tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:/blogs/blog?p=1
Blog
2024-01-04T03:49:06+01:00
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
false
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/7327982
2024-01-04T03:49:06+01:00
2024-01-04T03:51:19+01:00
"Leslie Lewis and Gerard Hagen" Joyeux Noël de Paris décembre 24, 2023
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<span style="color:#008000;"><font face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" size="5"><i><span><strong>Joyeux Noël </strong></span></i></font></span><span class="text-big" style="color:rgb(0,128,0);"><i><span><strong>de Paris ...</strong></span></i></span>
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<p><span style="color:rgb(0,128,0);">Chers Amis,</span><br><br><span style="color:#008000;">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. </span><br><br><span style="color:#008000;">With hope for peace, wishes of goodwill, and the joy of giving, the world celebrates Christmas. </span></p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,128,0);">We find joy and hope in the eyes of children on Christmas morning. It’s in the hearts of parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters, uncles, aunts, husbands and wives, friends and neighbours as we gather to celebrate, sing songs together, share presents, and a meal (or two). </span></p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,128,0);">Leslie and I look forward to 2024 with the hope that, if the stars align, we will be able to spend some time together with you and that you will know the joy of Christmas throughout the year.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(255,0,0);">Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, </span></p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(255,0,0);">Joyeux Noël et une Bonne Année, </span></p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(255,0,0);">Feliz Navidad y un Feliz Año Nuevo, </span></p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(255,0,0);">Buon Natale e un Felice Anno Nuovo, </span></p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(255,0,0);"><span><strong> Leslie and Gerard </strong></span></span><span> </span></p>
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<tr><td style="padding:9px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table width="564" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:9px;padding-top:0px;vertical-align:top;"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/38c3159b-90c2-b001-5527-421f4f3937f5.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr>
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<figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table width="273" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:9px;padding-top:0px;vertical-align:top;"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/0582b1c0-4b64-f451-914a-179df73e07c2.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="264" /></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table width="273" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-bottom:0px;padding-right:9px;padding-top:0px;vertical-align:top;"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/22bc31c8-4181-61c1-6774-594566540510.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="264" /></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
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</tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;"><figure class="table"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);" border="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;"><span style="color:rgb(255,0,0);"><i><strong>Des photos du sapin noël de Leslie 2023 (Leslie's Christmas tree).</strong></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td> </td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/7327981
2024-01-04T03:45:09+01:00
2024-01-04T03:45:50+01:00
"Leslie Lewis and Gerard Hagen" Bonjour de Paris 16 Décembre 2023
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<p style="text-align:center;"><span class="text-big" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><i><span><strong>Bonjour de Paris...</strong></span></i></span><br> </p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><strong>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”.</strong></span><br> </p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Chers Amis,</span><br><br><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">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:</span></p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Our residence permits expired last May. Since then we’ve been on a temporary permit while the Prefecture processed our dossiers. This time we were eligible for a 10 year permit but in order to qualify we needed to pass a language exam. Anyway we both managed to get beyond the level for residency and attained the level needed for citizenship. So that was a nice bit of news. That Leslie got there was no surprise, but trust me when I say that I was shocked at my score. My reaction after I took the test was that we were going back to California. Seriously, I walked out of the exam and called Leslie to prepare her that we might have to leave. So the good news is that recently we were notified that we both have been granted 10 year residency permits and are now waiting for our appointments to go the the Prefecture and retrieve them.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Around this time every year we have to ask to renew our professional status as “Intermittents du spectacle”. Attaining that status effects, among other things, our taxes, health insurance, and our supplemental health insurance. Since we have passed the age of typical retirement in France (62 years), each year there is always more paperwork to be added to our dossiers to explain why we are not yet retired. So as you might imagine it can become a tad overwhelming when functioning on the phone in a language other than English. We try to do most everything by email but that just makes the process take more time. </span></p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">But the biggest thing on the list of reasons why I haven’t written sooner is that my teaching load at IMEP Paris College of Music </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=987e1853a4&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><i><u>https://www.imep.pro/</u></i></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> has been kicking my behind. This year I accepted several additional classes including an ensemble class and a 3rd year Harmony class. On most topics in Jazz studies I’m completely prepared to talk about them for hours on end. I don’t need to spend a lot of time in preparation for my classes. But this Harmony class is one of the classes that is used to test the students suitability to continue on into the 4th and 5th years at the school. I feel a tremendous amount of responsibility to be sure that they get the best preparation possible, so consequently I spend quite a bit of time preparing for this class. </span></p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">So those are some of the reasons why you haven’t heard from me. I say this only by way of explanation, there is no regret here regarding all of the things required to remain in France. Regarding my classes, if I decide to continue teaching next year it will be much easier having had this years experience. For now teaching this class is a good challenge for me.</span></p>
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<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/b67dd772-1ed6-0428-adf0-d278fe20a575.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>In Sept. we played a concert at the Caveau de la Huchette. The piano mocks you before you even play a note!</strong></i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/b0ca1899-1ede-a3d5-e9ec-c33ba0b4f4df.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Leslie and her friend Iris attended the "Westside Story" production at the Chatelet Theatre in Paris.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/48b08bb3-89bc-e870-fbf3-6df25f991091.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
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<span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Inside the Chatelet Theatre, Paris.</strong></i></span><i><strong> </strong></i>
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</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:9px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px 18px 9px;vertical-align:top;"> </td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:9px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px 18px 9px;vertical-align:top;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Today I took the opportunity of having a day with no classes or gigs to join Leslie in search of her 2023 Christmas tree. There is an area on the Île de la Cité that has a number of flower and plant stores located side by side. I had only been there with her a few times before now and always during the summer. Leslie has spent quite a bit of time there getting the things that she needs for our garden, nevertheless, I was a bit surprised at how many people there recognized her. Of course the bandstand is her element, but her element is equally to be found in this little section of Paris where beautiful things grow and people take the time to acknowledge one another. We bought a tree and later celebrated with a chocolat chaud at Café Mistral near Chatelet. It was such a beautiful day in Paris that we decided to walk home. I spent the rest of my day practicing and catching up on some emails while Leslie was getting ready to work with Nico Peslier that night at the Hotel Lutetia. That evening the tree we bought was delivered and I began getting into the Christmas spirit by enjoying a gin & tonic while listening to Ray Charles’ “The Spirit Of Christmas” one of my favorite Christmas recordings. When Leslie got home that tree didn’t know what hit it. She started around 11:00 pm and was still at it at 7:45 the next morning! She will continue working on it until New Years Day. If it were entirely up to her, she would have to think hard on whether or not it would remain a permanent fixture in our home. For me, I just enjoy the season and go with the flow.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/68d497fc-121a-78d3-92fe-0e778fd2daa5.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>A beautiful day in Paris to go shopping for a Christmas tree.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:9px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px 18px 9px;vertical-align:top;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Funky Ella has been on a bit of a hiatus since the end of September. This is not entirely a bad thing since Leslie and I need some time to make some decisions about another recording and also to get ready for the summer festival season. The guys are asking about what’s next so that’s a good thing. </span></td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/a138b075-9f21-d621-8985-0cc06221f217.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Funky Ella at the Jazz A Vienne festival.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
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<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">This fall was filled with people visiting Paris; some that we see each year and some that we hadn’t seen in a while. We are very fortunate that so many people make the effort to come to our gigs here in Paris. Please understand that I can’t mention everyone. Just know that we are truly happy to see you. </span></p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Leslie was very happy to see Iris Revson and her husband at Chez Papa Jazz Club. After the gig we took them to the Caveau de las Huchette for the late set. Of course the band invited Leslie to sing a tune. Iris is a fellow singer from Leslie’s Opryland days in Nashville. </span></p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">In October I was thrilled to get to spend some time with Pat Atkinson, to meet his wife Julie Spangler and to introduce them to Leslie. I’ve known Pat since kindergarten. This was only the second time I’ve seen him since we graduated from high school. His career has taken him to NYC, Central America and Southeast Asia. Always with the idea of helping people who aren’t in a position to help themselves. He and Julie now call Minneapolis home. You can check out some of his life’s work here: </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=f73fd481ec&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><i><u>https://godschild.org/</u></i></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> They came to hear us at Chez Papa Jazz Club and a day later we had the opportunity to share a meal before they left for home. It always amazes me how it is possible to pick up right where things left off even after twenty some years between visits.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Our Washington DC peeps Clifford and Lydia made their annual Paris trek and treated us to a fantastic dinner at Le Procope. </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=62df9a4cdd&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><i><u>https://www.procope.com/</u></i></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> This is the oldest restaurant in Paris dating back to 1686. What a pleasurable evening.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">We had dinner with Luther and Becky Hughes </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=f050e19a76&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><i><u>https://lwww.lutherhughes.com/</u></i></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> who were visiting from California a few weeks back. Along with teaching at Saddleback College with Luther, Leslie and I had some great moments on the bandstand with him. He’s still doing it in So Cal so go check him out when you can.</span><br><br><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">In late November our dear friend Mariya came to Paris from Bulgaria to help Leslie celebrate her birthday. We've known Mariya since we first moved to Paris. We've seen her change locations from Paris to Los Angeles to Lausanne, Switzerland to Madrid and finally back to her homeland Sofia, Bulgaria. It's never a dull moment with Mariya and always fun to see what's coming next! </span></p>
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<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/5e8f417e-0a6e-174a-bc68-9800289616eb.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Leslie with Iris Revson in Paris.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/9e036f65-133f-ca70-e683-a8dc9213bb37.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Patrick Atkinson and Julie Spangler in Paris.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/4671a524-c325-1c26-2e2e-d7116c3bdd1e.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Luther and Becky Hughes along with Leslie and Gerard.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/53e82d5f-15af-1331-9761-305c3b4c7841.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Mariya in Paris.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/2a71cc1a-75c5-270f-c1b5-7787de6e6204.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>The last time they visited Paris Keith & Gwen Dunant from Toronto, Canada gave us this photo of the intersection Gerrard and Leslie Streets in Toronto</strong></i>.</span></td></tr>
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<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Thanksgiving was a little low key this year for us. We did however enjoy two lovely traditional Thanksgiving meals. One with Sue Hilton at Milagro Restaurant</span> <a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=d0b1afdaec&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><i><u>https://guide.michelin.com/fr/fr/ile-de-france/paris/restaurant/milagro</u></i></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">and another at the home of our good friends Joan Minor and Paul Grayson. Joan always does everything just right. That evening has become one of our favorite things about the holidays in Paris. The meal at Milagro was a wonderful feast prepared by an American (Justin Kent from New Mexico) in Paris. We made a note to go back again soon! </span></p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> Last weekend we had a quick get-away to Brussels and Bruges, Belgium with Bobby Chitwood and Sue Hilton. Last Wednesday evening I started feeling a bit ill. On Thursday I taught for seven hours, came home and crawled into bed. Around 2:00 am on Friday I made the decision that I would make the trip and once there I would sleep for the rest of Friday afternoon and hope for the best for a decent shot at enjoying a little Christmastime in Belgium. Having been raised in North Dakota and having lived two years in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, I know cold weather. It was unbelievably cold in Belgium. The kind of cold where after a while you can no longer feel your face! Even so as it turned out I was glad that I did go. The afternoon spent sleeping in Brussels did me a world of good. We were able to enjoy dinner that night and on Saturday we took a train to Brugge and spent the day there in all its Christmas splendour. We were back in Brussels later on Saturday night and we made the trip back to Paris on Sunday. Fortunately it’s been the normal, relatively mild, winter weather in Paris this week.</span></p>
</td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/57f27f4b-1413-2078-8805-4447a324dce1.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Leslie and Gerard with Sue Hilton at Milagro in Paris.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/b0497076-1509-4b5a-0396-204995c2a31e.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Brussels Belgium.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/dbfb7034-b832-941c-c67a-ed25c6c6cbb3.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Brussels Belgium.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/f630fac7-e3d6-a77a-c324-d1659cd4e7b2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Canal in Brugge, Belgium.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/8c5213bb-50bd-7c03-eb3b-cb6b475dc751.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Brugge, Belgium.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/3ec90dfa-b998-8580-a47c-f157358bfb9e.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Horse drawn carriage in Brugge, Belgium. Photo Bobby Chitwood</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/6729a965-45e9-ee39-08cf-4b9a46ca1ce5.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Leslie in Brussels as the snow begins to fall.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
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<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">During the Fall Leslie has been on the road from time to time with stops in Dijon, Rousset, Bolbec and Odenas. I have happily enjoyed my more sedentary life in Paris. Our next performances in Paris are Dec. 21-22-23 at Chez Papa with percussionist Jean-Philippe Naeder. After Christmas we are at Café Laurent on Dec. 27 and then we do our traditional year end (Dec. 28-29-30 & 31) with Peter Giron at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. We hope that you all are enjoying a great holiday season doing all the things that make you happy. </span></p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">The Funky Ella CD can be streamed on any number of platforms but the main ones are: </span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Bandcamp: </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=676bd13098&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>https://leslielewisgerardhagen.bandcamp.com/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you</u></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=a753ed2243&e=a152175c8a"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> </u></span></a>
</li>
<li>
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">- Spotify:</span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=35fff35313&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> </u></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=15d3162a34&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>https://open.spotify.com/album/6gkHqDEBeQSm8akBXBtofv</u></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> </span>
</li>
<li>
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">- Apple Music:</span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=d497c410ba&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> </u></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=2d265e1e06&e=a152175c8a"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you/1587307010?uo=4&app=itunes</u></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=434a26744b&e=a152175c8a"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> </u></span></a>
</li>
<li>
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">- Amazon: </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=d954a03df2&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09H2V1Z3S</u></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=52e5a881d2&e=a152175c8a"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> </u></span></a>
</li>
<li>
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">- Deezer: </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=9b1e37c2e3&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>https://www.deezer.com/us/album/26111448</u></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> </span>
</li>
<li>
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">You can find out more information about our Funky Ella project at: </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=01fe77b37d&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>www.funkyella.com</u></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=4f1a7614bd&e=a152175c8a"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> </u></span></a>
</li>
</ul>
</td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/21d105c7-8093-f019-c57a-18519fcd743b.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546">
<span style="color:rgb(255,255,255);"><i><strong>"I Put A Spell On You" first recording by "Funky Ella".</strong></i></span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><i><strong> </strong></i></span>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:9px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px 18px 9px;vertical-align:top;"> </td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:9px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px 18px 9px;vertical-align:top;"> </td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:9px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px 18px 9px;vertical-align:top;">
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Our calendar is available here:</span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=fa641594de&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> </u><i><u>https://surfcovejazz.com/tour</u></i></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> For those of you who are in Paris or if you are planning to be in Paris in Dec. or Jan., Leslie and I are at Chez Papa Jazz Club on Dec. 21-22-23. We are at Café Laurent on Dec. 27 </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=03c371e69a&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><i><u>https://www.hoteldaubusson.com/cafe-laurent</u></i></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> and back at Chez Papa Jazz Club Dec. 28-29-30-31.</span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=6b439324d2&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><i><u> </u></i></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=d9408911aa&e=a152175c8a"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><i><u>http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</u></i></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=5178ea60da&e=a152175c8a"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><i><u> </u></i></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> The 25-26-27 of Jan. we are at Chez Papa Jazz Club </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=0a5e5aa84b&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><i><u>http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</u></i></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> The 28th of Jan. Leslie and I are joined by Ron Baker and Jean-Philippe O'Neal for a night of swing music at the Caveau de la Huchette in Paris. </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=80ee01c7c9&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><i><u>http://www.caveaudelahuchette.fr/1/concerts_janvier_2024_1482553.html</u></i></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> Also please look for more dates to be added in January and February.</span></p>
<p> </p>
</td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/21a2b5cd-4c80-d85e-6783-430edaad20a1.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Join Gerard and Leslie with Peter Giron at Chez Papa Jazz Club on New Year's Eve.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:9px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px 18px 9px;vertical-align:top;">
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">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.</span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=b98e2d543c&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><i><u> </u></i></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=016c8a205e&e=a152175c8a"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><i><u>http://www.surfcovejazz.com</u></i></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> 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. </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=b23c047543&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><i><u>http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</u></i></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> As always thanks for staying in touch with us. </span></p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Until next time, Leslie et Gerard</span></p>
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Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/7260034
2023-08-21T02:04:22+02:00
2023-10-16T16:56:28+02:00
"Leslie Lewis and Gerard Hagen" Bonjour de Paris 16 août 2023
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<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><i><span><strong>Bonjour de Paris...</strong></span></i></span></p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><span><strong>Peter:</strong> </span><i><span><strong>“There were buffalos in tutus dancing in front of me while I played one of the worst gigs in my life." </strong></span></i><span><strong>Gerard: </strong></span><i><span><strong>“I’m just guessing, but I’d bet there were pharmaceuticals involved.”</strong></span></i></span><br><br><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Chers Amis,</span></p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Sunday night Leslie and I crossed our <i>"summer concert"</i> finish line when we returned home from a Funky Ella band concert in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, FR. It was the last of six crazy days that marked the ending of Leslie's and my summer concert season. Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne is a small town located in the French Alps. It is not easy to get to, or to get home from for that matter. We left Paris on a 7:45 am train which got us there just before noon. The day before Leslie and I finished two nights working at Café Laurent in Paris. Earlier in the week we traveled to Saverne in the Alsace region of France. Saverne is the site of the Festival Au Grès du Jazz where we had our concert with Rhoda Scott and the gospel choir that we began preparing for last November. While Leslie and I worked in Saverne and Paris, the other members of Funky Ella were working in other locations in France and Spain. This is common for our band so consequently the six of us almost never travel together. This time Mourad, Peter, Leslie and I dragged ourselves onto a train at Gare de Lyon around 7:25 am and headed in the direction of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne. Jean-Philippe and Nico drove their cars and met us there. Upon arrival we checked into our hotel and tried to sleep for a few hours before it was time to do our sound check and eat dinner. The concert promoters were first timers which meant that a few details went by the wayside. One of those details was not including a bass amp in the backline. To their credit they fixed the problem by bringing in a huge Ampeg bass amp which sounded great. So what they lacked in experience they made up for with enthusiasm and just being good decent people.<strong> </strong></span></p>
