure that I would never take the time to figure out where the gig was. The important thing is that she came home.

Chamberry, France near Annecy where we are working 8 concerts this summer.

The French Alps, near The Jazz and Cheese Festival.

View from the Hotel Torino, Italy.

Piazza in Torino, Italy.

Kristen Marion, jazz singer & Philippe Martel, jazz pianist.  Our friends from Charancieu, FR.

Both of my student ensembles had great end of the trimester performances at Sunside Jazz Club. I am very proud of these guys (and girl). After the gig they surprised me with a bottle of Diplomatico rum. Having done some research I have learned that a little taste is not a bad way to end the day.

We are looking forward to being away from Paris for most of the summer. But we have a few dates booked at Chez Papa in the first week of July and August so please check our schedule if you are planning to be in Paris. We just may be in town and we would love to see you.

Here is our July and August schedule if you are in France.

July 5-6-7 we are with Peter Giron at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr

July 10 we are a duo at the Café Laurent in Paris http://www.hoteldaubusson.com/en/cafe-laurent.html.

July 18-19 we are a duo at L'Impérial Palace in Annecy, FR. https://www.hotel-imperial-palace.com/fr/le-hip-bar-150

July 20 we are a duo at Au Coeur du Village in La Clusaz, FR. https://www.hotel-aucoeurduvillage.fr

July 25-26 we are a duo at L'Impérial Palace in Annecy, FR. https://www.hotel-imperial-palace.com/fr/le-hip-bar-150

July 27 we work with a quartet at Jazz à Brignoles in Brignoles, FR. http://www.jazzabrignoles.net/Programme-2018

July 28 Leslie works with Rhoda Scott at Theatre de Cormeilles in Cormeilles, FR. https://tinyurl.com/ycklrgjx

Aug. 2-3-4 we are with Bruno Rousselet at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr

Aug. 10 the Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Quartet is at Le Caillou du Jardin Botanique in Bordeaux, FR. http://lecaillou-bordeaux.com/jazzATcaillou/

Aug. 15 we are a duo at Hotel Beauregard in La Clusaz, FR. https://www.hotel-beauregard.fr

Aug. 16 the Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Quartet is at the Festival at L'Impérial Palace in Annecy, FR. https://www.hotel-imperial-palace.com/fr/le-hip-bar-150

Aug. 17 we are a duo at Au Coeur du Village in La Clusaz, FR. https://www.hotel-aucoeurduvillage.fr

Aug. 29-30-31 we are a duo at at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr


Thank you to everyone who has already downloaded "Fragile", our new recording. It is available as a download on CD Baby at this link. https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5

Please check our website for news and updates. While you are there please sign up for our weekly email blast to learn where you can hear us. http://www.surfcovejazz.com

Thanks for staying in touch with us.

Until next time, Leslie et Gerard

Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <gerard@surfcovejazz.com>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/

 

http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis

http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio

http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719

http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736

 

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