</td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/fadd8652-1ee4-bb0d-ffb5-e8c23489ac5a.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>View of the French Alps from our hotel room in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/be6f625d-89d4-c1b0-c19e-f6997f8230b3.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Concert poster for the Funky Ella concert Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/049e8d7a-ce7f-a9ba-db83-868eac95f5ab.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Peter with his (rather large) Ampeg bass amp getting ready to sound check. </strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/3ac6ae5b-d046-ca46-7862-be6b4366b309.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Side view of stage set up. </strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/001be6a4-c81d-1148-bc37-2dc83f9e4d43.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Here's what the stage looked like when we began our load-in.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/80b6655c-2775-caed-6573-30a0a398a856.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Here is why having well designed lighting is so important.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/c059b4cc-d0ce-5ea2-a2b6-c4b716023bee.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Peter, Mourad, Gerard and Jean-Philippe before the concert. (Don't know where Nico was.)</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/95562dcc-d64b-e81b-a5a6-05f16bf091a5.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Funky Ella band selfie just before the concert. (Still don't know where Nico was.)</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/8d7fa479-861e-a1ec-ed5f-85f1a1088faa.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Funky Ella concert Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/4704e6a5-f143-99dd-859b-11c14e5c1d53.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Funky Ella concert Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/99848fb0-6204-4356-7092-e8a5bf5be341.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Funky Ella concert Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:9px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px 18px 9px;vertical-align:top;"> </td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:9px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px 18px 9px;vertical-align:top;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">I have, in times past, traveled on the train with a keyboard. It was always a huge pain. So much so that when I've needed a keyboard for Funky Ella concerts, Leslie and I have been traveling by van. But recently I've purchased a Yamaha YC61 keyboard which sounds great and is light enough and small enough to easily carry on my back like a backpack. The best thing about the instrument is that it has drawbars so I can get a reasonably good B-3 organ sound which I am using more and more with the group. Everything Leslie and I buy for work is now based on what is the smallest device that can get the job done. Occasionally we need to provide a PA for our duo concerts, so ours fits into a small backpack and works great. Sweet and simple!</span></td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/393fd0a5-7b53-c46e-c371-45fc1308b753.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Leslie and Gerard in Saverne, FR. </strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:9px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px 18px 9px;vertical-align:top;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">These last few concerts have been very fun but not without challenges due to the elements, travel and equipment issues. Last Tuesday Leslie and I had a travel day to Saverne. Easy enough. That night we had dinner with friends who we know from our concerts in Paris. They have a family home in the Saverne area which they use during the summer to get away from Paris. They gave us a short tour of the area after which we enjoyed a delicious meal and good conversation. The next night they attended our gospel concert which was for a time threatened by rain. The day of the concert we had a mid-afternoon sound check and short concert run thru. The wind was crazy and the crew covered everything but the piano keys with a tarp just in case it rained again. But by evening the wind had settled down and the clouds broke and we had a beautiful night for an outdoor concert. The next morning we said goodbye to Saverne, a place where we had spent a total of nine days dating back to last November, and headed back to Paris to do two nights at Café Laurent. We got home around noon, unpacked and crawled into bed for a short nap in order to be ready for our gig that night. Both nights we had a packed house, including a nice mix of friends (musician and other wise) summer tourists and locals. Saturday morning we were up before 6:00 am and by 7:00 am we were in a taxi heading to Gare de Lyon. The weather in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne was at least 10 degrees warmer than Paris. It's in the mountains so the sun is more intense than we are used to. Paris has been rather mild this summer. There were many overcast days and very mild temperatures, so this weather was a bit of a shock to us. The concert was outdoors and by evening it was very agreeable to be outside. However, once the sun had set the stage lights attracted a huge swarm of very annoying bugs flying around the stage. I mean it was nasty and really made what would have been a great evening a real challenge for us. Aside from that the band had a good night and we felt pretty good considering our encounter with nature! The next afternoon Leslie, Peter and I took three trains to get home. Once we closed the door to our apartment, Leslie and I were able to relax with the knowledge that we had some time off at home. We had some dinner and took some time to think about these past two months. The places we've been, the music we've played and how to spend the next few weeks which we will use to decompress before the craziness starts all over again the the fall. More on that later.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/f464bef3-0d76-c732-fe8d-df7b39d11727.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Leslie and Gerard in Saverne with Alain, our friend from Paris.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/475474de-8a1c-abdb-79e0-b32b8669e1f9.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>View of Saverne looking toward Germany. It is difficult to see but the Black Forest is out there.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/c2ce4892-0d68-54ef-7e20-d3d665345fc6.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Home on outskirts of Saverne.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/5e7a1b3e-c5e5-9b4d-3577-8cf50c7bd97a.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>This structure is part of a castle near Saverne. There are several to be found there.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/6578217c-f51a-9048-6bc4-b1b732b2e2aa.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Set up for our Au Grès Du Jazz Festival gospel concert with Rhoda Scott in Saverne, FR.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/dc5da7e4-14f7-3a07-5d44-dfb7675e2f24.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Concert run thru for the Au Grès Du Jazz Festival gospel concert. It was threatening to rain so we kept the tarp on the piano and organ.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/2cc88f85-9fba-690e-f16e-7930c6ee4b7d.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Au Grès Du Jazz Festival gospel concert from a sky view.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/6ed5a5fe-e8b2-67d8-cbfd-199bb76896e9.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Audience view of the Au Grès Du Jazz Festival gospel concert.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/a5a93451-96d1-714c-f3b5-8ef7f90dcb73.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Leslie conducting the choir, Au Grès Du Jazz Festival gospel concert.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/048e6be7-1ce7-9bfa-898e-8b872609bc1b.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Au Grès Du Jazz Festival gospel concert.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/8df5178b-860f-d90d-6d34-bb20cb114af1.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Au Grès Du Jazz Festival gospel concert.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/55a81b7e-209c-c6f4-c93b-57670942b144.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Taking a bow after the concert.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/77285c73-f105-594a-717b-3fcd3cbf4566.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Leslie with fellow singer Linda Lee Hopkins and Flavien (the manager) at Café Laurent in Paris.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/c6504afb-085e-5e20-f4d9-818c6fc0269c.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Linda Lee Hopkins and Ozzie Smith (saxophone) sit in with Gerard at Café Laurent in Paris.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:9px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px 18px 9px;vertical-align:top;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Leslie has created a little oasis for us right here in the center of Paris. Our terrace is a lovely place to spend some out door time reading or grilling dinner and having friends over for a meal. She has given us a good reason not to leave home which works for me. Speaking of her accomplishments, Leslie had to take on the roll of conductor of the gospel choir for our concert at the Festival Au Grès du Jazz. She did what she always does. She followed her own instincts and did what she thought would be best for the choir. She has never had any formal training in music schools. She learned the traditional way that all artists did before there were schools; she got the gig and learned by doing the work. In this case she was really concerned because she had never conducted before so she made a script of what she needed to do and when she needed to do it. With everything laid out she could follow her instincts and shape the music and well, conduct. Leslie made the choir feel comfortable and the concert was very well received. Afterwards we wandered into a restaurant/bar looking for a late night snack but expecting to be told that the kitchen was closed. After all Saverne is a small town, but Leslie was immediately recognized as we entered the room and a server took our food order as Leslie signed concert programs for people who had dropped by the restaurant after the concert.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/3df99803-ae60-a252-1e30-c379a3c5642f.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Leslie's garden in Paris.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/f98eabaa-d647-5f2b-f43f-3fcd1e768113.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Another shot of Leslie's garden in Paris.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/5feade38-d4c7-70a4-71cd-3472c3b19b1d.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Leslie's garden at night.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:9px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px 18px 9px;vertical-align:top;">
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">We have had a number of visits from friends and family over the last few months. Leslie's brother Ralph and Veronica, his lovely wife, were here in July. They were able to get around and see the things that were important to them and we were able to take them around to some of the places that we like. They came to hear us at Chez Papa Jazz Club and we had a little dinner party on our terrace so they could get a chance to meet some friends of ours here in Paris. It was really nice for Leslie and I to have them here. Jerry and Bonnie Kalaf visited with their family. Jerry and I have shared many years gigging and recording. We've toured in the US and here in France. Over the years Jerry has spent quite a bit of time touring in France so whenever something crazy would happen on a gig here I knew that he would get it, consequently he was my first phone call! It had been too long since we last hung so this was a nice moment. </span></p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Leslie and I are taking some down time until the end of the month. Our next performances are Aug. 31-Sept. 1&2 at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. We hope that you all are enjoying a great summer doing all the things that make you happy. </span></p>
</td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/27c5ec2e-a115-310c-a480-5ab4dceb8687.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Leslie and Gerard with Leslie's brother Ralph in the metro in Paris.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:9px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px 18px 9px;vertical-align:top;">
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">The Funky Ella CD can be streamed on any number of platforms but the main ones are: </span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Bandcamp: </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=f1f80fb066&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>https://leslielewisgerardhagen.bandcamp.com/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you</u></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> </span>
</li>
<li>
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">- Spotify:</span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=2dbd394e64&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> </u></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=53bd2fa143&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>https://open.spotify.com/album/6gkHqDEBeQSm8akBXBtofv</u></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=50b2022be1&e=bf9134ac33"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> </u></span></a>
</li>
<li>
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">- Apple Music: </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=1df6a40a2b&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you/1587307010?uo=4&app=itunes</u></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=77fa8db37b&e=bf9134ac33"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> </u></span></a>
</li>
<li>
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">- Amazon:</span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=c312336819&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> </u></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=8781448852&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09H2V1Z3S</u></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=6037c22acf&e=bf9134ac33"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> </u></span></a>
</li>
<li>
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">- Deezer: </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=015d7735aa&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>https://www.deezer.com/us/album/26111448</u></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=dc91246ffb&e=bf9134ac33"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> </u></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=7c7fa3bdc6&e=bf9134ac33"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> </u></span></a>
</li>
<li>
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">You can find out more information about our Funky Ella project at:</span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=ecc520273f&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> </u></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=9343751065&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>www.funkyella.com</u></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=c5bea7a9c0&e=bf9134ac33"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> </u></span></a>
</li>
</ul>
</td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/21d105c7-8093-f019-c57a-18519fcd743b.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546">
<span style="color:rgb(255,255,255);"><i><strong>"I Put A Spell On You" first recording by "Funky Ella".</strong></i></span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><i><strong> </strong></i></span>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:9px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px 18px 9px;vertical-align:top;"> </td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:9px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px 18px 9px;vertical-align:top;"> </td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:9px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px 18px 9px;vertical-align:top;">
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Our calendar is available here:</span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=2f6760f4a0&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> https://surfcovejazz.com/tour</u></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> For those of you who are in Paris or if you are planning to be in Paris in Sept./Oct., Leslie and I are at Chez Papa Jazz Club on Aug. 31-Sept. 1-2. </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=8ddc5d9087&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</u></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> On the 4th of Sept. Leslie travels to Dijon to work with the Nicolas Fourgeux Quartet at the Grand Hôtel La Cloche. The 6th of Sept. Leslie and I are joined by Ron Baker and Jean-Philippe O'Neal for a night of Swing music at the Caveau de la Huchette in Paris. </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=1bd7ad5a3e&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>http://www.caveaudelahuchette.fr/1/concerts_septembre_2023_1482297.html</u></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=367532e09a&e=bf9134ac33"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> </u></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">On Sept. 7, 14 & 21 we are at Chez Papa and on Sept. 19th we work at the Café Laurent in Paris. </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=d5237060ba&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>https://www.hoteldaubusson.com/cafe-laurent</u></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=17dc06d932&e=bf9134ac33"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> </u></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> Our Funky Ella band plays at Villeneuve Jazz in Villeneuve-la-Garenne 92390 on Sept. 30th. In Oct. Leslie and I are back at Chez Papa Jazz Club on Oct. 12-13-14 & Oct. 26-27-28. </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=ca817dfe14&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</u></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> On Oct.18th we are working at Café Laurent in Paris. </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=814fe3b5aa&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>https://www.hoteldaubusson.com/cafe-laurent</u></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=3c68b5652f&e=bf9134ac33"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> </u></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">So now you know where and when to find us. Also please look for more dates to be added in October.</span></p>
<p> </p>
</td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/92a436e0-824c-81f5-a426-5804a2a8c6a7.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Gerard and Leslie enjoy a meal that doesn't involve a gig!.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:9px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px 18px 9px;vertical-align:top;">
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">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.</span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=2410ed9388&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> </u></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=bb5cf1be23&e=bf9134ac33"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>http://www.surfcovejazz.com</u></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> 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. </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=6132616edf&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</u></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=399f90ad06&e=bf9134ac33"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> </u></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">As always thanks for staying in touch with us. </span></p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Until next time, Leslie et Gerard</span></p>
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Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/7256844
2023-08-14T19:25:31+02:00
2023-08-14T19:37:29+02:00
"Leslie Lewis and Gerard Hagen" Bonjour de Paris 19 Mai 2023
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<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><i><span><strong>Bonjour de Paris...</strong></span></i></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><br><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><i><strong>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!</strong></i></span><br> </p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Chers Amis,</span></p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> 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 concert tonight here in Paris. Prior to leaving for Munster, Funky Ella was a part of a jazz cruise which began in Marseille and took us to Gibraltar, and Funchal on the island of Madeira, Portugal. Later we were in Spain in Lanzarote in the Canary Islands, and also in Cadiz and in Barcelona. The trip also included stops in Morocco in Agadir and Casablanca. Once we returned to Paris we had a couple of days to rehearse with a new drummer for the Munster gig and then we hit the road again. The great thing about a cruise is that your room stays the same day in and day out so there is no packing and unpacking and no taxis, airports or train stations. With my propensity to be a homebody, this was a huge plus for me. This was Leslie and my third jazz cruise and it was easily the most labor intensive, at least for me. Being a headliner, Leslie would probably say that they were all labor intensive. On the days that we worked there was not much time left for anything else which, of course, is why it’s called work! But still we had some days off and we did get to see most of the places that we wanted to see. The concerts were both rewarding and challenging at the same time. They ran the gamut from playing a late afternoon set poolside to playing two nightly shows in the theatre and finally to playing a late night show in a room that was called “The Dome”. “The Dome” was normally a disco but for purposes of the cruise it was set up like a jazz club. Between the three venues I played five concerts over the course of the cruise and Leslie was featured two nights in the theatre. Once with Funky Ella and again as part of a concert with pianist Philippe Duchemin’s trio. She also did two nights as the featured performer for the late night sets in “The Dome”. All of the musicians (there were around forty) were mixed and matched for the poolside concerts, and groups were formed for the late night sets which were mostly themed concerts such as “a trumpet summit” or “saxophone mania” etc. The challenge was mostly due to some equipment problems and problems with the rented acoustic bass. At one point Peter Giron, our longtime bassist and friend, played part of a set on a bass with only two functioning strings. Anyway, we were able to weather those storms and get ourselves ready for the next show. Beyond that we had a great time hanging with friends, seeing new things and enjoying great sunny weather which in springtime is hard to come by in Paris. We probably had the most enjoyable time in Cadiz, Spain. Lanzarote, in the Canary Islands was probably second most enjoyable stop for us. Peter’s wife Nicole, who joined us on the cruise, liked Cadiz so much that she was ready to move there for retirement!</span></p>
</td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/e01bd63b-b23c-b123-97f9-dade97391c3d.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Funky Ella theatre stage pre-concert cruise 2023.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/5ff172c3-88a9-de22-4d05-874d7d6dba1e.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Funky Ella theatre stage concert cruise 2023.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/6e7832e8-ead5-8691-8c7c-1b946242ce5b.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Leslie's theatre concert with Philippe Duchemin's trio. </strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><i><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/af948aa6-a605-a22d-08af-fdb6a6f9c061.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></i></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Leslie with Faby Medina (lead singer with the Claude Bolling Big Band) in "The Dome" after Leslie's concert. </strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/6c76f664-fe05-16ed-4d05-21efb944b177.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Peter and Gerard after Leslie's concert in "The Dome".</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/89598d1b-8c8d-4815-cd47-8969e167c22f.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Peter in "The Dome" playing a late set with the Trumpet Summit group.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/8d252c97-3c58-bbec-0db4-41053d1ce34f.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Peter and Gerard playing a late afternoon set poolside.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="padding:9px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table width="564" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:9px;padding-top:0px;vertical-align:top;"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/28d5ddd0-90f9-8c0b-e380-517a1c4e7c93.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px;vertical-align:top;">
<figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table width="273" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:9px;padding-top:0px;vertical-align:top;"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/4740ad71-b80a-aa4e-bbfa-f6c2d5d5bd6c.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="264" /></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table width="273" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-bottom:0px;padding-right:9px;padding-top:0px;vertical-align:top;"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/5da79b5f-facf-25b0-7f33-e952a3ee3af3.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="264" /></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;"><figure class="table"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);" border="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Load in and set up for Funky Ella at the Munster Jazz Festival.</strong></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/e1732bcd-4360-e568-0f11-bb8f11e61d44.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Funky Ella plays the opening night of the Munster Jazz Festival.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/8894a7c8-efce-c3d3-4937-a925381a5664.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Leslie waiting to be called on stage for the Munster Jazz Festival.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="padding:9px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table width="564" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:9px;padding-top:0px;vertical-align:top;"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/ecf24873-cf73-643a-3c0f-3f40fd930f5c.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px;vertical-align:top;">
<figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table width="273" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:9px;padding-top:0px;vertical-align:top;"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/38db51ed-a458-31b8-e4b2-06a504c1195d.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="264" /></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table width="273" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-bottom:0px;padding-right:9px;padding-top:0px;vertical-align:top;"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/b7a05710-644c-0aaa-eccf-cc58304b2cda.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="264" /></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
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</tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;"><figure class="table"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);" border="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>These are photos from Agadir, Morocco. The beach, a horse draw carriage and an advertisement for "black seed".</strong></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:9px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table width="564" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:9px;padding-top:0px;vertical-align:top;"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/4551f916-e0ca-cd3a-7dcc-cf20f36a4a08.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px;vertical-align:top;">
<figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table width="273" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:9px;padding-top:0px;vertical-align:top;"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/0a595c03-b792-7682-d11b-f5e66d68f89e.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="264" /></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table width="273" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-bottom:0px;padding-right:9px;padding-top:0px;vertical-align:top;"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/fa362844-01d1-64d6-abf0-1e76d490e294.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="264" /></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
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<tr><td style="padding:9px;vertical-align:top;">
<figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table width="273" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:9px;padding-top:0px;vertical-align:top;"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/bb9846e9-7551-9f79-e5d9-0221393b66ed.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="264" /></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table width="273" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-bottom:0px;padding-right:9px;padding-top:0px;vertical-align:top;"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/bff8fee5-965a-f45e-8379-cef15536bf13.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="264" /></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
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</tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;"><figure class="table"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);" border="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;">
<span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>1.) View from the dinner table on board the ship.</strong></i></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>2.) Gibraltar getting ready for the coronation.</strong></i></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>3.) Flame Grill Indian Tex-Mex Restaurant in Gibraltar.</strong></i></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>4.) Leslie enjoying Lanzarote, Canary Islands.</strong></i></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>5.) View of the port of Barcelona.</strong></i></span>
</td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/843d5fa6-37d1-43d1-b8a0-859878aa37d9.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Tall ship in the port of Cadiz, Spain.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/ac59c38d-5c7a-8761-8e87-c80bf279bfb2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Park in Cadiz, Spain.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/70ae808e-9218-fefe-266b-e3c3e8a45d9f.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Another park in Cadiz, Spain.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/87c9f325-8b59-bf1a-1979-5a1cb8a10592.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Narrow street in Cadiz, Spain.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/bb060a3b-edc0-d20c-4b75-23f060872506.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Park along the coast Cadiz, Spain.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/6a72b318-3d15-3fc4-0657-8e04825755e1.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Church in Cadiz, Spain.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/e21474d8-2be7-1b21-2b17-95f910833687.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Downtown buildings Cadiz, Spain.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/72d14599-3044-6975-e3d8-a34f4e67638a.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Pretty trees, Cadiz Spain.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:9px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px 18px 9px;vertical-align:top;"> </td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:9px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px 18px 9px;vertical-align:top;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">So now looking forward I am thinking of how fortunate we are to have a number of interesting things on the horizon. Along with our regular dates here in Paris, at most notably Chez Papa Jazz Club and Café Laurent, there are more Funky Ella festival appearances in July and August. In June Leslie is going to Tours to play with the afore mentioned Philippe Duchemin Trio. In July we are part of a day long “Afro-Paris” jazz workshop which will culminate in an evening concert to be held at Duc des Lombards Jazz Club in Paris. In August we will be a part of the Festival Au Grès du Jazz performing with Rhoda Scott in trio (organ, piano, drums) and then adding Leslie to sing with us. The second half of that concert will be with the gospel choir that we have been rehearsing since last November. Speaking of which, in two weeks we travel back to Saverne for a weekend of rehearsals with the full band (organ, piano and drums) Leslie as the soloist and the choir! I am very excited to play some instrumental music with Rhoda who is still a force of nature after all of these years. I can’t help but feel blessed to have all of these great opportunities ahead of me. And best of all, Leslie and I get to do them together.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/48d02dc8-0e7b-938f-96fd-e5d09f03c434.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Leslie and Rhoda at last year's Festival Au Grès du Jazz.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/9a19a727-5b00-b03a-17fe-825efa8ae6b5.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Tom Ranier is a wonderful pianist/clarinetist in L.A. If you watch TV or movies you've heard him play. He is also a great photographer. This is a shot he took of City Hall in L.A. It is lit up in blue to mark the 25th year since the passing of Frank Sinatra. I asked Tom for permission to include it here because I love it.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:9px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px 18px 9px;vertical-align:top;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">On a more personal note, my nephew Sam Nevins is engaged to marry a wonderful woman named Bethany. I was fortunate to watch him grow up as my sister’s family lived nearby in Orange County, California. Even as a youngster he always had a big heart, and he has grown up to be a good man. We are so very happy for him. For a number of years he lived and worked in NYC where he met his fiancée. We would always hang when ever Leslie and I got to town. 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! They are now back on the West Coast, living in Seattle, closer to family and beginning a new chapter and Leslie and I are thrilled for them.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/690e0c1b-0b8c-6486-1a45-940b3b34979f.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Sam and Bethany, the happy, newly engaged, couple.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:9px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px 18px 9px;vertical-align:top;">
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">The Funky Ella CD can be streamed on any number of platforms but the main ones are: </span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Bandcamp: </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://leslielewisgerardhagen.bandcamp.com/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>https://leslielewisgerardhagen.bandcamp.com/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you</u></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> </span>
</li>
<li>
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">- Spotify:</span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://open.spotify.com/album/6gkHqDEBeQSm8akBXBtofv" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> </u></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://open.spotify.com/album/6gkHqDEBeQSm8akBXBtofv"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>https://open.spotify.com/album/6gkHqDEBeQSm8akBXBtofv</u></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://open.spotify.com/album/6gkHqDEBeQSm8akBXBtofv%C2%A0"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> </u></span></a>
</li>
<li>
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">- Apple Music: </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you/1587307010?uo=4&app=itunes%C2%A0" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you/1587307010?uo=4&app=itunes</u></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you/1587307010?uo=4&app=itunes%C2%A0"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> </u></span></a>
</li>
<li>
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">- Amazon:</span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09H2V1Z3S" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> </u></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09H2V1Z3S"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09H2V1Z3S</u></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> </span>
</li>
<li>
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">- Deezer: </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.deezer.com/us/album/26111448%C2%A0" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>https://www.deezer.com/us/album/26111448</u></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.deezer.com/us/album/26111448%C2%A0"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> </u></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> </span>
</li>
<li>
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">You can find out more information about our Funky Ella project at:</span><a class="no-pjax" href="http://%C2%A0www.funkyella.com%C2%A0" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> </u></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="http://www.funkyella.com%C2%A0" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>www.funkyella.com</u></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="http://www.funkyella.com%C2%A0"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> </u></span></a>
</li>
</ul>
</td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/21d105c7-8093-f019-c57a-18519fcd743b.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546">
<span style="color:rgb(255,255,255);"><i><strong>"I Put A Spell On You" first recording by "Funky Ella".</strong></i></span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><i><strong> </strong></i></span>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:9px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px 18px 9px;vertical-align:top;"> </td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:9px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px 18px 9px;vertical-align:top;"> </td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:9px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px 18px 9px;vertical-align:top;">
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Our calendar is available here:</span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.com/tour" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> https://surfcovejazz.com/tour</u></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> For those of you who are in Paris or if you are planning to be in Paris later in May or June, Leslie and I are at Chez Papa Jazz Club on May 25-26-27. On the 25th in duo, the 26th we are with bassist Bruno Rousselet and the 27th with Nicholas Rageau. </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://papajazzclub-paris.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>https://papajazzclub-paris.fr</u></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> On June 1st Leslie and I are back at Chez Papa Jazz Club in duo. On June 5th Leslie travels to Tours to work with Philippe Duchemin. </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.strapontin-cafe.com/concert" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>https://www.strapontin-cafe.com/concert</u></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.strapontin-cafe.com/concert"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> </u></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> On June 15-16-17 it’s Chez Papa Jazz Club in duo followed by June 16th with Bruno Rousselet and June 17th with Darryl Hall. </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://papajazzclub-paris.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>https://papajazzclub-paris.fr</u></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> On June 28th we are at at Café Laurent in Paris. </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.hoteldaubusson.com/cafe-laurent" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>https://www.hoteldaubusson.com/cafe-laurent</u></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> So now you know where and when to find us. </span> </td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/10ec79c7-aede-e974-8dbf-952358e5be81.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Funky Ella playing at Les 2 Pianos in Paris.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:9px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px 18px 9px;vertical-align:top;">
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">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.</span><a class="no-pjax" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com%C2%A0" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> </u></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com%C2%A0"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>http://www.surfcovejazz.com </u></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> 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. </span><a class="no-pjax" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</u></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> We hope that you are all healthy and looking forward to a summer of good times with your family and friends. As always thanks for staying in touch with us. </span></p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Until next time, Leslie et Gerard</span></p>
</td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/7182049
2023-04-01T00:02:02+02:00
2023-08-14T19:26:37+02:00
"Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen" Bonjour de Paris 30 Mars 2023
<figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:9px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px 18px 9px;vertical-align:top;">
<p style="text-align:center;"><span class="text-huge" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><i><span><strong>Bonjour de Paris...</strong></span></i></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><br><span style="color:rgb(153,0,0);"><strong>Auto-correct strikes again! </strong></span><br><span style="color:rgb(153,0,0);"><strong>Leslie's text:</strong></span><strong> </strong><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><strong>"</strong><i><strong>I really enjoyed the vegetarian men (nem)."</strong></i></span><br> </p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Chers Amis,</span></p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">So tonight Leslie and I went to an art show that featured the work of Carole Benzaken. </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=6a06b4949c&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>http://www.carolebenzaken.net/</u></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=8e8d9a7dce&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> </u></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> Her work was an interesting combination of panels depicting everyday scenes such as waterfronts, or high-rise buildings, but each panel was cut in such a way that only portions of the scene was visible. Each panel stretched the length of five storeys inside the building. The installation took place in the stairwell of two different buildings. Each panel was doubled over and hung from the railing of the fifth floor stretching down to the ground floor making them the length of 10 floors. There was also a video which followed a similar idea in that the images were not complete. In fact they were reflections on water so as the waves moved, the images became distorted and were constantly changing. Often images that one would expect to see as being horizontal, such as ducks swimming on a pond, were shown as vertical in the video which further distorted the form. We were made aware of her show from bassist Jeff Littleton who knew her twenty some years ago when she was working in L.A. Jeff contacted us to let us know that we should be sure to see her work and we were glad that we did. As an added bonus as we made our way back home, we found a Chinese Restaurant that we liked not far from Gare du Nord. As far as restaurants go, we have pretty much anything we would want right in our neighbourhood, except a good Chinese place. And when I say good Chinese I mean a no frills, wear jeans and a T-shirt but really great food. Our friend Carol Penn, who has been to Paris many times, taught us this trick; when looking for a restaurant in Paris get off the main streets, walk down a side street and within a few blocks you will come across a really great restaurant. So far it's worked for us!</span></p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">In February we had a similar experience when we met some artists from Barcelona who were exhibiting some of their work at the Grand Palais Ephémère in Paris. </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=ae1d2b060d&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>https://peinturealeau.com/</u></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> They happened to come to one of our concerts after which we had a chance to get to know them a little bit. By the end of our conversation, we were invited to their show. In case anyone is interested you can find them here: Victoria Rodrigo Gimeno </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=1d0bdbb63b&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>www.victoriarodrigogimeno.com</u></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> , Cinta F. Agell </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=8c52c1fb4c&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>www.agellgaleria.com</u></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> , Esperanza Garcia Canari </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=4f630ef040&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>www.esperanzagarcia.biz</u></span></a><span style="color:#000000;"> With over 500 artists represented in this exhibit, there was no way to see every thing that was on display. We only had one afternoon to spend there and it would have easily taken two days to see everything. One of the advantages of living in our neighbourhood <span>is that </span>we are constantly seeing new works of art on display in the windows of the many small galleries that we pass as we are running errands. When we lived in Laguna Beach, I was always struck by how many beautiful things I would see as I drove around town. There was usually a glimpse of the ocean or a garden in the front yard of someone's home. I think that this is not unusual no matter where one lives, as long as we pay attention. </span></p>
</td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p> </p><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/6af595c1-3d2f-eb28-ac56-1797f023a3e7.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Leslie with artist Carole Benzaken.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/a4a97033-8fb2-233b-37e8-d70e5ef5ac89.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546">
<span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>This is the outside view of one the buildings where Carole's art was installed. You can see the five storey building. She had a second installation in another building which was across the courtyard. It was a very cool space. </strong></i></span><i><strong> </strong></i>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/3eb4db59-c077-e100-4cab-a6347f512173.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>This is a view of the video which was viewable both inside the building and outside in courtyard.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/10c9263c-73de-9f8c-eebc-ea1f6e7cf5f9.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>This is taken from the fifth floor. It is a typical Paris wintery day, no snow or rain, temperature in the 50's (Fahrenheit). In the background you can see la basilique du Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/2ce05894-c286-0ef6-5bba-795515a0c670.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Here is Leslie making the ascent to the fifth floor!</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p> </p><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:9px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px 18px 9px;vertical-align:top;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Work wise 2023 has begun on a good note for us. In January we had a nice concert with our quartet at Le Cercle Suédois in Paris followed by another nice moment for the Funky Ella band in February at Les 2 Pianos. We continue to stay very busy doing our monthly duo and trio concerts here in Paris. Speaking of our concerts in Paris, we had a nice surprise when Gwen Dunant and her friend Cindy (both from Toronto) came to hear us at Chez Papa Jazz Club. She and her husband Keith are often at our concerts here in Paris which we appreciate very much.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/9f96a8fc-f9e6-b1b4-0bca-6180e38d49bb.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>The Christmas Eve concert that we attended at l'Église de la Madeleine. </strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/a95015fe-88ed-2c33-8fa2-da830a443f47.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>New Year's Eve on the Champs Élysées. We were working, I pulled this image off of a French news site. I would have hated being there, too many people!</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/d75bba44-e7dd-ae8f-b261-4d0227123a81.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>L'Arc de Triomphe on New Year's Eve.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/497d9dfb-d01d-8fd3-a00a-ff97f34b6695.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Leslie at Chez Papa Jazz Club on New Year's Eve.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/2d3a3eee-d8d4-caa5-7fe7-5793508c7b1c.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Gerard and Peter at Chez Papa Jazz Club "later" on New Year's Eve.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:9px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px 18px 9px;vertical-align:top;"><span style="color:#000000;">Since January we've made two more trips back to Saverne spending the weekend rehearsing for a concert that will take place this August. After three trips there things are finally beginning to take shape. We have yet to have the entire band together, but it has been enough to be able to hear what it will end up being. I have had a crash course in gospel piano, which has been very fun. This past weekend was the first time I had a chance to play the concert with Rhoda Scott who wrote the arrangements and played the concert from memory, which doesn't seem that extraordinary until you consider that she hasn't played that music in a number of years. I don't mean just playing the accompaniment, I mean she was able to play all of the individuel vocal parts from memory as well. So this concert will be Rhoda (organ), me (piano), Thomas Derouineau (drums), Leslie (vocal soloist) and an 80 voice choir. The first half will be some trio music with Rhoda, Thomas and myself followed by quartet music with Leslie joining us. The second half will be the quartet with the choir doing gospel music. There is no conductor so Leslie is managing most of that with me doing a little conducting from the piano. <span>Leslie</span> has risen to the occasion considering that she has never conducted anything before now. I am really looking forward to this concert. Just playing with Rhoda in rehearsal is fun. To have the chance to play trio and quartet music with her and Leslie in concert will be a nice opportunity that doesn't happen very often.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px 9px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/8b78fc83-f4a7-1bd9-0262-21eeae99c209.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_center border_" width="564" /></td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px 9px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/57517136-b2fe-8b39-a9f8-af1cb902dead.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_center border_" width="564" /></td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;"><figure class="table"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;"><div style="box-sizing:border-box;text-align:left;">
<span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>The above photos are from last weekend's rehearsals in Saverne, FR.</strong></i></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>1.) Rhoda & Leslie before the rehearsal.</strong></i></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>2.) The gospel choir waiting to rehearse the next song.</strong></i></span><br> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:9px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px 18px 9px;vertical-align:top;">
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">The Funky Ella Band has two weeks on a jazz cruise coming up in May. We have four concerts to play over a 13 day cruise so it's not like we are going to be burning the candle at both ends. We are going to Gibraltar, followed by Spain where we stop at Lanzarote and Cádiz. Then it's on to Barcelona and off to Funchal in Portugal, and finally in Morocco we stop in Agadir and Casablanca. These are all cool destinations, but my favorite days are the days at sea. </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=8e642eb95d&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>https://www.tmrfrance.com/voyage/croisiere/17eme-croisiere-jazz-en-mer/160/catalogue</u></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=f8c6865da2&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>.</u></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> Brochure: </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=cb700efd36&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>https://www.tmrfrance.com/admin/uploads/sejours/160_brochure_17eme-croisiere-jazz-en-mer.pdf</u></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=2fab562b2c&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> </u></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> Shortly after we return from the cruise Funky Ella will hop in the van and head to Munster, FR to play the Munster Jazz Festival </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=95c768136d&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>https://jazzmunster.fr/</u></span></a></p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">The Funky Ella CD can be streamed on any number of platforms but the main ones are: </span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Bandcamp: </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=f8573ca1b6&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>https://leslielewisgerardhagen.bandcamp.com/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you</u></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> </span>
</li>
<li>
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">- Spotify: </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=975e47a1e8&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>https://open.spotify.com/album/6gkHqDEBeQSm8akBXBtofv</u></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=77fb30a238&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> </u></span></a>
</li>
<li>
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">- Apple Music: </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=c2feceff5c&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you/1587307010?uo=4&app=itunes</u></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=336ff2d390&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> </u></span></a>
</li>
<li>
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">- Amazon: </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=e9abcf5335&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09H2V1Z3S</u></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> </span>
</li>
<li>
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">- Deezer: </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=a38dcf2074&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>https://www.deezer.com/us/album/26111448</u></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> </span>
</li>
<li>
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">You can find out more information about our Funky Ella project at:</span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=6125cf7ff7&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> </u></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=6f87ddbd90&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>www.funkyella.com</u></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=04ebcbf948&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> </u></span></a>
</li>
</ul>
</td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:right;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/21d105c7-8093-f019-c57a-18519fcd743b.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>"I Put A Spell On You" first recording by "Funky Ella". </strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/e0064778-ec12-6a70-098c-a7a5af228951.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Funky Ella at Les 2 Pianos, février 2023.</strong></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p> </p><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:9px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px 18px 9px;vertical-align:top;">
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Our calendar is available here:</span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=bd1e02ba55&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> https://surfcovejazz.com/tour</u></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> For those of you who are in Paris or if you are planning to be in Paris in April or May, Leslie is with pianist Laurent Marode at Café Laurent in Paris on April 5th. </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=e707f6de1a&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>https://www.hoteldaubusson.com/cafe-laurent</u></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> Leslie and I are at Chez Papa Jazz Club on April 6th. </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=ebeb575a61&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>https://papajazzclub-paris.fr</u></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=3c33dee837&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> </u></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> Leslie travels to Amfreville-la-Mi-Voie on April 7th to play at the Centre Culturel Simone Signoret with organist Philippe Petit's group. April 13, 14 & 15 we are in Paris at Chez Papa Jazz Club. </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=79356ea53f&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>https://papajazzclub-paris.fr</u></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> On the 14 & 15 we are with bassist Darryl Hall. On April 27 Leslie and I are back at Chez Papa Jazz Club. From May 2nd -13th the Funky Ella band is on a jazz cruise. On May 18th we travel to Munster for the Munster Jazz Festival. </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=a706247825&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>https://jazzmunster.fr/</u></span></a><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=59bcfbd6a1&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u> </u></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> On May 25 we are working at Chez Papa Jazz Club as a duo and on May 26-27 we are there with bassist Bruno Rousselet. </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=975012f886&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>https://papajazzclub-paris.fr</u></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> So now you know where and when to find us. </span></p>
<p> </p>
</td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table style="background-color:rgb(64, 64, 64);border-style:groove;border-width:4px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding:0px;vertical-align:top;" align="left"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/d9b6b11c-4285-be25-0a79-af975928a78c.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" width="556" /></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding:9px 18px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" width="546"><div style="box-sizing:border-box;text-align:center;"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><strong>Leslie before the concert at Cercle Suédois in Paris janvier 2023".</strong></i></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:9px;vertical-align:top;"><figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0px 18px 9px;vertical-align:top;">
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">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. </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=f8281af8a0&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>http://www.surfcovejazz.com</u></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> 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. </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=a30ab6fca2&e=bf9134ac33" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><u>http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</u></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> We hope that you are all healthy and looking forward to the arrival of spring. As always thanks for staying in touch with us. </span></p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Until next time, Leslie et Gerard</span></p>
</td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/7128051
2022-12-24T15:41:42+01:00
2023-04-01T00:00:09+02:00
"Leslie Lewis and Gérard Hagen" Joyeux Noël de Paris décembre 24, 2022
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#27ae60;"><span class="font_xl"><em><strong>Joyeux Noël de Paris ... </strong></em></span></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#27ae60;"><em>Chers Amis, </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#27ae60;"><em>With hope for peace, wishes of goodwill, and the joy of giving, the world celebrates Christmas. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#27ae60;"><em>We find joy and hope in the eyes of children on Christmas morning. It’s in the hearts of parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters, uncles, aunts, husbands and wives, friends and neighbours as we gather to celebrate, sing songs together, share presents, and a meal (or two). </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#27ae60;"><em>Leslie and I look forward to 2023 with the hope that, if the stars align, we will be able to spend some time together with you and that you will know the joy of Christmas throughout the year. </em></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="color:#e74c3c;">Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#e74c3c;">Joyeux Noël et une Bonne Année, </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#e74c3c;">Feliz Navidad y un Feliz Año Nuevo, </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#e74c3c;">Buon Natale e un Felice Anno Nuovo, </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#e74c3c;"><em><strong> Leslie and Gerard </strong></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#e74c3c;"><em><strong><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/f8900704a53e3bdd29cd7774e0308382db440b6a/original/christmas-tree-2022.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></strong></em></span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/7126043
2022-12-21T01:39:51+01:00
2022-12-21T01:39:52+01:00
"Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen" Bonjour de Paris 20 Déc. 2022
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span class="font_xl">Bonjour de Paris ... </span></em></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>“We’ll be going back again at the end of January, but this time we’ll be prepared, I hope." </strong></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p>Chers Amis, </p>
<p>We have been freezing here for the past week or so. Completely the opposite from last winter when I wore my winter coat perhaps twice. Today was in the low 50’s which is way more normal for winter in Paris and about 15 degrees warmer than it’s been. It’s a slow week here, no classes and no gigs. We have plans to hear some music this week. Most notably a Christmas Eve concert with a program of Vivaldi, Pachelbel, Schubert, Albinoni and various holiday music at l’Église de la Madeleine. Leslie is trying to get me out of the house more often. Typically I am glad when I make the effort to get out into the world with her, but there is always that initial inertia. </p>
<p>We hope that you all had a very enjoyable Thanksgiving. We had two nice Thanksgiving dinners. We had a wonderful dinner at Bobby Chitwood and Sue Hilton’s apartment on Thanksgiving day and another at the home of Paul Grayson and Joan Minor on the following Saturday. We are blessed to have these friends, and many more, here in Paris. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/f8900704a53e3bdd29cd7774e0308382db440b6a/original/christmas-tree-2022.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Leslie's 2022 Christmas tree...today... she will re-do it several times before (and perhaps after) Christmas. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/f01ebcbd3f167f734cd9a7cacd766d19378f70a3/original/christmas-lights-rue-princesse.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Christmas on our little street, rue, Princesse. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/3e32e19a796098d3276066fe374384bda6623eba/original/thanksgiving-at-joans.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Thanksgiving at the home of Joan Minor & Paul Grayson. </p>
<p>In August Leslie and I are doing a concert of gospel music with Rhoda Scott as a part of the Au Grés Festival du Jazz. We did that festival last August and we were invited to be a part of the next edition. Earlier in November we spent a week-end rehearsing for the concert with an 80 voice choir in Saverne, FR. To say the least, it was an interesting experience, but not totally unpleasant. Rather than do a blow by blow, I’ll just say that the day before the rehearsal, half of the set list was changed. After the first rehearsal we learned that Leslie and I would leading the following two rehearsals, and on Sunday morning we learned that the hotel would be closed after our noon check out. They were kind enough to give us an access code for the front door. So we had lunch, returned to the hotel and sat by ourselves in the lobby (without any lights on) while waiting for the 2:00 pm rehearsal to start. During the Sunday afternoon rehearsal a local film crew came by to do a story about our project. Leslie had to sit for an interview (in French) and I had to grin and bear it while being filmed running a rehearsal by the seat of my pants. We finished the rehearsal, walked to the train station and got back home to Paris completely exhausted. We’ll be going back again at the end of January, but this time we’ll be prepared, I hope. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/fd5633afd90f2956a962865c64e30beee61b0387/original/rehearsal-1.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Rehearsal w/ choir in Saverne with Rhoda, Leslie & Gerard. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/9aea108143de5fe86e883a2691c4c79fe51ddba3/original/rehearsal.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Rehearsal w/ choir in Saverne with Rhoda, Leslie & Gerard. </p>
<p>The Cod House, our favorite restaurant, has closed and re-opened with a similar menu but higher prices, so we celebrated Leslie’s November birthday with Bobby & Sue at Madamador restaurant. <a contents="http://madamador.fr/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://madamador.fr/">http://madamador.fr/</a> The food and atmosphere there was wonderful, it was a very nice evening. So Madamador goes on the list as a good option for those occasions when a celebratory meal is in order. And if that wasn’t enough, Sue made Leslie her famous chocolate mayonnaise cake. I know that you’re thinking “chocolate and mayonnaise” but you have to trust me on this, it’s so great. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/335a842e7bc86940f32eeef4ae2a87cf8450d2c1/original/leslie-gerard-bday-dinner.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/afc292018480683bf9c4fafe549402a8f89a2c26/original/birthday-cake.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/2c73c35038c3f811304673e78de8925ea5834e0b/original/sue.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />The above photos are from Leslie's birthday celebration. <br>1.) Gerard & Leslie at Madamador restaurant. <br>2.) Sue's chocolate-mayonnaise cake. <br>3.) Sue, une boulangère extraordinaire. </p>
<p>Up until this week we have had a very busy December. There were concerts with Jean-Philippe Naeder at Les Deux Magots and with our quartet with Peter Giron & Mourad Benhammou at Sunside Jazz Club. We did duos at Café Laurent and Chez Papa Jazz Club and finally a Funky Ella concert at the Cabaret Jazz Club just outside of Paris in Courbevoie. After Christmas we will finish out the year with five nights at Chez Papa Jazz Club, the last three nights (ending on New Year’s Eve) with bassist Peter Giron. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/37cce70f68bfea45fbf85ae733f5e860970da8c8/original/cabaret-jazz-club.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Funky Ella concert at Cabaret Jazz Club in Courbevoie, FR. </p>
<p>On Monday December 19th we were guests on Cathy Segal Garcia’s Noon Time Hang on Facebook. She does a two hour interview format that along with the conversation includes performance videos and audio files. It was a fun hang. We had just seen her and Gary in Paris a few weeks ago. We were honoured to be her 500th show. Thinking back on that we should have gotten something like ginsu knives as our swag for being on the 500th show. A big thank you to Cathy for the invite, we had a good time talking with her. You can watch the show here: <a contents="https://www.facebook.com/cathysegalgarcia/videos/1361633687944778/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/cathysegalgarcia/videos/1361633687944778/">https://www.facebook.com/cathysegalgarcia/videos/1361633687944778/</a>. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/5051bf987980b207edb37f4cfa973c66a7f2b26d/original/cathy-gary-w-leslie.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Gary, Leslie & Cathy Segal-Garcia at Chez Papa Jazz Club. </p>
<p>On January 4th we start the year at the Cercle Suédois Wednesday night jazz series with our regular quartet with Peter and Mourad. <a contents="https://cercle-suedois.com/fr/rivoli-mercredi-jazz-2/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://cercle-suedois.com/fr/rivoli-mercredi-jazz-2/">https://cercle-suedois.com/fr/rivoli-mercredi-jazz-2/</a>. Beginning in January Café Laurent will begin each week night with a solo piano set followed by two duo sets with a singer. On January 11th I will play a solo set and Leslie will join me for two sets in duo. <a contents="https://www.hoteldaubusson.com/cafe-laurent" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.hoteldaubusson.com/cafe-laurent">https://www.hoteldaubusson.com/cafe-laurent</a> On January 12 Leslie and I are at Chez Papa Jazz Club and on January 13&14 we are there with bassist Peter Giron. <a contents="https://papajazzclub-paris.fr" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://papajazzclub-paris.fr">https://papajazzclub-paris.fr</a> </p>
<p>On February 4th Funky Ella will be back at Les 2 Pianos in Paris. In May Funky Ella will travel to Munster to play the Munster Jazz Festival, in July we go to Villeneuve la Garenne and in August we will play in Saint-Jean de Maurienne. But the main news is that the band is booked for a jazz cruise in May. We’ll be out for 13 days leaving from Marseille and traveling to Gibraltar, Spain, Portugal, the Canary Islands and Morocco before returning to Marseille. <a contents="https://www.tmrfrance.com/voyage/croisiere/17eme-croisiere-jazz-en-mer/160/catalogue" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.tmrfrance.com/voyage/croisiere/17eme-croisiere-jazz-en-mer/160/catalogue">https://www.tmrfrance.com/voyage/croisiere/17eme-croisiere-jazz-en-mer/160/catalogue</a>. Brochure: <a contents="https://www.tmrfrance.com/admin/uploads/sejours/160_brochure_17eme-croisiere-jazz-en-mer.pdf" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.tmrfrance.com/admin/uploads/sejours/160_brochure_17eme-croisiere-jazz-en-mer.pdf">https://www.tmrfrance.com/admin/uploads/sejours/160_brochure_17eme-croisiere-jazz-en-mer.pdf</a> </p>
<p>The Funky Ella CD can be streamed on any number of platforms but the main ones are: </p>
<p>- Bandcamp: <a contents="https://leslielewisgerardhagen.bandcamp.com/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://leslielewisgerardhagen.bandcamp.com/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you">https://leslielewisgerardhagen.bandcamp.com/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you</a> </p>
<p>- Spotify: <a contents="https://open.spotify.com/album/6gkHqDEBeQSm8akBXBtofv" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/album/6gkHqDEBeQSm8akBXBtofv">https://open.spotify.com/album/6gkHqDEBeQSm8akBXBtofv</a> </p>
<p>- Apple Music: <a contents="https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you/1587307010?uo=4&amp;app=itunes" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you/1587307010?uo=4&app=itunes">https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you/1587307010?uo=4&app=itunes</a> </p>
<p>- Amazon: <a contents="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09H2V1Z3S" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09H2V1Z3S">https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09H2V1Z3S</a> </p>
<p>- Deezer: <a contents="https://www.deezer.com/us/album/26111448" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.deezer.com/us/album/26111448">https://www.deezer.com/us/album/26111448</a> </p>
<p>You can find out more information about our Funky Ella project at: <a contents="www.funkyella.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.funkyella.com">www.funkyella.com</a> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/ab61e12f581b128e7abd847cd1930ab30371f2dd/original/spell-cd-cover.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" />"I Put A Spell On You" first recording by "Funky Ella". </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/023bd5c644055af17d2bb35c4dd009ab8fc158e3/original/tri-photos-chez-papa.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Here are three photos taken by Gérard Nataf at one of our nights at Chez Papa Jazz Club with Peter Giron on bass. </p>
<p>Our calendar is available here:<a contents="&nbsp;https://surfcovejazz.com/tour" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://surfcovejazz.com/tour"> https://surfcovejazz.com/tour</a> For those of you who are in Paris or if you are planning to be in Paris in late December or January, Leslie and I are at Chez Papa Jazz Club on December 27-28 and on December 29-30 & 31 we are there with bassist Peter Giron. <a contents="https://papajazzclub-paris.fr" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://papajazzclub-paris.fr">https://papajazzclub-paris.fr</a> On January 4 our quartet is at the Cercle Suédois in Paris <a contents="https://cercle-suedois.com/fr/rivoli-mercredi-jazz-2/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://cercle-suedois.com/fr/rivoli-mercredi-jazz-2/">https://cercle-suedois.com/fr/rivoli-mercredi-jazz-2/</a> On Jan. 11 I do a solo set followed by two duo sets with Leslie at the Café Laurent. <a contents="https://www.hoteldaubusson.com/cafe-laurent" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.hoteldaubusson.com/cafe-laurent">https://www.hoteldaubusson.com/cafe-laurent</a> . On Jan. 12 we are working at Chez Papa Jazz Club as a duo and on Jan. 13-14 we are there with bassist Peter Giron. <a contents="https://papajazzclub-paris.fr" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://papajazzclub-paris.fr">https://papajazzclub-paris.fr</a> So now you know where and when to find us. </p>
<p>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. <a contents="http://www.surfcovejazz.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com">http://www.surfcovejazz.com</a> 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. <a contents="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/">http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</a> We hope that you are all healthy and looking forward to the holidays. As always thanks for staying in touch with us. </p>
<p>Until next time, Leslie et Gerard</p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/7114232
2022-12-01T01:58:05+01:00
2022-12-21T01:24:48+01:00
"Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen" Bonjour de Paris 2 Nov. 2022
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="font_xl"><strong>Bonjour de Paris ... </strong></span></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><br><span class="font_regular"><em>“Maybe we thought it was a dream and we’d wake up in Niagara Falls with a hangover.”</em> <br>Robert Mitchum “Out Of The Past” </span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p>Chers Amis, </p>
<p>Leslie and I were watching “Out Of The Past” when I was struck by how much was communicated in the above line. In our home, when it comes to music, we think a lot about what to communicate and how to communicate it. When it comes to this missive, I do the best I can to communicate through words, but I make no claim that I am, in any way, a writer. </p>
<p>I may have waited a bit too long between newsletters. It seemed like we were just chugging along here with no real exciting news to report. After collecting my thoughts, I see there is more here than I had realized. First off I have to say that August, September and October were a revolving door of friends coming and going in Paris. I think they all made it to one of our performances and we were fortunate enough to have the time to enjoy a meal with most of them. Ron and Cathy Levy followed-up their recent marriage with a honeymoon in Paris. They made time so that the four of us could enjoy a nice lunch on a sunny terrace at a café in Odéon. Leslie and Ron worked together for many years at the Ritz Carlton and the Pelican Hill Resort among other venues. Alexis Penn-Loya (a former student of mine) and her daughter Anya from Orange County, CA made good use of every minute of their time in Paris. I have good memories of Alexis when she was a student of mine. It does my heart good to see them together as mother and daughter. Vince, Ann, Sandy & Pam, our extended family from northern California and Colorado, also made the most of their time here. They spent a week taking in as much as possible including a few side trips outside of town. Spending time with them was a nice family moment for us. After living through a two year “covid” hiatus from their bi-annual trips to Paris, our friends Clifford and Lydia made the return trip reacquainting themselves with the city. Between regular exercise and tango dancing they are the poster couple for healthy living. Shelley Boddie also made it back to Paris after staying away for a while. It was good to see her and to meet her friend Susan. And finally, we had dinner with Phyllis Toney who was on tour with Sting. We have become used to seeing Phyllis in Europe quite often, as she toured here with Paul McCartney, Sting and Diana Ross to name a few. Recently she has decided to spend more time at home in L.A. so sadly, we won’t see her as often as we’d like. The Sting tour had a big going away party for her while they were in Paris. Is it called a “going away” party when the person is actually going home? By the way she was one of the designers for last year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show and she will be doing this year’s show as well. If one needed a reason to come off the road, that’s not a bad one. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/8b3927bb4dd2aff5a0d748cbdcf0664d412851fd/original/ron-cathy-paris.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Ron & Cathy at "Le Coupe-Chou" restaurant Paris, FR. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/de31d369e040f885804097532ed9f65b1707a2c9/original/ron-cathy-g-l-paris.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Lunch with Ron & Cathy in Odéon. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/c00348ae1b74e1b77a1ac6f5f8667ef5a9431315/original/alexis-anya-peter-nicole-l-g.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Peter, Leslie, Alexis, Anya, Gerard, Nicole (Peter's wife) at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris, FR. Cédric (manager) and Michel (owner) are behind the bar. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/a49392cb7ea21a495455b5880711fb62460ad5ea/original/les-editures-g-l-clifford-lydia-1.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Lydia and Clifford with Leslie and Gerard at Les Editeurs restaurant in Odéon. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/e3489ee814639ea13d55842032b58f11791b36b7/original/lydia-in-front-of-chez-papa.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Lydia happened by Chez Papa Jazz Club one afternoon. It's strange to see it in daylight and closed! </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/425749639c7768004de1aabb8830efb08923ccb2/original/shelley-boddle-susan-leslie.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Susan, Leslie and Shelley Boddle at Chez Papa. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/7e7ccfc46ac40de718b8a84794c06cfc8f39c835/original/leslie-phyllis.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Leslie and Phyllis Toney at "Le Petite Marché" in Paris. Earlier in the month we ate there with Vince, Ann, Sandy & Pam and just had to go back for a second time. </p>
<p>In September we spent a few days in Cassis, France. We had been there last spring and had a great time so we went back after our summer gigs were over. Once again it was a great time. We basically did nothing but relax. Afternoons were beach time, even though the beaches are more rocks than sand, it was still a great way to spend an afternoon. The Mediterranean water was very inviting and we spent quite a bit of time in it. We had dinner at our favorite sushi restaurant, twice! Cassis has become our “go to” place when it is time to do nothing but relax. </p>
<p>Last summer Leslie and I were working in the Alsace region of France for five days. We enjoyed it there so much that we decided to return in the fall but this time with no work responsibilities. So last week we were in Strasbourg with Bobby and Sue, our friends formerly from Dallas who are now residing in Paris. On our first day there, Leslie and I were a bit like zombies. We had worked the night before we left and of course we waited until after the gig to pack for the trip so we didn’t sleep much that night. Strasbourg is a really beautiful city that feels much smaller than it actually is. It is an easy hour and forty-five minute train ride from Paris. Unlike our time in Cassis, we did quite a bit of business over the phone while exploring Strasbourg. I think we booked eleven dates during our time there. Initially we didn’t do too well with the restaurants. Our first lunch was in a restaurant that was recommended. It leaned way too much toward the Germanic gastric influence for my taste. So for instance it wasn’t always clear what was on the plate due to the amount of sauce that covered the food. I like sauce too but I would prefer to chose how much I use. That night we walked into an Italian restaurant and followed the hostess through a few hallways and into a large dining room. What we didn’t realize was that we were escorted into a completely different restaurant with a different menu. There was no Italian food to be found on this menu. Leslie was beside herself. The rest of us were just confused. I really just wanted to eat something and get back the the hotel room. The menu was much like the food we had for lunch, so we made the best of the situation and also learned a valuable lesson for the rest of our time there. Days 2 and 3 were much better food wise and we very much enjoyed the company of Bobby and Sue as we explored the town. Leslie, who normally is completely prepared for any situation we encounter when we are on the road, decided to bring just one pair of shoes on this trip. The first night when we got back to our room she took off her shoes and found that the soles of both shoes were almost completely blown out. It was only a matter of time before her foot was going to be on the pavement. So the next day Leslie and Sue went shopping for among other things, shoes! That was pretty much the extent of the excitement for that trip. I’m glad that we have experienced Strasbourg, but I was happy to be back in Paris. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/0139be0e195ccea98db020a7966d23fec2bcb023/original/church-from-below.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Church in Strasbourg, FR. These photos are by Bobby Chitwood who has an artist's eye for images. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/70cc58e02ebfc226a3f4bc1c15b9fb1d7dc14343/original/church-inside.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Same church with an inside view. Photo by Bobby Chitwood. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/739866c02c1098d0d5f50610f7e650664008d776/original/dedication-ww2-crop.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Dedication found inside the church. Photo by Bobby Chitwood. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/cd765688d5eb4b2a8fab6825f96848e16ef3ceb6/original/house-in-river.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />House on the river, Strasbourg, FR. Photo by Bobby Chitwood. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/40c03dbf61e57fe7a200b3ba3f65af3d9ae69dd2/original/night-wet-streets.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Strasbourg at night. Photo by Bobby Chitwood. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/1da8417299fc33d86c321f7f5ab6ee630f65ef19/original/restaurant-river-night.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Restaurant on the river, Strasbourg. Photo by Bobby Chitwood. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/a81134b12ae78689ef4356cb831a8b9cac868bb0/original/curvy-river-night.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Strasbourg homes on the river. Photo by Bobby Chitwood. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/7556a26f8fb0786d0e13ae72a8b1b8c70ac5d2e0/original/swans-n.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Swans on the river Strasbourg. Photo by Bobby Chitwood. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/9b40b78d6c1b34b3e93ffdf72266aa46798a36d6/original/leslie-bobby-sue-gerard-strasbourg.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Leslie, Bobby, Sue & Gerard in Strasbourg, FR. </p>
<p>I’m going to make a left hand turn here for a second because the gig we did the night before we left for Strasbourg is worth a few words. We have done many, many private gigs over the years, but as Leslie remarked that night, this was the first time we ever played somewhere that we didn’t know where we were playing or who we were playing for! It was unclear if it was a quite large private home or perhaps a dedicated event space. We asked but no one could or would tell us. Also we didn’t know who we were working for or who was at the party. We did know the two other musicians that we worked with and we knew how we were going to get paid. That was the extent of our information. There was a rented Yamaha digital grand piano and a Bose PA system provided for us. So we played a set and then walked a few blocks to a restaurant where the people we worked for, whoever they were, had made dinner reservations for us. After a nice meal we returned and played another set and left. Très bizarre! </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/fd4d52e553d83e89073a577d17172c73f4be3c8a/original/nico-jean-claude-gerard-at-gig.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/2f10fd29e013df2db408b79a57ff0df6386079c1/original/gig-house-dylan-art.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/7e601f810d1a1b84f15248e54e46f973358e89b6/original/gig-house-1.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/93a92a0febb80f81714de1dfabafa3adb4884b09/original/gig-house-long-table.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />The above photos are from the gig we played before leaving for Strasbourg. <br>1.) Gerard (piano) Jean-Claude (bass) & Nico (guitar). <br>2.) Living room <br>3.) Another Living room <br>4.) Dining Room. </p>
<p>So getting back to the Alsace region, Leslie and I have been asked back to play at the festival Au Grès Du Jazz which takes place in La Petite Pierre next August. We are working with Rhoda Scott and a choir on a concert of gospel music. In order to rehearse with a local choir we will be making four or five trips to La Petite Pierre in Alsace between now and June. We are currently working on the music to prepare for a rehearsal with Rhoda in Paris. Later in November we will travel there for three days to rehearse with the choir for the first time. During the month of November we also have dates at Chez Papa Jazz Club and a night at Café Laurent. </p>
<p>On December 3rd our quartet (Leslie, Gerard Peter Giron & Mourad Benhammou) will play at Sunside Jazz Club in Paris <a contents="https://www.sunset-sunside.com/2022/12/artiste/1852/8830/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.sunset-sunside.com/2022/12/artiste/1852/8830/">https://www.sunset-sunside.com/2022/12/artiste/1852/8830/</a> followed by a Funky Ella concert at the Cabaret Jazz Club in Courbevoie <a contents="https://www.sortiracourbevoie.fr/detail/1863/leslie-lewis-funky-ella" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.sortiracourbevoie.fr/detail/1863/leslie-lewis-funky-ella">https://www.sortiracourbevoie.fr/detail/1863/leslie-lewis-funky-ella</a> on December 12th. We will end the year with five nights at Chez Papa Jazz Club. The last three nights including New Year’s Eve will be with Peter Giron on contrebasse. </p>
<p>On January 4th we start the year at the Cercle Suédois Wednesday night jazz series with our regular quartet with Peter and Mourad.<a contents="&nbsp;https://cercle-suedois.com/fr/rivoli-mercredi-jazz-2/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://cercle-suedois.com/fr/rivoli-mercredi-jazz-2/"> https://cercle-suedois.com/fr/rivoli-mercredi-jazz-2/</a>. On January 11th I will play a solo piano set at Café Laurent, following that set Leslie will join me for two sets in duo. Beginning in January each week night at Café Laurent will begin with a solo piano set followed by two duo sets with a singer. </p>
<p>On February 4th Funky Ella will be back at Les 2 Pianos in Paris. In May Funky Ella will travel to Munster to play the Munster Jazz Festival and in August we will play in Saint-Jean de Maurienne. There will be more Funky Ella dates to follow. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/8388c659baa295b20dd0a0297f69b0d27f0e75d1/original/luis-w-g-l-at-chez-papa.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Gerard, Leslie & Luis at Chez Papa. Luis Mascaro violinist extraordinaire from Rotterdam sat in with us last month. We played a number of concerts with Luis when we all lived in California. Now we get to play in Europe! </p>
<p>Our Funky Ella CD can be streamed on any number of platforms but the main ones are: </p>
<p>- Bandcamp: <a contents="https://leslielewisgerardhagen.bandcamp.com/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://leslielewisgerardhagen.bandcamp.com/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you">https://leslielewisgerardhagen.bandcamp.com/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you</a> </p>
<p>- Spotify: <a contents="https://open.spotify.com/album/6gkHqDEBeQSm8akBXBtofv" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/album/6gkHqDEBeQSm8akBXBtofv">https://open.spotify.com/album/6gkHqDEBeQSm8akBXBtofv</a> </p>
<p>- Apple Music:<a contents="&nbsp;https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you/1587307010?uo=4&amp;app=itunes&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you/1587307010?uo=4&app=itunes"> https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you/1587307010?uo=4&app=itunes </a></p>
<p>- Amazon: <a contents="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09H2V1Z3S&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09H2V1Z3S">https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09H2V1Z3S </a></p>
<p>- Deezer: <a contents="https://www.deezer.com/us/album/26111448" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.deezer.com/us/album/26111448">https://www.deezer.com/us/album/26111448</a> </p>
<p>You can find out more information about our Funky Ella project at: <a contents="www.funkyella.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.funkyella.com">www.funkyella.com</a></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/ab61e12f581b128e7abd847cd1930ab30371f2dd/original/spell-cd-cover.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> Cover of "I Put A Spell On You". </p>
<p>Our calendar is available here:<a contents="&nbsp;https://surfcovejazz.com/tour" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://surfcovejazz.com/tour"> https://surfcovejazz.com/tour</a> For those of you who are in Paris or if you are planning to be in Paris in November or December, on Nov.10-11-12 we are in Paris working at Chez Papa Jazz Club as a duo and with bassist Peter Giron. <a contents="https://papajazzclub-paris.fr" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://papajazzclub-paris.fr">https://papajazzclub-paris.fr</a> On Nov. 22 we work as a duo at the Café Laurent. <a contents="https://www.hoteldaubusson.com/cafe-laurent" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.hoteldaubusson.com/cafe-laurent">https://www.hoteldaubusson.com/cafe-laurent</a> . On December 3 our quartet is at Sunside Jazz Club in Paris. <a contents="https://www.sunset-sunside.com/2022/12/artiste/1852/8830/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.sunset-sunside.com/2022/12/artiste/1852/8830/">https://www.sunset-sunside.com/2022/12/artiste/1852/8830/</a> On December 6 we work as a duo at the Café Laurent. <a contents="https://www.hoteldaubusson.com/cafe-laurent" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.hoteldaubusson.com/cafe-laurent">https://www.hoteldaubusson.com/cafe-laurent</a> . On December 12 Funky Ella is at the Cabaret Jazz Club in Courbevoie. <a contents="https://www.sortiracourbevoie.fr/detail/1863/leslie-lewis-funky-ella" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.sortiracourbevoie.fr/detail/1863/leslie-lewis-funky-ella">https://www.sortiracourbevoie.fr/detail/1863/leslie-lewis-funky-ella</a> On December 27-28 Leslie and I are at Chez Papa Jazz Club and on December 29-30 & 31 we are there with bassist Peter Giron. <a contents="https://papajazzclub-paris.fr" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://papajazzclub-paris.fr">https://papajazzclub-paris.fr</a> On January 4 our quartet is at the Cercle Suédois in Paris <a contents="https://cercle-suedois.com/fr/rivoli-mercredi-jazz-2/&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://cercle-suedois.com/fr/rivoli-mercredi-jazz-2/">https://cercle-suedois.com/fr/rivoli-mercredi-jazz-2/ </a> So now you know where and when to find us. </p>
<p>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. <a contents="http://www.surfcovejazz.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com">http://www.surfcovejazz.com</a> 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. <a contents="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/">http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</a> We hope that you are all healthy and looking forward to the up-coming holiday season. As always thanks for staying in touch with us. </p>
<p>Until next time, Leslie et Gerard</p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/7038494
2022-08-16T01:02:33+02:00
2022-12-01T01:25:12+01:00
"Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen" Bonjour de Paris Aoüt 15, 2022
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><span class="font_xl">Bonjour de Paris </span></strong></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em> “…the band was a bit amped when we started the concert…” </em></p>
<p>Chers Amis, </p>
<p>We returned to Paris from La Petite Pierre late this afternoon. We were there for the Au Grès Du Jazz festival. It was our first time in the Alsace region of France. La Petite Pierre is not far from Strasbourg which we are told is a very charming town that many people who travel in France will find the time to visit and after having spent a few days near there, we decided to find the time to return someday. That area is absolutely gorgeous with the mountains, quaint villages, food, wines and the people are unbelievably friendly. When we arrived by train in Saverne we were met by workers from the festival who were to drive us the remaining 20 kilo-meters to the village of La Petite Pierre which has no train station. But before we hit the road, we were given a little tour of the homes in town and learned that the designs on the homes as well as the color they are painted told the story of the family who originally built the house. The designs told whether the couple had children, how many boys and/or girls, even the relative happiness, or not, of the marriage! The color signified what type of work the home owner did. We were taken in by the beautiful canals, village streets, restaurants and shops. I saw the homes as being quirky and unique, which I guess they are, but at one time they were much more than that. We promised ourselves that we will take some time to visit this area when we aren’t working and have the time to really take it all in. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/01845a443f4fa5b0f7bd7712d65324e3ebf066f4/original/saverne-homes.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><em>Here is an example of a house in Saverne, FR.</em></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/8bde3de66869ee8dbf895a03810b1f9722ea43c8/original/au-gr-s-countryside.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><em>View of the countryside between Saverne and La Petite Pierre, FR.</em></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/eb4ca5801677962995f6dd276a1af38ad55ce2f6/original/la-petite-pierre-house-2.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></em></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/2fd05451ddfd35d17c86c5279cd1dcd556757d3b/original/la-petite-pierre-house-1.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/a846002137efef36d9c4defb89b79775911b724f/original/la-petite-pierre-house-3.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Here are some of the homes in La Petite Pierre, FR. Notice the sign for the jazz festival in front of one home.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>The festival was another one of those week long events. There was an educational component for local amateur musicians which culminated with them giving a Saturday afternoon concert. Leslie and I did two masterclasses for them the morning after we arrived. Later that afternoon we gave a short duo concert as part of a presentation by historian Jean-Marc Berlière on the roll of the voice in the development of early Jazz. The next day Leslie was on the closing concert with Rhoda Scott. The Kenny Barron trio <a contents="https://kennybarron.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://kennybarron.com">https://kennybarron.com</a> with Peter Washington and Justin Falkner played before them. Jesse Davis (alto sax) also joined them to form a quartet. We were listening to their set from back stage. We have been on a roll lately. Last month we heard George Benson from back stage at Jazz A Vienne. I have been a huge fan of Kenny Barron for a long time. To me his playing is flawless, so listening to his set was a very nice moment. Between his concert and Rhoda’s, we had a chance to chat with him for a minute in the green room. So we spent four beautiful days being chauffeured between our hotel, which was a little bit outside of the village, into town for masterclasses, sound checks and concerts etc. But as France is a civilized country, mostly we were taken to restaurants for lunch and dinner. And what restaurants they were! The food was indigenous to that region and fantastic. On Saturday afternoon we were able to use the swimming pool at our hotel for a short hour. I think this was the first time we’ve actually pulled that off. We always say that we will go for a swim but then we never have the time. That night Rhoda and Leslie’s concert was very well received. The band included Nico Peslier, our guitarist in the Funky Ella band. The combination of B-3 organ, guitar, tenor sax and drums along with Leslie singing music that was steeped in the blues, made them the perfect band to close the festival. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/100d4882fb9309f66abbd849b1f0529170836cdd/original/kenny-barron-trio-peter-washington-justin-falkner-jesse-davis.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><em>Kenny Barron Trio with Peter Washington & Justin Falkner, they were later joined by Jesse Davis, alto sax.</em></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/8e95e6b99a36f2902efa54f58f07e49f917609b8/original/audience-for-kenny-barron-set.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />View of the audience for the Kenny Barron concert.</em></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/0cb9c902edba6b3753de7c2fd12a95ee48808707/original/au-gr-s-rhoda.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/755dda1f997d4dde6bf2f7d60bc9d70802a29f5f/original/au-gr-s-leslie-hand-on-mic-stand.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><em>Rhoda Scott in concert & Leslie with Rhoda.</em></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/82186214feaa4e2d8348f224a812d65aa69bf07d/original/au-gr-s-quartet.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/1ec738da5a85d5dae30904e9029f4015e1f0c350/original/au-gr-s-encore.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Here is the "Rhoda Scott & Friends" quartet doing an instrumental, the second photo is the band taking a bow after the last song of the night.</em></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/c212e8d1123e390ee5a035bf48ed542bae750761/original/leslie-rhoda-green-room.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><em>Leslie and Rhoda share some down time after the concert. </em></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/b7ae868903c20a3e0ffb7d8e0f6b18f5f2fcfd4c/original/leslie-kenny-barron-green-room.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Leslie and Kenny Barron in the green after his concert and before hers.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Our time in La Baule for the Funky Ella concert was much less relaxed. We were there for less than 24 hours. The La Baule Jazz Festival is a three day event. We were the closing concert for the festival. The concert was outdoors in a very nice amphitheatre with seating for 1000 and it was sold out. They had a beautiful Steinway C for me. I guess due to the energy in the venue and the size of the audience, the band was a bit amped when we started the concert so the tempos were a bit faster than what is comfortable for Leslie to sing to but, as she always does, she handled things like the pro that she is. Sometime during the second tune I could feel things settling in and from then on it was cool. We had a very good night and laid the groundwork for some opportunities for next year. When Funky Ella performs there is a lot of drumming going on, not mention the electric guitar and electric bass, so when Leslie (who can hold her own in most any situation) is added, there is a lot of sound. Sometimes when we play I’m reminded of a freight train rolling down the track. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/300a556474bd93f8f07c7bf8c2865db150e3d460/original/la-baule-band-large.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/92dcecff6d44d5466e6484c5b4d25fd4be5f68e4/original/la-baule-band-on-stage-blue-crop.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><em>The Funky Ella band performs at the La Baule Jazz Festival.</em></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/bd8f349a8cf7eb9c5444f1712c88be1af6dab85d/original/la-baule-set-up-piano-keyboardjpg.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />View of the piano/keyboard (Yamaha CP73) before sound check. </em></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/8a98d8c6768d8a9be2ddf1b2c92abe0cb3cfb1c3/original/la-baule-view-from-stage-drums-to-audience-pre-audience.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />View of the drums out to the audience before sound check. </em></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/a5f7112baac8c6cb9df83d3a5c829508d65afb47/original/la-baule-view-from-stage-drums-out-to-audience.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />View of the drums out to the audience before the concert.</em></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/073494bc5d57d187b336f7fe7dddb57d31325f79/original/la-baule-jazz-leslie-audience.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/3535d0aaf36dac056961dfb208cc808fe39ae166/original/la-baule-jazz-leslie-audience-1.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />During the last song of the night Leslie went out into the audience and got them involved which lead to a number of people using the area between the stage and the seats to dance. That was followed by 2 encores.</em></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/244bfd93da28c35ce407267d4b0d7e8f4c7b33a5/original/la-baule-leslie-mic-on-stage.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></em></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/a83026d6ed914b8eb372aef07a86f7282c3c38c8/original/la-baule-gerard-keyboard.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/49d4654c185811add69940123f0b818bee6b26dd/original/la-baule-mourad-jean-philippe.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/62d8d6b2f584db40fc6cefe027b7a88dfe9510e8/original/la-baule-peter-bass.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><em>Leslie, Gerard, Mourad & Jean-Philippe and Peter during the concert.</em></p>
<p>The day after we played in La Baule, Jean-Philippe, Leslie and I had a concert in Gien, France. Compared to the festival in La Baule, that concert was a small event which was held at the Chateau Musée de Gien. Even though the concert was sold out, there was only seating for 50 people, so the energy and everything else was different from the night before in La Baule. We have done maybe a half dozen concerts with Jean-Philippe and it is always great fun because we are totally free to change the direction of the music at any time. Gien is about two hours outside of Paris so we decided not to stay over night there. We drove back after the concert and got home around 1:30 am having spent way too many hours in that van over the course of two days. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/053f77fc03fea3bd9af8277c260940e4a798aacc/original/gien-view-from-above-concert.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><em>Concert in Gien, view from above.</em> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/16645752eca88526b253a8f23f00733a47c9034c/original/gien-stage-before-concert.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><em>View of the stage before the concert.</em> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/aadfea751ac1c525ae49398b80d8b3bbf8f94df6/original/gien-building-use-this-one.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><em>View of the front of the Chateau Musée de Gien.</em></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/0491ada5a653c49120c4e0b9146f882b08cfcc89/original/gien-g-l-performing-1-b-w.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/7cd8822f876924026107c8ab8c03d07706a48aa6/original/gien-leslie-head-down-b-w.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/1daf149863bb990651f1251d6a198fc47af53fab/original/gien-leslie-head-up-b-w.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Leslie & Gerard performing in Gien, FR.</em></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/0d5f8c140bed421958d4fc71af63711b65a1cb7e/original/gien-j-p-performing-b-w.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/8fd1612267b6672f500d09a6eed1f02426c64394/original/gien-j-p-performing-b-w-1.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/e61b97d029875256e04747e962aa79bbd6de7a53/original/gien-gerard-performing-b-w.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/718e5bcbe97e5fd20db10c9596dce0812bfb8d3f/original/gien-gerard-performing-b-w-1.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/8a9e8640dd5720cb24237b8e6aa9979e59ebd250/original/gien-leslie-j-p-performing-b-w.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Jean-Philippe, Leslie & Gerard perform in Gien, FR.</em></p>
<p>Earlier in July we did Jazz A Vienne. That was easily the biggest festival I have ever been a part of. It lasts for several weeks and brings major artists from around the globe. I am always impressed by how the organisers of all of these festivals handle the logistics of getting every performer and the things that they need to the right place at the right time. There are several venues there that feature music. We were at the jardin de Cybéle which was almost filled to capacity when we arrived. So we did our soundcheck in front of the audience. Our early evening concert was so much fun; great sound, great Yamaha C7 piano and a beautiful setting in which to play. These festival concerts have really helped the band to develop an understanding of how each person plays which has in turn helped us to give a more polished performance. The night we played in Vienne, George Benson was the headliner. He is still sounding great. Although there are no burning guitar solos any more, his repertoire (and killing band) was more than enough to satisfy the crowd. We had the opportunity to drop by to say hello after his concert and considering that he really just wanted to chill he was very gracious towards us. Following that concert Leslie went to Nimes to do a concert with Philippe Duchemin’s trio.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/03f47a6b2bcc63b9fafcc8fe2f9e6a05193389ef/original/band-on-stage.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><em>Funky Ella plays Jazz A Vienne.</em></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/133ef17320fb6a9fb7734bfde6a3e9ee529a3148/original/audience-view-jardin-de-cyb-le.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />The audience at Jazz A Vienne was waiting for us when we arrived, they sat through our sound check which thankfully was uneventful.</em></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/d32faa15610bc46ac46ff79e91d5dcfda425ee5f/original/pre-concert-side-view.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Stage at Jazz A Vienne just before our set.</em> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/56e3838c7748b3a725a89a8382db425f0c86ccdc/original/gerard-piano-pre-concert.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><em>Gerard checks out the piano during sound check.</em> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/5b730e4689aaa7459b9eee7d71a2265fd0a9a56a/original/nico-peter-pre-concert.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><em>Peter Giron & Nico Peslier get warmed up for the concert.</em></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/c73fec0f3691b9fc62616c3134b36fd887fb6d66/original/entrance-to-george-benson-concert.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Entrance to the George Benson concert Jazz A Vienne. </em></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/0d6e1125a489f46e5d98f16a3111565f3d5bb5cc/original/george-benson-venue.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Stage Jazz A Vienne.</em> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/9ea2fb5f930e61c81a71b1beaebbc61cad86df56/original/with-george-benson.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><em>With George Benson after the concert, on the right is Jean-Pierre Vignola, concert promoter and owner of the label that released Funky Ella's first recording. He happens to be a good friend of G.B.</em></p>
<p>We finished up July with ten dates at Chez Papa Jazz Club. Leslie was also working at the Hotel Lutetia which made it possible for me to do two nights in piano trio at Chez Papa which was a treat for me. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/a08cc142f5f5abcee2693dce07a708b7e3e2c1d5/original/leslie-last-night-at-chez-papa-july-2022.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><em>This is Leslie after the last set we did at Chez Papa Jazz Club on their closing night for the summer. They will be re-opening at the end of August. This place is like a second home for us. This was the last of ten nights that we did there during July. </em></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/b6ea34e0a21293b489b5933ab945848e660c56f1/original/chez-papa-gerard-trio-3.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />This is Gerard playing in trio at Chez Papa Jazz Club.</em></p>
<p>Since last spring there have been numerous friends who have visited Paris and come to hear us play. I was pleasantly surprised to hear from Susan (Miller) Neuenschwander, who is the sister of Pete Miller, one of my best friends on this plant. I have known this family since I was in second grade. Pete is a bassist, composer/arranger and producer in Dallas. You can learn about him here: <a contents="https://petemillermusic.com/home" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://petemillermusic.com/home">https://petemillermusic.com/home</a> He and I came up together in the school music program and had our first attempts at gigging with garage bands, yes we sometimes rehearsed in his family’s garage. Finally at the age of 18 we had a pretty successful regional band in North Dakota. Many years have passed since those days so being able to catch up with Susan was a very nice moment. Chico Shigeta, one of Leslie’s former students who now lives in Thailand, was back in Paris. She is a business owner, author, mother and wife. Basically she is a one woman tour de force. You can find out more about her at <a contents="https://shigetaparis.com/chico-shigeta/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://shigetaparis.com/chico-shigeta/">https://shigetaparis.com/chico-shigeta/</a>. In July Leslie had a nice chat over drinks with Dominique Toney who is the daughter of our L.A. friends Phyllis (wardrobe designer) & Kevin Toney (pianist). Both have credits too numerous to list and Dominique is on her way as a singer, actor and model. She is currently featured in an advertising on the side of MTA buses all around L.A. When we were living in California Leslie and I spent many years working for Mark Ghoukassian at Bistango and Bayside. He and his father before him, have over the years employed many musicians. He comes to Paris often and always makes time to see us. This time it was a night at Chez Papa Jazz Club. There are many more people who have dropped in and I am sorry that I can’t write about everyone, but please know that we are so thrilled to see you and honoured that you take the time to come and see us.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/542d7adb58e8b6515e77b871d3aa0fc0c37d59b1/original/chez-papa-gerard-susan-leslie.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><em>Susan (Miller) Neuenschwander, Leslie & Gerard at Chez Papa Jazz Club. </em></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/fdd81b9f004d10238ed88240de3a93e36d262555/original/chez-papa-gerard-susan.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Susan and Gerard catching up after many years. </em></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/b19fb61105cc4395d9eda06800279e1fa47a4902/original/gerard-petesmchs-cropped-copy.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Throw back to the 1970's when Gerard & Peter attempted their first gigs! (Note the "wurly" piano & the Fender Precision bass.) The bass is still in the game, the "wurly"... I doubt it.</em></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/9aad230f2ae4e471b101c41acb448662e1c623b5/original/leslie-chico-chez-papa.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><em>Here is Leslie with Chico at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. Chico got up and sang "My Favorite Things" with Gerard.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>This week we are doing a couple of club dates (most notably Aug.19th at Café Laurent) here in town after which we are going to Bordeaux for a few days of downtime with Peter and Nicole Giron. In September we have plans to spend a few days relaxing by the Mediterranean sea in Cassis.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Funky Ella CD can be streamed on any number of platforms but the main ones are: </p>
<p>- Bandcamp: <a contents="https://leslielewisgerardhagen.bandcamp.com/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://leslielewisgerardhagen.bandcamp.com/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you">https://leslielewisgerardhagen.bandcamp.com/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you </a> </p>
<p>- Spotify: <a contents="https://open.spotify.com/album/6gkHqDEBeQSm8akBXBtofv" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/album/6gkHqDEBeQSm8akBXBtofv">https://open.spotify.com/album/6gkHqDEBeQSm8akBXBtofv</a> </p>
<p>- Apple Music: <a contents="https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you/1587307010?uo=4&amp;app=itunes" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you/1587307010?uo=4&app=itunes">https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you/1587307010?uo=4&app=itunes</a> </p>
<p>- Amazon: <a contents="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09H2V1Z3S" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09H2V1Z3S">https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09H2V1Z3S</a> </p>
<p>- Deezer: <a contents="https://www.deezer.com/us/album/26111448" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.deezer.com/us/album/26111448">https://www.deezer.com/us/album/26111448</a> </p>
<p>You can find out more information about our Funky Ella project at: <a contents="www.funkyella.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.funkyella.com">www.funkyella.com</a> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/ab61e12f581b128e7abd847cd1930ab30371f2dd/original/spell-cd-cover.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><em> Cover of "I Put A Spell On You" </em></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/94cab298be8d3e476046d3c6c5af2e292ed083c3/original/leslie-rooftop-gig-copy.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Leslie sings during a rooftop concert in Paris earlier this summer.</em> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/d925cf0b858baba3afa6f791513689f2feeb89a4/original/leslie-garden-use-this-one-copy.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><em>Leslie's garden which has been the source of much joy in our home this summer.</em></p>
<p>Our calendar is available here: <a contents="https://surfcovejazz.com/tour" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://surfcovejazz.com/tour">https://surfcovejazz.com/tour</a> For those of you who are in Paris or if you are planning to be in Paris in August or September, On Aug.19th we are in Paris working as a duo at the Café Laurent. <a contents="https://www.hoteldaubusson.com/cafe-laurent" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.hoteldaubusson.com/cafe-laurent">https://www.hoteldaubusson.com/cafe-laurent</a> . On September 10th & 23rd Leslie will be with Nico Peslier at Bar Josephine in the Hotel Lutetia <a contents="https://www.hotellutetia.com/bar-josephine" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.hotellutetia.com/bar-josephine">https://www.hotellutetia.com/bar-josephine</a> On September 15 Leslie and I are at Chez Papa Jazz Club and on September 16 & 17 we are there with bassist Peter Giron. <a contents="https://papajazzclub-paris.fr" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://papajazzclub-paris.fr">https://papajazzclub-paris.fr</a> On September 21 Leslie and I are back at the Café Laurent. <a contents="https://www.hoteldaubusson.com/cafe-laurent&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.hoteldaubusson.com/cafe-laurent">https://www.hoteldaubusson.com/cafe-laurent </a> There may be a few dates in Aug. still to be added. So now you know where and when to find us. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/03cf5e74603335065e3cebc4ec0965790d830935/original/g-l-caf-laurent-july-2022.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><em>Leslie and Gerard working at Café Laurent in Paris. </em></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/58194058cd8a0aec2fe8967b861fc6c99449ec82/original/g-l-caf-laurent-sitting-july-2022.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Working out a set list between sets.</em></p>
<p>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. <a contents="http://www.surfcovejazz.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com">http://www.surfcovejazz.com</a> 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. <a contents="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/">http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</a> We hope that you are all healthy and looking forward to the summer season. As always thanks for staying in touch with us. </p>
<p>Until next time, Leslie et Gerard </p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/7006901
2022-07-03T22:39:43+02:00
2022-08-16T00:26:26+02:00
"Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen" Bonjour de Paris Juillet 2, 2022
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_xl"><em><strong> Bonjour de Paris ... </strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> <em> “She conducted the band with her ass.”</em> </p>
<p>Chers Amis, </p>
<p> So it was on this day, July 2nd 2012, that Leslie and I arrived in Paris with two suitcases and no clue what awaited us. At that point we weren’t even sure if we would receive the visas that would allow us the rights of residency and work. About two weeks later we received a congratulatory email requesting that we come to the French Consulate in L.A. to have the visas stamped into our passports. During that time I remember lying in bed unable to sleep, no surprise there, and having the nightly 3:00 am panic attacks as I worried if we had made a huge mistake. The night the email I was waiting for arrived it was around 2:00 am. Something told me to get out of bed and check my email. After reading it I was about ten feet off of the ground as if a huge weight had been lifted from me. I woke Leslie up to tell her the good news and to begin making arrangements to fly back to L.A. In those days we were living in a fifth floor walk up studio apt. on Rue des Tournelles in the 4th arrondissement. We were very near Place de la Bastille in a neighbourhood that we really liked. A lot has transpired since that day. We’ve lived in four apartments in Paris, the current one in Saint Germain des Prés since February 2014. Leslie has made a home for us both inside and outside on the terrace. We have travelled for work to four continents, and we have experienced a lot of “firsts” as we made our way in a new land. At this point we are very fortunate to have five places in Paris where we work on a regular basis that are within a ten minute, or less, walk from our home. All of the while we have been side by side, in the beginning for literally several months, and when one of us went crazy (mostly me) the other was able to smooth things out. Working together has required that we have both a professional relationship as well as a personal one. We were fortunate that we were able to agree on how both would play out. It hardly seems possible but now it is ten years later, the time has flown by and we both feel like this was a very good move. Missing our families and friends has been the biggest price that we have paid. (Leslie might add that a CVS store somewhere in Paris wouldn’t hurt.) This newsletter has been a nice way to stay connected with you all. We always appreciate your replies and when you send us updates on your lives. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/008aef916abd43c530a1d935cc5b357f3075bf68/original/apt-1.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />View of our home in Saint Germain des Près.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/65dc446c96cd61af6da3097c3b8e2f64d325234a/original/terrace-bench-table.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/0219554f2f679ac76f81c201d83dc1e549597d4a/original/terrace-flowers-4.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/82d455cf1fa540d4b26b3644a53586e250884eb3/original/terrace-flowers-11.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Leslie's garden on our terrace. </p>
<p>In April we had three wonderful days in Cassis, FR. Our hotel room had a view of the sea and harbor. Everything was very walkable so we explored the town, spent an afternoon at the beach and took a boat cruise out to see some coves and different nearby sights. We had so much fun that we booked a few days there in early September. Our work schedule pretty much takes a summer vacation off the table which is fine because every beach town in that area is very crowded during July and August. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/deeb71bc2330ded41ffbae7e006b017f2c318389/original/cassis-hotel-view.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/5b2180ee3aa70e18fcacbf5ac9a50b0a6d4e943d/original/cassis-beach-view-1.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/f69dcc0c1048f25ab0d9ffefbaa7ded0a8256db3/original/cassis-boat.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />View of the sea from our hotel room, the beach and on the boat in Cassis, FR. </p>
<p>Earlier in June Leslie worked in Dijon and Beaune with Philippe Duchemin as well as in La Garenne-Locombes with Raphaël Lemmonier’s band. On Fête de la Musique (June 21st) we did a duo concert on a terrace with a great view of a park in Courbevoie, FR. Shameless Plug Warning: Our Funky Ella band will be back in Courbevoie at the Cabaret Jazz Club https://www.sortiracourbevoie.fr/detail/1863/leslie-lewis-funky-ella on December 12th. </p>
<p>At the end of June I spent three days just outside of Geneva in Annemasse, France. I was working with vocalist Ursuline Kairson whose credits stretch from Broadway shows in NYC to concerts in Europe and Asia. One of the benefits of being on the road with new people is the that you hear new “musician stories” and I got a great one from Ursuline. So while working in Bangkok she met an American pianist who had a hotel gig with a singer who apparently was able to conduct the band with her ass. I had tears in my eyes from laughter. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/33b85615f0dcb116f603d59085932b56e59e54ef/original/funky-ella-leslie-band-side-view.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/09280f1deabf98a43f4d80edc179cce4ff8322f0/original/funky-ella-pre-concert-empty-stage.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/0fb53149025fa10eeff67f35c31dca8e56d52cdd/original/funky-ella-gerard.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/74d97c4f00afcbbdf5c8c780cc2b90af60902660/original/l-g-chez-papa.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/9baa43b9a9229840100d56a059ae3c54caf59289/original/hotel-room-annemasse.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />The above photos are from the Funky Ella concert at Les 2 Pianos in Paris, Leslie & I at Chez Papa Jazz Club, and a sign painted on the wall in my hotel room in Annemasse FR. </p>
<p>This summer we are excited for the Funky Ella band to be at Jazz A Vienne https://jazzavienne.com/fr/programmation-2022/funky-ella-leslie-lewis following that Leslie will be going to Nimes, FR to work with Philippe Duchemin. During July we will be at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris for seven nights, one of which will be a piano trio. Also in July Leslie is at the Hotel Lutecia and we are working with bassist Peter Giron at Les 2 Pianos. Funky Ella will be at the La Baule Jazz Festival https://labaulejazzfestival.fr. Leslie and I will travel with Jean-Philippe Naeder, our percussionist in Funky Ella, to Gien, FR for a trio concert at Chateau Musée de Gien https://www.facebook.com/chateaumuseedegien/posts/1231480717258724?notif_id=1652175028982525¬if_t=page_tag&ref=notif Later in August Leslie and I will spend four days La Petite Pierre for the Au Grès Du Jazz festival https://www.festival-augresdujazz.com/artiste/conference-musicale-la-voix-dans-le-jazz/. Somewhere in August we are hoping to sneak down to Bordeaux for a few days of downtime with Peter and Nicole Giron. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/99e757a88acdd4bc0599ca6cc6f4ee4f9ada7297/original/jazz-a-vienne-concert.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/3a97a1443f992e83abcf56079942ed622728c374/original/la-baule-jazz-festival.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/c865115c4939fca4424fcdd087d3e2af7cc328d7/original/food-ice-cream-ile-saint-louis-p-n-g-l.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/ecc046922bf4f7d1c0a1dbcb5cb468109af78752/original/food-oh-my-cod.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />The top two photos are Jazz A Vienne and the La Baule Jazz Festival. The bottom two are a summer night at the Ile Saint Louis with our friends Peter & Nicole Giron and the sign you see when you enter The Cod House, our favorite restaurant in Paris where we recently had dinner with Bobby & Sue who are now residing in Paris by way of Dallas. </p>
<p>The Funky Ella CD can be streamed on any number of platforms but the main ones are: </p>
<p>- Bandcamp: https://leslielewisgerardhagen.bandcamp.com/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you </p>
<p>- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/6gkHqDEBeQSm8akBXBtofv </p>
<p>- Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you/1587307010?uo=4&app=itunes </p>
<p>- Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09H2V1Z3S </p>
<p>- Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/us/album/26111448 </p>
<p>You can find out more information about our Funky Ella project at: www.funkyella.com </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/ab61e12f581b128e7abd847cd1930ab30371f2dd/original/spell-cd-cover.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Cover of "I Put A Spell On You". </p>
<p>Our calendar is available here: https://surfcovejazz.com/tour For those of you who are in Paris or if you are planning to be in Paris, on July 6th Leslie and I are with Peter Giron at Les 2 Pianos http://www.les2pianos.com. On July 8th Leslie will be with Nico Peslier at Bar Josephine in the Hotel Lutetia https://www.hotellutetia.com/bar-josephine and I will be at Chez Papa Jazz Club in piano trio. The following night (July 9) Leslie and I are at Chez Papa with percussionist Jean-Philippe Naeder. https://papajazzclub-paris.fr On July 11th the Funky Ella band is appearing at Jazz A Vienne https://jazzavienne.com/fr/programmation-2022/funky-ella-leslie-lewis On July 21st Leslie is working with Philippe Duchemin in Nimes, FR. On July 22 - 23rd we are back at Chez Papa Jazz Club with bassist Bruno Rousselet and we are also there on July 28, 29 & 30 with Peter Giron. https://papajazzclub-paris.fr On August 5th Funky Ella will be at the La Baule Jazz Festival in La Baule, FR http://labaulejazzfestival.fr/3-soirees-magiques-au-parc-des-dryades/ the following day (Aug. 6) Leslie and I will be with Jean Philippe Naeder in Gien, FR. https://www.facebook.com/chateaumuseedegien/posts/1231480717258724?notif_id=1652175028982525¬if_t=page_tag&ref=notif On August 11-14 Leslie and I will be at Au Grès du Jazz in La Petite Pierre, FR https://www.festival-augresdujazz.com/artiste/conference-musicale-la-voix-dans-le-jazz/ On Aug.19th we are back in Paris working as a duo at the Café Laurent. https://www.hoteldaubusson.com/cafe-laurent There are a few dates in Aug. still to be added. So now you know where and when to find us. </p>
<p>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/ We hope that you are all healthy and looking forward to the summer season. As always thanks for staying in touch with us. </p>
<p>Until next time, Leslie et Gerard</p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/7006838
2022-07-03T19:07:36+02:00
2022-07-03T19:07:36+02:00
"Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen" Bonjour de Paris Avril 9, 2022
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_xl"><em><strong>Bonjour de Paris ...</strong></em></span> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> “I have never been nervous walking in Paris late at night.” </p>
<p>Chers Amis, </p>
<p>Last week I was confronted with a health issue which required an out-patient surgery at the American Hospital here in Paris. We had very little time to prepare and I was required to have a covid PCR test that was negative. It was quite the challenge to find a lab to do the test and produce the results in that short of a turn around. It was a very busy lab. They must have done 15 tests in the thirty minutes that we spent there waiting to get tested. The lab didn’t make the results available the next morning as they promised so Leslie was calling them from the hospital to ask that they text the results (which fortunately were negative). I received them while I was in the admitting office. How’s that for cutting it close? Beyond that, things went very well. The day of the procedure I taught my classes after which Leslie accompanied me to the hospital. When we returned home later in the evening I was still a little out of sorts due to lingering effects of the anesthesia. The time spent in the hospital was only about three hours. The care was first rate as was the facility. The next day was a Friday, I was able to teach that afternoon and I played my gigs during the weekend. </p>
<p>Our Parisian neighborhood suffered the shock of urban violence for the first time since we have lived here. A man was shot to death after eating a late night dinner at a popular restaurant around the corner from our apartment. The victim was Federico Martin Aramburu, a retired rugby star from Argentina. For people that find themselves hungry at 2:00 am, this restaurant is a good option because the kitchen stays open late and the food is good. Leslie and I have eaten there maybe three times in the last six months. Regarding crime, I have never been nervous walking in Paris late at night. I still am not nervous, but it is important to remember that it is an international city with all that that entails both good and bad. </p>
<p>Beyond that things here are pretty uneventful. We are pretty much home bodies when we aren’t working. There are seven weeks left in this school year. It went by very quickly. With a few exceptions, my students are doing very well. They should be ready for the courses they will encounter next year and more importantly, they are better prepared to enter the choppy waters of being a working musician when their time comes. </p>
<p>Leslie has been slowly transforming our home for the past year or so. Until recently it didn’t dawn on me what was happening. I realize now that she made a plan and has been slowly, and I mean slowly, implementing it. Being one that is less aware of my immediate surroundings than most, it just dawned on me what was happening. So for a quick recap, Leslie got our landlord to remodel the kitchen and update the bathroom last summer/fall. She also got some painting done. Since then it’s been a new sofa, lamp and side table. There is also some new artwork on our walls. A new rug and chair for the living-room will be added in the future. I don’t want to give the wrong impression. There is nothing devious going on here. We discussed everything before any changes were made, it’s just that the new items have been added over such a long period of time that I just saw them as individual events and not part of a larger plan. Interior design is one of Leslie’s favorite things, fortunately she is even more budget conscious than I am so there are no complaints from me. Plus the new sofa is way more comfortable than the previous one! There will be photos once she has finished, but don’t hold your breath because she never really finishes! </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/cecaaa6d69a47321e92d1972dfa40e5a1ac52671/original/leslie-sofa-grande.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Leslie and I were walking home one night when we came across these decorations for "Design Week" in Paris. The street is rue de Fürstenberg. It is about a 5 minute walk from our home. Rue de Fürstenberg leads to Place de Fürstenberg which is where the large sofa that Leslie sat on was placed. Place de Fürstenberg was also where the last scene of "The Age of Innocence" was filmed. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/0a774f2f7d279423bb3c8853902ff30d6d6399c9/original/rue-de-f-rstenberg.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/40ca1b2ec72db26d0019777bcd6ce111180ffd41/original/place-de-f-rstenberg-sofa.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>We have planned our first non-work related trip in a long time. In May we are going to spend a few days in Cassis, a village on the Mediterranean coast. For reference it is near Marseille. A few days by the sea is always a welcome opportunity for us to slow down a bit. </p>
<p>We are booking into 2023. In December the Funky Ella band will be at the Cabaret Jazz Club in Courbevoire. I’ll make that info available once they get it up on their website. I am happy to announce that Funky Ella is going to appear this July at the Jazz A Vienne festival. With three stages and concerts spread over several weeks, this is one of the biggest jazz festivals in France. Herbie Hancock and George Benson are both booked to play this year. More info on that as it becomes available. In August Funky Ella will travel back to La Baule to headline at the La Baule Jazz Festival. This is the result of having had a very successful concert there last November. Next Leslie and I will perform with Jean-Philippe Naeder, the percussionist in Funky Ella, at the Châteaux de Gien in Gien, France. We had a great concert in Paris working as a trio with Jean-Philippe last month so we are really looking forward to this one. There will be some more touring this summer which I will write about later. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/ab5e5383d3f713dbd56d0292f3e2fb6ac0746458/original/jazz-a-vienne-poster.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />This is the 2022 poster for Jazz A Vienne. </p>
<p>A few weeks ago Leslie and I went to Marly le Roi with guitarist Nico Peslier, also from the Funky Ella band, to work at Le Gramophone which is a restaurant which features concerts on Saturday evenings. Marly le Roi is near Versailles. It is easy to get there from Paris but it is far enough away that it feels like a small village. The room has a Bose sound system and a decent Yamaha piano not to mention an audience who are used to coming to eat dinner and listen quietly to the concert. We had everything we needed in order to have a great time there. We are looking forward to going back soon </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/5d8688eea7ff309e499c7931bbf5190a2e91d09b/original/la-gramophoneleslie-nico-gerard.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Gerard, Nico Peslier and Leslie before the Gramophone concert. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/57a6ad401e24a101d75991a518e1ef0762bae416/original/la-gramophone.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/b1e50fd71790282014ef7e22656528f72a510dfe/original/la-gramophone-1.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/edfc77a4060940b719ae80a147d6f5c71537ff35/original/la-gramophone-interior.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/47214df9c43e86fa6a889af145fede02ee87e86f/original/la-gramophone-2.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />These photos are from Marly le Roi. La Gramophone is part of Le Parc Hotel. La Gramophone is an intimate venue with a very attentive audience. </p>
<p>The Funky Ella CD can be streamed on any number of platforms but the main ones are: </p>
<p>- Bandcamp: https://leslielewisgerardhagen.bandcamp.com/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you </p>
<p>- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/6gkHqDEBeQSm8akBXBtofv </p>
<p>- Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you/1587307010?uo=4&app=itunes </p>
<p>- Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09H2V1Z3S </p>
<p>- Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/us/album/26111448 </p>
<p>You can find out more information about our Funky Ella project at: www.funkyella.com </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/ab61e12f581b128e7abd847cd1930ab30371f2dd/original/spell-cd-cover.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Cover of "I Put A Spell On You". </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/db82d0feab087a6127858c09fc326a2b857f40bc/original/leslie-red-dress-cafe-laurent.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Leslie relaxing after our duo concert at Café Laurent last week. </p>
<p>Our calendar is available here: https://surfcovejazz.com/tour For those of you who are in Paris or if you are planning to be in Paris, on April 14th Leslie and I are in duo at Chez Papa Jazz Club and on April 15th & 16th we are there with bassist Peter Giron. https://papajazzclub-paris.fr On April 20th the Funky Ella band is appearing at a new venue in Paris called Les 2 Pianos. http://www.les2pianos.com On April 29th Leslie is working with Nico Peslier at Bar Josephine in the Hotel Lutetia https://www.hotellutetia.com/bar-josephine. On May 11th we are in duo at the Café Laurent https://www.hoteldaubusson.com/cafe-laurent and we are back at Chez Papa Jazz Club on May 12, 13 & 14. https://papajazzclub-paris.fr So if you are looking for some music in Paris you know where to find us. </p>
<p>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 also appears on our website where you may also comment. http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/ We hope that you are all healthy, safe and looking forward to better times ahead. As always thanks for staying in touch with us. </p>
<p>Until next time, Leslie et Gerard</p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6910079
2022-03-01T04:19:51+01:00
2022-03-01T04:19:51+01:00
"Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen" Bonjour de Paris Fév. 20, 2022
<p style="text-align: center;"> <span class="font_xl"><em><strong> Bonjour de Paris ...</strong></em></span> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> <em>“We were home well before daybreak” </em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Chers Amis, </p>
<p>We have been very fortunate to end 2021 and begin 2022 with a lot of great music. Leslie and I worked with Bruno Rousselet at Chez Papa Jazz Club for the New Years celebration. It was quiet this year (we were home well before daybreak) but still enjoyable. In fact maybe even more enjoyable. Recently Leslie has been working with Nico Peslier at the beautiful Hotel Lutetia and in fact she was there on January 1st. Chez Papa decided at the last minute to open that night and even though it was a holiday, it was a Saturday and people were interested in coming out. I ended up doing the gig with a piano trio. It was so great to be able to play in that format again. I just don’t have the time to pursue those gigs so when the opportunity arises it’s always great fun. Speaking of fun, during one week in January, Peter and I accompanied Michele Hendricks (Jon Hendricks daughter) for a masterclass at IMEP College, the Funky Ella band played at Cercle Suédois and Leslie and I did three nights at Chez Papa. Then, based on our two nights in October, Sunside Jazz Club asked the Funky Ella band to replace Eddie Henderson’s band (who cancelled due to Covid) on the first Saturday in February. It was a last minute booking so we were unable to get everyone from our regular band. As it turned out we needed a bassist, drummer and guitarist. It is a long story but because of Covid we didn’t get a drummer booked until two hours before the sound check. We were fortunate to get Philippe Soirat to play drums and Bruno Rousselet to play bass. Both of them did a great job playing new arrangements of music they had never seen before. Rather than booking a guitarist we decided to take this opportunity to hire violinist Luis Mascaro to come to Paris from his new home in Rotterdam to play with us. Some of you will remember hearing him with us a few times in Laguna Beach. Luis is a wonderful musician who we love working with and he did not disappoint. For me it was a lot of fun to hear my arrangements played by these guys who were playing the show for the first time (with no rehearsals). Leslie and I were a little worried that because we had done two nights at Sunside at the end of October it would be difficult to get people to come out again so soon. Normally we wouldn’t book another date there until summer at the earliest, but we managed to have another sold out show. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/88301f5a450e57dc6b3c4646fbd7ea12dc5b2837/original/nye-the-girls-2022.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> Leslie with Marie & Marie Laure, the serving team at Jazz Club Chez Papa, on New Year's Eve. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/497bebef1b016887fac0f4b95d2079d90d19a355/original/nye-the-band-2022.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> The band, Bruno Rousselet, Leslie & Gerard also on New Year's Eve.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/46f4c1e296e1c4a3908c454bef201d3877d50962/original/la-baule-pre-show.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> A Funky Ella band selfie before a show</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/bfc45f54c35ac3d3c74a4578a24be7a47e1f70f6/original/in-the-van.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> Funky Ella on the road in the van.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/4906d43efc243269ae6c9da8c0ddeb4234559901/original/cercle-seudois-set-up.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> A Funky Ella Band pre-concert set up at Cercle Suédois in Paris. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/9ab7e44a4d9e550b5018339723f669e400f3e264/original/sunside-sextet-after-the-show.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> The Funky Ella band (with subs) after our last Sunside Jazz Club concert. From L-R is Luis Mascaro, <br> Gerard, Bruno Rousselet (bass), Leslie, Philippe Soirat (drums) & Jean-Philippe Naeder (percussion). </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/7902a1ce3209ca58b75d813a32316ebed91e857c/original/leslie-sunside-pre-show.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> Leslie waiting in the bar before the Funky Ella band show at Sunside Jazz Club.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/ec85ae4ca06caf81bd0ab1ae713a1d83693d1c44/original/sunside-crowd-to-stage.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> The audience at Sunside Jazz Club. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/e18a71dd0161c7ee85c35e74332070ca739e2b82/original/sunside-across-stage-from-percussion.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> This photo is a pre-concert stage shot at Sunside Jazz Club. </p>
<p>Things in Paris are more or less back to what the new normal will be. Clubs, concert venues, theatres and the like are open to capacity. We’re still wearing masks when we use public transportation, go shopping and in general when we’re inside any public space. There are still groups of people here who won’t get vaccinated but it is becoming more and more difficult to function here without having a pass sanitaire. Our regular work here in Paris has come back and there are even a couple of new venues that we are in discussions with to book the Funky Ella band. I am happy to say that we have Funky Ella concerts booked into 2023. The summer concert season is going to be a nice combination of band dates and trio dates. Playing in Funky Ella has opened up some opportunities to work with individual band members on other projects including some trio dates with percussionist Jean-Philippe Naeder and also with guitarist Nico Peslier. We are so used to working in a duo or in a trio with a bassist that it is always a nice experience to hear our music with the sonorities of percussion or guitar. </p>
<p>For the next two weeks the school is on a trimestre break and not a moment too soon. We have work in town so we are staying in Paris but we plan on having a few days without anything on the schedule. The school ensembles, including my ensemble, are performing their second trimestre concert at Sunside Jazz Club on March 13th. <a contents="https://www.sunset-sunside.com/2022/3/artiste/4015/8172/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.sunset-sunside.com/2022/3/artiste/4015/8172/">https://www.sunset-sunside.com/2022/3/artiste/4015/8172/</a> My ensemble was added mid-trimestre so we are behind a bit compared to the other groups. My guys took it upon themselves to add four additional rehearsals (most of which take place during the school break) in order to be prepared for the concert. I am very proud of them for doing that, but it means that I’m going to end up at the school during the break at least a few times. </p>
<p>On Tuesday Feb. 22nd Leslie is performing a concert after the screening of “Fighting For Respect: African American Soldiers in WW1”. The screening is sponsored by Columbia University Global Center in Paris. Joanne and David Burke, our American film maker friends here in town, were involved with the project. Leslie will be singing with Vincent Bourgeyx (piano) and Darryl Hall (bass). <a contents="https://globalcenters.columbia.edu/events/fighting-respect-african-american-soldiers-wwi" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://globalcenters.columbia.edu/events/fighting-respect-african-american-soldiers-wwi">https://globalcenters.columbia.edu/events/fighting-respect-african-american-soldiers-wwi</a> </p>
<p>Last week Leslie was able to spend some time with Nancy Heffernan, Leslie’s very good friend from her days at Opryland in Nashville. We have seen Nancy a few times over the years when her tours have taken her to California and to Europe. This time she and her husband Sean made the trip from Chicago to Europe for pleasure. They came to hear us at Chez Papa and a couple of days later we sat down to a great dinner at Le Coupe Chou in the Latin Quarter <a contents="https://www.lecoupechou.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.lecoupechou.com">https://www.lecoupechou.com</a>. It doesn’t matter how much time goes by between visits, Leslie and Nancy pick right up as if no time had passed at all. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/653c4a83f229919d92e589f684f9d9e19c72cfc2/original/nancy-sean-leslie-chez-papa-crop.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> Leslie w/ Nancy & Sean Heffernan. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/771682a727cca8fd4317277d26e2591e4945bbec/original/peter-l-g-chez-papa.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> This photo is the trio with Peter Giron (bass) Leslie & Gerard at Jazz Club Chez Papa.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/30b6021409b557cb279a22af40cd3d725af916d9/original/nancy-leslie-le-coupe-chou.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> Leslie & Nancy at Le Coupe Chou.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/033ed45d765344e3470ece71abb492732c3fa078/original/nancy-gerard-le-coupe-chou.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> Gerard & Nancy at Le Coupe Chou.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/bd132a4143d92f8a4de58ba3dd16a9876e1eca5f/original/nancy-sean-g-l-huchette.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> Nancy, Sean, Gerard & Leslie outside Le Caveau de la Huchette Jazz Club in Paris. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Funky Ella CD can be streamed on any number of platforms but the main ones are: </p>
<p>- Bandcamp: <a contents="https://leslielewisgerardhagen.bandcamp.com/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://leslielewisgerardhagen.bandcamp.com/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you">https://leslielewisgerardhagen.bandcamp.com/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you</a> </p>
<p>- Spotify: <a contents="https://open.spotify.com/album/6gkHqDEBeQSm8akBXBtofv" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/album/6gkHqDEBeQSm8akBXBtofv">https://open.spotify.com/album/6gkHqDEBeQSm8akBXBtofv</a> </p>
<p>- Apple Music: <a contents="https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you/1587307010?uo=4&amp;app=itunes" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you/1587307010?uo=4&app=itunes">https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you/1587307010?uo=4&app=itunes</a> </p>
<p>- Amazon: <a contents="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09H2V1Z3S" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09H2V1Z3S">https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09H2V1Z3S</a> </p>
<p>- Deezer: <a contents="https://www.deezer.com/us/album/26111448" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.deezer.com/us/album/26111448">https://www.deezer.com/us/album/26111448</a> </p>
<p>You can find out more information about our Funky Ella project at: <a contents="www.funkyella.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.funkyella.com">www.funkyella.com</a> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/ab61e12f581b128e7abd847cd1930ab30371f2dd/original/spell-cd-cover.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> Cover of "I Put A Spell On You". </p>
<p>For those of you in Paris, next week Tuesday Leslie is playing after the screening of “Fighting For Respect: African American Soldiers in WW1” and she is working with Nico Peslier at Bar Josephine in the Hotel Lutetia on Feb. 26 <a contents="https://www.hotellutetia.com/bar-josephine" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.hotellutetia.com/bar-josephine">https://www.hotellutetia.com/bar-josephine</a>. On March 3rd we are working in Duo at Chez Papa Jazz Club and on March 4th & 5th we are there with bassist Peter Giron. <a contents="https://papajazzclub-paris.fr" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://papajazzclub-paris.fr">https://papajazzclub-paris.fr</a> So if you are looking for some music in Paris you know where to find us. </p>
<p>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. <a contents="http://www.surfcovejazz.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com">http://www.surfcovejazz.com</a> If you have any comments feel free to contact me, I enjoy hearing from you. This email also appears on our website where you may also comment. <a contents="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/">http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</a> We hope that you are all healthy, safe and looking forward to better times ahead. As always thanks for staying in touch with us. </p>
<p>Until next time, Leslie et Gerard</p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6848512
2021-12-22T22:33:07+01:00
2021-12-23T14:56:24+01:00
"Leslie Lewis and Gérard Hagen" Joyeux Noël de Paris décembre 22, 2021
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><span class="font_large"><em><strong>Joyeux Noël de Paris</strong></em></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><em><strong>Bonnes Fêtes</strong></em></span> </p>
<p><span style="color:#339900;">Chers Amis, </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#339900;">As we close in on Christmas later this week Leslie and I are enjoying some free time away from performing. So Leslie is devoting some time searching for new material for her repertoire. Next week we are working four nights in a row so a little down time is a welcome thing. We have managed to make Christmas pretty stress free by eliminating things that don’t really add to our lives. We did get the booster shot a while ago but for the most part, Delta and now Omicron have made staying home the best option. We did go to see the re-make of West Side Story. The theatre was not large but the audience was pretty meager so we were all socially distant from one another. We were happy that we went (Leslie has the original movie pretty much memorized) and it was fun to discuss our reactions to the film over a late night dinner at “Les Éditeurs” where one can eat at a secluded table later in the evening since they keep the kitchen open till 1:00 am. https://www.lesediteurs.fr An added bonus is that the theatre and restaurant are only about a 10 minute walk from our apartment. </span></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/96a778d179b99ff13101d1ae02121d7eaf24ffbc/original/les-editeurs-across-street.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><span style="color:#339900;">Les Éditeurs Café in Odeon, Paris. </span></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/c191f2f6554cf8e0688af3ab7262dae0afe2456b/original/les-editeurs-inside.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><span style="color:#339900;">The cozy interior of Les Éditeurs Café. </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#339900;">Last month the Funky Ella band travelled to La Baule to play a concert. We threw our equipment and luggage in a van and hit the road at the crack of noon. Around 1:00 pm the youthful nostalgia I had towards touring in a van was long gone. By 4:30 pm we had finished the load-in and were doing the sound check. After a short nap at the hotel we had dinner and headed to the venue where we shared the bill with a local jazz quartet. There were some issues with the sound but we managed to have a very good concert which was followed by dessert and champagne. We are booking into next year with this band and this summer will bring some exciting opportunities for us to get out and tour. More on that in the future. Next week we are in duo at Café Laurent https://www.hoteldaubusson.com/cafe-laurent on Tuesday night (12/28) and we are working with bassist Peter Giron on Wednesday thru Friday night (12/29-31) at Chez Papa Jazz Club. https://papajazzclub-paris.fr So if you are looking for some music in Paris you know where to find us. </span></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/3d9dc697db531b6c8ab68c819aa6f72a2dd69b26/original/leslie-gerard-w-pascal-sandrine.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><span style="color:#339900;">Pascal and Sandrine came to our concert in La Baule. We met them on our first trip there back in 2012. </span></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/f339d723a4d5ad264668322f4166cadd637463f0/original/band-at-dinner-la-baule.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><span style="color:#339900;">Pre-concert dinner with the "Funky Ella" band. On the right is Franck who produced the concert. Leslie is taking the photo. </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#339900;">We are planning a quiet (covid dictated) Christmas for just the two of us and we hope that whatever your plans are, you will all enjoy a very Merry Christmas. We send our best wishes for a healthy New Year and we hope that in time, we will be able to live with some normalcy. We hope that you know how very grateful we are for your friendship and support of our music, and that wherever you live in the world you have remained interested in what we are working to create. </span></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/29ef24e1d3841a1438403ad582bed27718046cf2/original/christmas-tree-3.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><span style="color:#339900;">Leslie's Christmas tree 2021. </span></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/7c98dbf802730118e573d09afab7449054744f5f/original/christmas-tree-4.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><span style="color:#339900;">Another photo of Leslie's 2021 masterpiece. </span></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/4ae6aa1c2391792ac080f829b68f07b06c11718e/original/street-balloons.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><span style="color:#339900;">We found this holiday decoration round the corner from our home. It's a ceiling of balloons stretching the length of a city block. Ya gotta love Paris! </span></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/744a79125d2d3993195d6970cca46510aa60f4e6/original/leslie-joan.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><span style="color:#339900;">We enjoyed a great Thanksgiving meal in the home of our dear friend and fellow singer Joan Minor. She and her husband Paul are incredible hosts. It was also a chance to celebrate Leslie's birthday. </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#339900;">Leslie and I have much to be thankful for. We pray that those who are experiencing the pain of having lost a loved one are blessed with family and many friends who can help to heal those wounds. For the rest of us, let’s all raise a glass in gratitude that we are able to have another Christmas and see the hopeful dawning of another New Year. </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ff0000;">Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ff0000;">Joyeux Noël et une Bonne Année, </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ff0000;">Feliz Navidad y un Feliz Año Nuevo, </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ff0000;">Buon Natale e un Felice Anno Nuovo, </span></p>
<p><em><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong> Leslie and Gerard </strong> </span></em></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="color:#339900;">Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at </span><gerard><span style="color:#339900;">. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/ </span></gerard></p>
<p><span style="color:#339900;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/30c03b91e280ed5e8653fee690690265a13a0bcd/original/christmas-tree-2.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> Here is a shot of Leslie enjoying the fruits of her labor. </span><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Note her feet resting on the couch.)</span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6848496
2021-12-22T02:58:59+01:00
2022-03-01T04:20:49+01:00
"Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen" Bonjour de Paris Nov. 17, 2021
<p style="text-align: center;"> <em><span class="font_large"><strong>Bonjour de Paris ... </strong></span></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> “Crazy Huh?” </p>
<p>Chers Amis, </p>
<p>Things have been incredibly busy here. Paris is essentially back, (for now). The streets are busy, as are the stores, restaurants, clubs and theatres. People are traveling again and in general things feel better now. There are some isolated areas in France that are still dealing with higher cases of Covid and the government is urging older people and those with special health conditions to get the booster vaccination. Germany is seeing a rise in cases and the U.K. has been a mess pretty much through out this whole ordeal. One never knows what is coming next therefore I qualified my above statement that “Paris is back”. </p>
<p>For those of you who haven’t been in Paris for a few years, you might be surprised by the number of bike lanes that have taken over the streets here. There has been a vigorous push to make Paris even less vehicle friendly than it already was while simultaneously training people to use bikes and scooters to get around the city. The result is that you have to be very cautious as you make your way about the city on foot because there are way more bikers who don’t follow any rules of the road. Some of you will remember the “Whaky Races” cartoon from our childhood. Some parts of Paris resemble that cartoon. </p>
<p>We have seen more and more friends and acquaintances from America visiting us at our gigs. Our concerts are full, not just ours but many clubs and restaurants are doing very well. The weekends at Chez Papa Jazz Club, one of the clubs we play monthly, are booked solid until the end of the year. One story that needs to be told concerns Bobby Chitwood and Sue Hilton our friends from Dallas. They had just been in France and we of course got together for dinner and got caught up. So a few weeks later we were doing two nights at Sunside Jazz Club to debut the new band and recording. On our second night I walk on the bandstand to begin our first set, the room is sold out and it is a very intimate space, meaning that the audience in the front row are at best 3 or 4 feet away. I sit at the piano and look out over the room and in the second row I see Bobby & Sue who had flown in that afternoon to surprise us. I tried to get over to embrace them but I couldn’t get that close. When Leslie walked up on the stage I warned her that they were in the audience because I was concerned that seeing them just as she was about to launch into the first tune would take her out of the “performance mode” she gets in before a show. It was such a great surprise and we were so overwhelmed that they would do something like that for us. We were able to go out for a late night dinner after the concert and had a great evening, well actually early morning, with them. They stayed one more day and then flew back home. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/5438addfbf1ffc926d2a67ba87d285b237ae185f/original/bobby-sue-paris.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Bobby Chitwood & Sue Hilton in Paris. </p>
<p>Our big news is the Paris debut of our “Funky Ella” project. We did two sold out nights at Sunside Jazz Club on a Tuesday and Wednesday in late October. It was such a blast! From the very first tune, the band was feeding off of the energy in the room and in turn generating even more energy as the night progressed. Although from my perspective it was pretty loud, you would never know it from the audience response. The room was electric and so the volume seemed to be in keeping with the moment. The inclusion of a percussionist adds a whole new visual, as well as sonic, element. Leslie knew that this would be a whole new experience for people who have been to hear us in past. So she changed her appearance in her choice of clothing but also she changed the way the sets were paced in order to showcase the energy and visual elements of our new band. Funky Ella has concerts booked into August and we are getting emails from promoters who are interested in booking the band into the 2022-2023 season. So we are off to a good start. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/964ebdd6fbb81c661dc67518db57896d7ba9e937/original/stage-drum-side.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />With help from the crew at Sunside Jazz Club we managed to fit a six piece band on a stage that is designed for a quartet. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/f848220ac1729d2bdfa680fefe2fa01f28e279d5/original/band-side-view.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />The "Funky Ella" band debuts in Paris to a sold out audience. </p>
<p><a contents="https://youtu.be/MNdujNaZ7uc" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://youtu.be/MNdujNaZ7uc">https://youtu.be/MNdujNaZ7uc</a></p>
<p>Here is a short video from our first night at Sunside Jazz Club. </p>
<p><a contents="https://youtu.be/5Uh1AhusaCE" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://youtu.be/5Uh1AhusaCE">https://youtu.be/5Uh1AhusaCE</a></p>
<p>Another short video from our first night at Sunside Jazz Club. </p>
<p>The CD rollout continues with a push for print reviews and for streaming platforms. So far the recording can be streamed on any number of platforms but the main ones are: </p>
<p>- Bandcamp: <a contents="https://leslielewisgerardhagen.bandcamp.com/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://leslielewisgerardhagen.bandcamp.com/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you">https://leslielewisgerardhagen.bandcamp.com/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you </a></p>
<p>- Spotify: <a contents="https://open.spotify.com/album/6gkHqDEBeQSm8akBXBtofv" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/album/6gkHqDEBeQSm8akBXBtofv">https://open.spotify.com/album/6gkHqDEBeQSm8akBXBtofv</a> </p>
<p>- Apple Music: <a contents="https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you/1587307010?uo=4&amp;app=itunes" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you/1587307010?uo=4&app=itunes">https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you/1587307010?uo=4&app=itunes</a> </p>
<p>- Amazon: h<a contents="ttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09H2V1Z3S" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="ttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09H2V1Z3S">ttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09H2V1Z3S</a> </p>
<p>- Deezer: <a contents="https://www.deezer.com/us/album/261114482" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.deezer.com/us/album/261114482">https://www.deezer.com/us/album/261114482</a> </p>
<p>Radio FIP played "Come Together” (after the Kurt Elling track-so you have to fast forward) during the ClubJazzAFIP:<a contents="https://www.fip.fr/emissions/club-jazzafip/club-jazzafip-du-vendredi-24-septembre-2021" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.fip.fr/emissions/club-jazzafip/club-jazzafip-du-vendredi-24-septembre-2021">https://www.fip.fr/emissions/club-jazzafip/club-jazzafip-du-vendredi-24-septembre-2021</a> This is cool because radio FIP is a national broadcast that is well regarded. </p>
<p>The magazine Jazz Hot, wrote a review. (Sorry you will have to use Google translate if you are even interested, I just wanted you to know what was going on here) "I Put A Spell On You"<a contents=":https://www.jazzhot.net/PBCPPlayer.asp?ID=2213579#FunkyElla&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href=":https://www.jazzhot.net/PBCPPlayer.asp?ID=2213579#FunkyElla">:https://www.jazzhot.net/PBCPPlayer.asp?ID=2213579#FunkyElla </a></p>
<p>CD’s are available for pre-order at FNAC in France: <a contents="https://secure.fnac.com/SearchResult/ResultList.aspx?SCat=0%211&amp;Search=leslie+lewis+funky+ella&amp;sft=1&amp;sa=0" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://secure.fnac.com/SearchResult/ResultList.aspx?SCat=0%211&Search=leslie+lewis+funky+ella&sft=1&sa=0">https://secure.fnac.com/SearchResult/ResultList.aspx?SCat=0%211&Search=leslie+lewis+funky+ella&sft=1&sa=0</a> </p>
<p>You can find out more information about our Funky Ella project at: <a contents="www.funkyella.com&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.funkyella.com">www.funkyella.com </a></p>
<p> <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/ab61e12f581b128e7abd847cd1930ab30371f2dd/original/spell-cd-cover.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> Cover of "I Put A Spell On You". </p>
<p>A few weeks ago I bought a Yamaha CP73 stage piano, without going into all of the details why I chose this particular model, I’ll just say that it ticked most of the boxes. I have never been interested in using a keyboard as a stand alone instrument, I have always owned one to use in those instances where a decent piano wasn’t available. However with the CP73 I did find a number of the sounds to be pretty engaging. Enough so that I began to include some of them into the new arrangements that I wrote over the past few months. Now that we are starting to book the Funky Ella band on some dates around France, I’m realizing that I am going to have to have that keyboard at those concerts. So now I have given myself a whole new set of logistical problems. I’m wondering if we are going to end up touring in a van like the old days when I was 19 years old. Back then it was a Dodge maxi-van. Later this month some of us will be hopping in a van, and others will take the train to head to La Baule for the next “Funky Ella” concert. It looks like we are going to have to figure out the planes, trains and vans thing very soon. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/2af1628d6998830bddbdb397cdb91e68d90c2148/original/peter-n.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Bassist and New York Yankee fan, Peter Giron. </p>
<p>Speaking of touring, Leslie and I were set to play two concerts in Minsk, Belarus in early December. We were a little concerned because of the political unrest there but we had been before and besides a few crazy things that mainly provided some good stories, we got there and back home just fine. But over the last few months things have gotten more militant and there is a very different political situation from the last time we went in 2019. Belarus has become even more isolated from the E.U. The promoters had to book us on Turkish Airways and route us through Istanbul because no E.U. based airlines are able to fly into Belarus. So before going to our appointment with the visa section of the Belarus Embassy in Paris, I decided to check to see if the U.S. State Dept. had a travel advisory for Belarus. There are four levels of travel advisories that range from “exercise normal caution” to “do not go”. Belarus was level 4 “Do Not Go”. So we canceled our appointment and the concerts and we are staying in Paris. We did cover the expenses that the promoter incurred and figured that we had burned that bridge. A couple of days ago they contacted us to see if we would come in April! Crazy huh? </p>
<p>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 blast to learn where you can hear us. http://www.surfcovejazz.com We hope that you are all healthy, safe and looking forward to better times ahead. As always thanks for staying in touch with us. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Until next time, Leslie et Gerard</p>
<p> </p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6753887
2021-09-22T14:22:28+02:00
2021-12-22T02:37:29+01:00
"Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen" Bonjour de Paris Sept. 22, 2021
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><span class="font_xl"> Bonjour de Paris ...</span></strong></em><em><strong><span class="font_xl"> </span></strong></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><em> “Godspeed my friend”</em></strong> </p>
<p><em>Chers Amis, </em></p>
<p><em>The Jazz world is full of many, many bright lights. Some make the music and some support the artists who make the music. The value of music is the degree in which it communicates in ways that spoken words cannot. That magic is what creates the light, illuminating a pathway or offering some badly needed clarity for those who are aware enough to hear. The passing of Chick Corea saddened us all as we watched the vibrant light that he created go out way too soon. For Leslie and me there was another bright light in our lives that dimmed with the passing of our dear friend Mike Penn. I have known the Penn family since 1983. Mike and Carol have always been big time jazz fans. Their children, Alexis and Michael, studied piano with me. Over the years my trio played countless concerts in their beautiful home tucked away in the foothills of Santa Ana. When Leslie and I began working together they were there at our concerts. It might be Seal Beach, Laguna Beach, Newport Coast or San Juan Capistrano, it didn’t matter, they were there. When we moved to Paris, they were the first people to visit. We didn’t have any gigs yet so they came to hear us play at jam sessions. There were several more visits in the ensuing years. Once they surprised us by showing up at a concert we did in Gréasque in Aix-en-Provence. Most recently we spent a week together with Peter and Nicole Giron in Bordeaux. When we would return to California, they opened their home to us. Those times were perhaps the best. We received a welcome that was legendary. Beyond jazz, Mike had many interests. Education, politics, immigration and religion were all topics which he could speak about intelligently; not because he read a book, although he was always reading, but because he was actively involved volunteering his time and talents in all of those areas. Believing in the power of communication, he looked for ways to bridge the gap between people of different religions, ethnicities, and economic backgrounds. He was one of the most open-minded, warm and caring men I’ve been fortunate to call a friend. In some ways our world is a little dimmer now, but there is comfort in knowing that the light is always there for those who are aware enough to listen. Godspeed my friend. </em></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/1838dd3e520692fd5a836e37d701573b0f0ed21f/original/mike.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Mike Penn enjoying a meal in Bordeaux. </em></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/29cf2e501fcd22902d7bd9eb6700c11762f2458c/original/carol.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Carol Penn also in a restaurant in Bordeaux. </em></p>
<p><em>The “Funky Ella” band had a very fun, if not a little strange, concert at the end of August at a festival near Fontainebleau. The festival was a three day event that had a bohemian vibe. There were tents pitched in the back stage area where apparently people who were working the festival slept. Our concert was late afternoon on a Sunday. We had a great sound man which made it possible for us to play a very fun set. There were surprisingly few hiccups given that the band hasn’t played since we were in the studio last March. I should mention that we had Thomas Delor who had never played the music before subbing on drums. The fact that it went well was a sign of good things to come. </em></p>
<p><em> <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/89e5960bc7e15372ee7e91ed6ee7ab951d3c8184/original/240645000-2966806090264827-6301775296399661387-n.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> Crew setting up for the Au Bon Coin Festival concert near Fontainebleau . </em></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/902ae5ceaab11fbeec7e964f1c24ed28a9ba8f4b/original/240935524-10225810441151250-625691389926515371-n.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />The Au Bon Coin Festival concert with "Funky Ella". </em></p>
<p><em>We are in the thick of the CD rollout which includes working to get some visibility with Jazz press and radio stations. We are happily receiving some support from the record label which is an odd sensation for us. The new recording will be on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music. Deezer, etc. At the moment it is available for download on Bandcamp: <a contents="https://leslielewisgerardhagen.bandcamp.com/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://leslielewisgerardhagen.bandcamp.com/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you">https://leslielewisgerardhagen.bandcamp.com/album/i-put-a-spell-on-you </a> </em></p>
<p><em>CD’s are available for pre-order at FNAC in France: <a contents="https://secure.fnac.com/SearchResult/ResultList.aspx?SCat=0%211&amp;Search=leslie+lewis+funky+ella&amp;sft=1&amp;sa=0" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://secure.fnac.com/SearchResult/ResultList.aspx?SCat=0%211&Search=leslie+lewis+funky+ella&sft=1&sa=0">https://secure.fnac.com/SearchResult/ResultList.aspx?SCat=0%211&Search=leslie+lewis+funky+ella&sft=1&sa=0</a> </em></p>
<p> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/ab61e12f581b128e7abd847cd1930ab30371f2dd/original/spell-cd-cover.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><em>Cover of "I Put A Spell On You". </em></p>
<p><em>Leslie and I have developed new material for our up-coming concerts. I am really enjoying the sonic possibilities that are available with this group. So there is some excitement building on my part to hear the band realise our arrangements. You can expect to hear everything from Dylan to Herbie Hancock. The next Funky Ella concerts are October 26-27 at Sunside Jazz Club <a contents="https://www.sunset-sunside.com/2021/10/artiste/1852/7608/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.sunset-sunside.com/2021/10/artiste/1852/7608/">https://www.sunset-sunside.com/2021/10/artiste/1852/7608/</a>. If you are in Paris here is a promo code to get a deal on tickets. For Oct. 26 use: 20LL2610 and for Oct. 27 use: 20LL2710. For more information about Funky Ella: <a contents="https://funkyella.com/home" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://funkyella.com/home">https://funkyella.com/home</a> </em></p>
<p><em>This week we are in duo at Chez Papa Jazz Club from Tuesday through Saturday night (Sept. 21-25). So if you are in Paris you know where to find us. </em></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/cc0e7c1dccdd516afcfab4dc68985ae01f73c337/original/img-5516b-grds-300-dpi-copy.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJjb250ZW50LnNpdGV6b29nbGUuY29tIn0=/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><em>Funky Ella band (L-R) Nico Peslier, Gerard, Mourad Benhammou, Jean-Philippe Naeder, Leslie & Peter Giron. </em></p>
<p><em>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 blast to learn where you can hear us. <a contents="http://www.surfcovejazz.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com">http://www.surfcovejazz.com</a> We hope that you are all healthy, safe and looking forward to better times ahead. As always thanks for staying in touch with us. </em></p>
<p><em> </em></p>
<p><em>Until next time, Leslie et Gerard</em></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6717269
2021-08-14T23:27:57+02:00
2022-07-03T22:44:21+02:00
"Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen" Bonjour de Paris Août 14, 2021
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span class="font_xl"> Bonjour de Paris ...</span></em></strong> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">“Watching, waiting and hoping!” </p>
<p>Chers Amis, </p>
<p>Watching our little corner of the world, we are waiting to see what’s next and hoping for something that resembles a world that we can truly live in. We all have these same stories, feelings and frustrations. In spite of the pandemic, Leslie and I do our best to make a life here in Paris. Normally that is not too difficult for us. We live in the centre of town surrounded by restaurants, parks, museums, art galleries, stores, cafes, the river Seine. There are four clubs where we regularly work that are within an easy 5 to 10 minute walk from our home. We have good friends here, some musicians, some (thankfully) not. The best musicians from the U.S. and from around the world tour through town. Like I said it isn’t hard to make a life here, but… the pandemic. </p>
<p>We now have our Anti-Covid apps on our phones. It is necessary to prove that we are vaccinated in order to do just about anything in this country except walk down the street or shop for groceries. (Keep this in mind if you decide to visit here, particularly if you want to eat in a restaurant.) I’m cool with doing what is needed to come out of the other side of this thing, it just would be nice to have an idea of when that may be. In the meantime, except for the rare times when we eat a meal in a restaurant (outdoors if possible) we are at home when we aren’t working, except for August, when much of Europe vacations and we do our best to follow suit, but in a “Covid safe” way. </p>
<p>This summer our landlord planned to remodel the kitchen and bathroom in our apartment so we were obliged to be away from home for two weeks. Our first plan was to be back in the U.S. but our flights were cancelled and the rerouted flights were less than ideal. That plus the possibility that we could be quarantined upon return thereby forfeiting some festival dates caused us to make the decision to remain in Europe. So we spent a restorative week by the sea in La Baule in an Airbnb which Leslie found for us at the last minute. This was followed by a mellow week spent hanging with Peter and Nicole Giron in Bordeaux. Leslie and I are very close with Peter and Nicole. We tour, record and teach with Peter. Yet this was the first time that the four of us have been in the same room in almost two years. It was about the closest we’ve come to normal in quite a while. FYI Peter Giron did a very nice interview of Kurt Elling which is available to view here: https://www.facebook.com/imep.pro/videos/365951054845923 </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/388eeede23f7df034f30e1453e4f542918cd68c1/original/img-1259.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> <em>Dusk in La Baule. The horses get their evening stroll on the beach, or sometimes in the surf.</em></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/7e7d98a4d60d268f9c4e4124f03745326f6561f8/original/img-1265.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></em> <em> Evening in La Baule, the view is from the sea to the harbor.</em></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/da04fc1a82dbcd78e40adb0cc44948d57078d750/original/img-1268.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></em> <em>Daybreak in La Baule. The restorative powers of the sea.</em></p>
<p>The new CD (“I Put A Spell On You”) has been delivered. It is a little weird to actually write that. We have no room in our home for vinyl or books so I am used to listening to music files and reading from an iPad. I haven’t purchased a new CD in probably 9 or 10 years. I still occasionally buy a book. Speaking of books, pianist, composer Fred Hersch has written a book that is a great read. His is an interesting story that combines the two disparate worlds of jazz and the life of a gay man. NYC in the late seventies, the clubs, both jazz and otherwise, the musicians, the AIDs epidemic, it’s all there. Hersch is one of the few gay jazz musicians who was willing to live openly at a time when that information could well have put his career in jeopardy. </p>
<p>Anyway, we are getting ready for the CD rollout in the fall. So let me apologize ahead of time for the shameless plugs that will inevitably be coming soon. I listened to the recording the other night. Normally after the tracks are mixed and mastered, often it is years before I listen to the recordings I am on. But something made me want to listen to this one. I was immediately taken by the quality of the sound (thanks to Jerry Kalaf at Studio J in L.A.). Next I was happy that this one is a complete departure from anything we have done before but still feels like us. We are doing two nights (October 26-27) at Sunside Jazz Club https://www.sunset-sunside.com/2021/10/artiste/1852/7608/ these are always fun performances so if you are in Paris please consider checking it out. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/ab61e12f581b128e7abd847cd1930ab30371f2dd/original/spell-cd-cover.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> <em>Cover of "I Put A Spell On You".</em></p>
<p>Recently we did a quartet date for the Jazz à Sables d’Or concert series. https://www.alestdesdunes.com This is a beautiful setting in Sables d’Or Les Pins in Brittany. One must walk along a trail from the parking lot to the venue which is in a clearing that is surrounded by trees. The trail continues beyond the concert space so there were hikers walking past us during the late afternoon sound check. The sound reverberated off of the trees making it a pristine listening experience. I played a Yamaha C6 grand piano which had been tuned and regulated that afternoon by a piano tech who stayed for the duration of the concert just in case something needed attention. We had our regular quartet with Peter Giron and Mourad Benhammou. It was such a treat to be able to make music in this incredibly beautiful setting. Whoever had the idea to use that space for music was particularly inspired that day. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/89d7927fccbb37c1f6bc5808d6613560d3255c21/original/1-2021-08-11-n-07-sable-dor-les-pins-leslie-lewis-quartet-pre-concert-set-up.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> <em>Crew setting up for our Jazz à Sables d'Or concert in Sables d'Or Les Pins.</em></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/56f44bc7a29370158ec2b9da6cd323b6f0ee9ff5/original/3-2021-08-11-n-10-sable-dor-les-pins-leslie-lewis-quartet-pre-concert-set-up-drums-2.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></em> <em>Sound tech trying out the drum mics.</em></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/3150c96bc2aa15ec7b2112dbf4a125f3de9b913a/original/4-2021-08-11-n-12-sable-dor-les-pins-leslie-lewis-quartet-sound-check-mixing-boardjpg.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></em> <em>View from the mixing board.<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/bcabaf39d5161a12a1502f4d2bd336a37b0cc53a/original/8-2021-08-11-n-18-sable-dor-les-pins-leslie-lewis-quartet-sound-check-quartet.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></em></p>
<p> <em>During the sound check.</em></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/da455546267e05af758a30d1c85035b16ec1b26a/original/15-2021-08-11-n-58-sable-dor-les-pins-leslie-lewis-quartet-audience-to-stage-great-shot.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></em> <em>A sublime evening, and setting, for a concert.</em></p>
<p>On August 29th the FUNKY ELLA band is doing a concert at a festival near Fontainebleau. We are excited to get out in public and make some music with the new band. Leslie and I are working on new material to add to the repertoire and I can see where another recording could be closer than one might think. In the meantime you can get an idea of the project here: https://funkyella.com/home </p>
<p>Leslie and I are in duo at Café Laurent in Paris on August 20th https://www.hoteldaubusson.com/cache/files/program-5765.pdf and we are working with percussionist Jean-Philippe Naeder on August 22nd outside of Paris at Brasserie de l'Hotel de ville in Clamart. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/cc0e7c1dccdd516afcfab4dc68985ae01f73c337/original/img-5516b-grds-300-dpi-copy.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJjb250ZW50LnNpdGV6b29nbGUuY29tIn0=/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> <em>Funky Ella band (L-R) Nico Peslier, Gerard, Mourad Benhammou, Jean-Philippe Naeder, Leslie & Peter Giron.</em></p>
<p>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 blast to learn where you can hear us. http://www.surfcovejazz.com We hope that you are all healthy, safe and looking forward to better times ahead. As always thanks for staying in touch with us. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Until next time, Leslie et Gerard</p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6690507
2021-07-17T05:48:03+02:00
2022-03-01T04:21:24+01:00
"Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen" Bonjour de Paris Juillet 17, 2021
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="font_xl"><strong>Bonjour de Paris ... </strong></span></em> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> <em>“The way things are going these days… I got no explanation!” </em> </p>
<p>Chers Amis, </p>
<p>I have started this newsletter several times over the past few weeks. Every time I sat down to write, something came up that was more pressing and caused me to put this on the back burner. Getting everything in place for the release of our new CD and creating the material needed for booking the new “Funky Ella” band has taken many, many hours. For many of us there is no longer any balance between work and play, a consequence of having spent almost all of our time working at home over these past 17 months. I believe this is one of the reasons why things have seemed a little out of sorts for me lately. </p>
<p>As is true with many of you, we have been vaccinated and have been looking forward to having a life beyond our home. Sadly that has not worked out very well. Due to the populace who remain unvaccinated, soon people will have to show proof of having been vaccinated in order to do just about any social activity including being served in a restaurant or bar and going to a concert, movie or play. For now we are still basically homebodies with the rare exception of a sharing a meal with friends who have also been vaccinated. Speaking of meals, we had a great dinner at La Jacobine with our Dallas based friends Bobby and Sue (whom, pre-pandemic, we would see here several times a year). </p>
<p>France allowed jazz clubs to open about a month ago. We have really enjoyed doing our gigs in Paris. It feels good to get out and about. Happily we have seen some friends from America who came to hear (and see) us while on vacation here. Earlier this month Leslie was touring with Rhoda Scott, next week she’ll be down south with the Philippe Duchemin Trio. She has been sounding great. I think that having all those many months with no work was really good for her voice. We are looking forward to doing a little touring later this summer. However I can also see the wisdom of taking a break from all of that and spending some down time at the beach. It is really just a change of scenery that is the antidote to shake the COVID confinement blues. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/c8059fe1c60e4a04d75c203943e9a7673a539c69/original/9dab7456-0faa-4961-81c9-cc25bd22883f.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><em>Leslie took this selfie at our gig at "Café Laurent". February 2020 was last time we had worked there prior this month.</em></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/6bceb85f236ff143a3a0aea8735866e216044c17/original/bcb1fca8-29b6-4d79-8991-861e92637d76.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Leslie at Chez Papa Jazz Club, June 2021.</em></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/91f7c59a500f99975973382bc437c767931c9917/original/8314e2ea-709a-40ec-84c4-197d4643558e.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Gerard at Chez Papa Jazz Club, June 2021.</em></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/0b1a7cb9f3c2b7b19720a81feebce22d47e26cc0/original/746e350b-6e72-4072-8393-4e44b721f700.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Leslie on tour with Rhoda Scott, showing her the after-concert bouquet.</em></p>
<p>Fortunately Leslie took the initiative to get us out of Paris for a few weeks. Nothing fancy, a week at the beach in La Baule followed by a week with friends in Bordeaux will be the right prescription to put things right after another trying year. Later in August we will be meeting a friend in Lausanne, Switzerland, spending a week in a place that is brand new to both of us. </p>
<p>Leslie has become good friends with Sara Lazarus, an American jazz singer who has had a splendid career in Europe. Sarah and her husband Eric Breton had a Fourth of July dinner at their home just outside of Paris. We were happy to be invited. It was a little bit of a jazz singer hang with an appropriate Americana dinner complete with ribs and potato salad and of course some great gig stories. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/1d8aad8f59f648ce3a4f1d5162102a21f01e31cf/original/fb01a649-1a00-4e73-8846-d0df7c1e7f69.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>July 4th dinner at Sarah & Eric's. From left to right-Sarah & Eric, Manuel Rocheman & wife, Gerard, Gilda Solve & Michelle Hendricks. (Leslie took the photo.)</em></p>
<p>Everything is on track for a fall release of “I Put A Spell On You” our new recording with “Funky Ella”. We will be playing two nights (October 26-27) at Sunside Jazz Club <a contents="https://www.sunset-sunside.com/2021/10/artiste/1852/7608/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.sunset-sunside.com/2021/10/artiste/1852/7608/">https://www.sunset-sunside.com/2021/10/artiste/1852/7608/</a> This recording will be available on Spotify, BandCamp, Apple Music, etc., so it will be easy to access even though it will be on the French label “AHEAD”. I will let you know how to purchase the actual CD in the U.S. </p>
<p>Some of the students at IMEP https://www.imep.pro/en/ were very interested in having private lessons with me this summer. So I spend Thursday afternoon teaching at the college. We are having a mild summer so far, not too hot, the normal amount of rain, so I have been walking to the school trying to lose some of the confinement baggage that I currently carry. By the way, Peter Giron (a founder of IMEP) did a very nice interview of Kurt Elling which is available to view here: <a contents="https://www.facebook.com/imep.pro/videos/365951054845923" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/imep.pro/videos/365951054845923">https://www.facebook.com/imep.pro/videos/365951054845923</a> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/ab61e12f581b128e7abd847cd1930ab30371f2dd/original/spell-cd-cover.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Cover of "I Put A Spell On You".</em></p>
<p>Thank you for giving us your time and attention, we appreciate it very much. Please check our website for news and updates as we get back up and running. While you are there please sign up for our weekly email blast to learn where you can hear us. <a contents="http://www.surfcovejazz.com " data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com">http://www.surfcovejazz.com </a> We hope that you are all healthy, safe and looking forward to better times ahead. Thanks for staying in touch with us. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Until next time, Leslie et Gerard</p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6616121
2021-04-28T18:25:21+02:00
2021-07-17T11:53:55+02:00
"Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen" Bonjour de Paris Avril 24, 2021
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_xl"><em><strong> Bonjour de Paris ... </strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> <em>“The more things change…well nothing is going to be the same is it?" </em></p>
<p>Chers Amis, </p>
<p>Spring rarely “springs” in Paris. Ironically last year, while we were in confinement, Paris enjoyed a beautiful spring. This year, we are still partially confined but able to be outside and enjoy a spring walk. It’s more like the usual chilly, overcast April-May weather that will remain unchanged until one day in June when it feels like summer. </p>
<p>So beyond the weather there are other things to report. Leslie has completely recovered from her hip replacement surgery. The x-rays taken at the last follow up appointment with her surgeon were about as good as one could expect and she is cleared to run a marathon, salsa dance, snow ski or climb a mountain; none of which she has any interest in doing, although he does include dancing in her daily exercise routine. The best thing is that she is able to walk pain free for extended periods of time. We are taking advantage of this by walking in some areas in town that we have not seen in a while. A few cafés are open for take out service but most places remain closed so the street life is decidedly less colourful and the energy level of the city is not as apparent as before. We are told that things will gradually begin to open in the middle of May, so perhaps clubs and theatres will be able to open sometime in June. We are getting some inquiries for gigs at some of the jazz clubs for July and August. We are grateful for a little light at the end of a very, very long tunnel. </p>
<p>Speaking of gratitude, we have received the first vaccine and have appointments for the second one in the coming weeks. We both became ill as a response to the vaccine, but after 5 or 6 days we were fine. One can find a place to get vaccinated here but it isn’t like there are signs up around town advertising where to receive them. In our case we knew a guy, who knew a guy, who knew a doctor. </p>
<p>Continuing the gratitude theme, as a result of playing a few concerts with Nicolas Peslier and Jean-Philippe Naeder during a jazz cruise we did last fall, we expanded our European quartet to include them. The new band has a different musical identity so we decided to give it a name and have it exist as a project separate from our regular duo, trio and quartet. Last winter we recorded, mixed and mastered 8 tracks for the new CD. Yes I said CD! I would prefer to go digital but the average jazz fan here would prefer to own a CD so we are going with both platforms. We will be introducing our new band, “Funky Ella” with a handful of concerts here in France this summer followed by a new recording called “I Put A Spell On You” due to be released this fall. We are happy to say that the new recording will be on AHEAD/Socadisc, an independent label in France. Being on a French label should help with distribution and promotion of this recording beyond what Leslie and I could accomplish on our own. We are very happy with the results (keeping in mind that Leslie and I always hate to listen to our individual performances but love every one else’s playing on this recording). The tracking was done at Studio de Meudon here in Paris. They have a wonderful space with two concert grand pianos (Steinway & Fazioli) and plenty of space to get good isolation of the instruments. But the best thing is that they know how acoustic instruments are supposed to sound (you’d be surprised by how many young sound engineers don’t know this) so the sounds are good. The mixing and mastering were done by Jerry Kalaf at Studio “J” in L.A. Leslie and I had some late night/early morning Face Time mixing sessions with Jerry while dealing with a nine hour time difference. I think this was the seventh or eighth project that we have done together. It was well worth the late nights/early mornings to be able to rely on Jerry to get the mix right. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/cc0e7c1dccdd516afcfab4dc68985ae01f73c337/original/img-5516b-grds-300-dpi-copy.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Introducing "Funky Ella"! </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/b63bec8856e528c5f5c86b2e2f81b415ffeeb1de/original/img-5490a-grds-300-dpi-copy.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> Nicolas Peslier guitarist extraordinaire. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/bedfb6ec2e1446a3c1726f24eb40ce806f6a09da/original/img-5488a-grds-300-dpi.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Jean-Philippe Naeder master of the groove! </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/5e2c70562fc81e247b78acd259ad729e58d20fa9/original/img-5504-grds-300-dpi.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Peter Giron bass, voice & whatever is needed. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/7dc17c83b1483ad2c8364d7b516685906610ce94/original/img-5492a-grds-300-dpi.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Mourad Benhammou drums, hand claps & assorted sounds. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/171ca3fc50aeccee338ad85a7162c74bda4808c3/original/l-g-youtube-lljazz1.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Leslie & Gerard, just happy to see some work ahead! </p>
<p>This summer looks to be somewhat busy. Besides the concerts with the new band, we have some dates that were cancelled last year that are on the calendar for this summer as well as a smattering of new dates. If the jazz clubs do open this summer we should be able to fill in a few holes in our schedule. We do plan to go to Lausanne Switzerland for a short vacation in late August, but beyond that things are “fluid” as they say. </p>
<p>There are seven weeks left in the third trimestre at IMEP College. I have felt sorry for the students who have had to distance learn for 5 trimestres. Even though we have been able to do some ensemble classes (in smaller versions) at the school, it is still not the same as being on campus with the whole student body. The transferring of information, the jam sessions, the impromptu rehearsals so that student composers can hear their compositions, and the networking that goes on daily when the school is under normal operations is irreplaceable. Many of these students haven't had these experiences that are commonplace in music schools. They have also missed the experience of living in Paris and going to the jazz clubs to hear all the New York bands as they pass through town. In many ways, that is where the real learning takes place. There is no way to accurately account for all of the damage that has been done. I am ready to move forward to see what's on the other side of this pandemic. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/e52108760310d1fe3b0404d4b07b30ceae99c4a7/original/leslie-gerard-band-at-studio-de-meudon.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />The band at Studio de Meudon Paris. L&G w/ Nico, Jean-Philippe, Mourad & Peter. </p>
<p>Thank you for giving us your time and attention, we appreciate it very much. Please check our website for news and updates as we get back up and running. While you are there please sign up for our weekly email blast to learn where you can hear us. http://www.surfcovejazz.com </p>
<p>We hope that you are all healthy, safe and looking forward to better times ahead. Thanks for staying in touch with us. </p>
<p>Until next time, Leslie et Gerard</p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6512958
2021-01-04T02:44:18+01:00
2021-06-28T21:32:00+02:00
"Leslie Lewis and Gérard Hagen" Joyeux Noël de Paris décembre 24, 2020
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#990000;"><em><span class="font_xl"><strong>Joyeux Noël de Paris ...</strong></span><span class="font_large"><strong> </strong></span></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_large"><strong><span style="color:#990000;">"That's a hip new joint!" </span></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#006600;"><span class="font_regular">Chers Amis, </span></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#006600;"><span class="font_regular">I have not written for a while because our current daily routine is not conducive to monthly "news". Like many of you, with the exception of running necessary errands and responsibilities for work, we mostly spend our days at home. However besides wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year there is enough news at this point for another update. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#006600;"><span class="font_regular">At the end of November Leslie had a hip replacement surgery. She was in the hospital during the week of Thanksgiving which is also the week of her birthday. She was admitted on Tuesday and was discharged on Sunday. Everything went about as well as one would hope. She had some problems recovering from the anaesthesia but beyond that her pain was handled well and since returning home she has barely touched her prescribed pain medication. I was not able to visit her during her time in the hospital so it was a lonely five days sheltering in place in our home. Since returning home she has been recovering very quickly and is moving about now without the aid of crutches. She is also taking the stairs with relative ease. A nurse visits daily and aside from some quirks in the healthcare system here, she has received great care from the beginning of this process to where she is now. </span></span></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/d8467055cc9e87296b5b1045ee2684a34fb1b51b/original/133365620-4175634305798448-8279915516674135940-n.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><span style="color:#006600;"><span class="font_regular"> Feliz Navidad. </span></span></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/e4b9d6a79109de2ccc64a35c809b1644c9390ae1/original/img-2404.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><span style="color:#006600;"><span class="font_regular"> Leslie's tree 2020. </span></span></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/f0bc2d6304fbcf3baed288e19c5235bda202be6c/original/img-2413.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><span style="color:#006600;"><span class="font_regular"> Leslie's tree 2020. </span></span></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/f0bc2d6304fbcf3baed288e19c5235bda202be6c/original/img-2413.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><span style="color:#006600;"><span class="font_regular"> Leslie's tree 2020. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#006600;"><span class="font_regular">The Christmas season has been quiet this year, really quiet. With no gigs and no way to spend time with friends we have a lot of time on our hands. Leslie and I bought a tree at Marché Saint Germain des Près, a marketplace two blocks from our home. We chose a small tree so that Leslie could decorate it and not be in jeopardy of injuring her newly repaired hip. After having a regular sized tree last year, this was a little bit of a let down for her. Leslie considers decorating the tree as a form of high art and thus it is a highpoint of the Christmas season for her. But we are together and we can always make that work for us. So this Christmas is what it is and we have hope for a better future. </span></span></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/9c4f70ea7384ef9eb969069239fcedc103acd8dd/original/132426524-4172424379452774-676402263695620810-n-1.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><span style="color:#006600;"><span class="font_regular"> Buon Natale. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#006600;"><span class="font_regular">A couple of weeks ago we were in the studio where we finished three tracks to be used to promote concerts in the summer and fall. We have plans to go back in next month with the goal of releasing a new recording with our expanded band this summer or perhaps more realistically in the fall. It was really good to be working again. The tracks that we completed are being mixed by our good friend Jerry Kalaf at Studio "J" in L.A. Having heard some of the mixes, we are both very happy with the results so far. We are in the studio again on January 19th following that we will probably need one more tracking session to complete the recording. </span></span></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/e52108760310d1fe3b0404d4b07b30ceae99c4a7/original/leslie-gerard-band-at-studio-de-meudon.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><span style="color:#006600;"><span class="font_regular"> The band at Studio de Meudon Paris. L&G w/ Nico, Jean-Philippe, Mourad & Peter. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#006600;"><span class="font_regular">As of last month I have been back at IMEP teaching jazz repertoire in an actual classroom. My other classes are still online. The administration has a plan to have all of the students return to the campus in January. However the courses that are too large to properly distance in one room, like my jazz history course, will be split into two groups. One group will meet on campus in the traditional way and the second group will receive a video stream of my lectures in their homes. So the schools are slowly coming back from this pandemic. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#006600;"><span class="font_regular">We are told that France will begin vaccinations in January. Even though conditions here will probably be less threatening by this summer, my guess is that in France we will be following Covid-19 precautions through much of next year. </span></span></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/e2add017bdc0b5fca57a71c753cc9a11e78fa412/original/peter-mourad-jean-philippe-studio-de-meudon.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><span style="color:#006600;"><span class="font_regular"> Jean-Philippe, Mourad & Peter at Studio de Meudon. </span></span></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/6241af86a00f324b88ec80c7f545b9605f71a1e8/original/free-christmas-powerpoint-background-red-4.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><span style="color:#006600;"><span class="font_regular"> Merry Christmas. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#006600;"><span class="font_regular">We are getting a few dates on the calendar for concerts in the summer and the fall. So there are some signs of life in the music world here in Europe. Everyone is hopeful that sometime in the next few months the clubs will be able to open with limited seating and we can get back to work at least on a limited basis. </span></span></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/171ca3fc50aeccee338ad85a7162c74bda4808c3/original/l-g-youtube-lljazz1.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><span style="color:#006600;"><span class="font_regular"> We are wishing that all of us will know more kindness and peace in 2021. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#006600;"><span class="font_regular">Leslie and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We have great memories of past times we've shared with many of you. We hold you all dear in our hearts and are very grateful to you for many years of laughter and love. May we all carry the spirit of Christmas into 2021 so that all of us will know a little more kindness and peace in the New Year. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#006600;"><span class="font_regular">Thank you for giving us your time and attention, we appreciate it very much. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#006600;"><span class="font_regular">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. </span></span><span class="font_regular"><a contents="http://www.surfcovejazz.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com"><span style="color:#006600;">http://www.surfcovejazz.com</span></a><span style="color:#006600;"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#006600;"><span class="font_regular">Joyeux Noël, </span></span></p>
<p><em><strong><span style="color:#990000;">Leslie et Gerard</span></strong></em></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6456350
2020-10-15T19:11:24+02:00
2022-07-03T22:43:52+02:00
"Leslie Lewis and Gérard Hagen" Bonjour de Paris octobre 15, 2020
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><span class="font_xl">Bonjour de Paris ... </span></strong></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_regular">“Take a test, change your life, or at least where you sleep tonight.” </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Chers Amis, </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Well that was interesting. We have returned from two weeks playing music while cruising the Mediterranean Sea. Our itinerary took us to Sicily, Italy, Crete, Greece and Sardinia. Circumstances required that previously scheduled stops in Corsica and Istanbul had to be canceled. For me the days at sea were my favorite, as for Leslie, she was all about the jacuzzi and just being at sea. This was not as easy as the previous cruise we did. In fact it was quite a challenge due to the pandemic. Leslie and I thought long and hard before making the decision to make this trip. We had already turned down two earlier invitations to join this cruise but it was not the right time to go at that point. So when the producers finally decided that they could make October work we took a look at the conditions and decided we were comfortable enough to say yes. Keeping in mind that all summer long we witnessed the youth of Paris frequenting the bars as if the pandemic had never happened, and the bar owners happy to oblige. So by September it wasn’t like Paris was particularly safe from the virus, and in fact the growing concern about the rising infections had lead to mandatory early closing times for the bars and soon there will be a curfew to be enforced in a number of cities in France. Given the need for us to be able to move about the city for the few gigs that we have, as well as the start of the fall semester at IMEP, it was clear that short of sheltering in place and not working we were going to be at some level of risk no matter where we were. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/e7dd2f24bd1f85e5c20e23d6b061fb501c9d6dea/original/at-sea-from-deck.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> Photo taken from our deck.</span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/263d94e8959ca70ed51483af6d1f5ad27164539c/original/sunset-1jpeg.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> Sunset in Greece.</span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/b395e8e4427478eaef250e14f918928589898985/original/greece.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> Greek Islands</span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/3f89f71375e0e12b33e359ea554201958a955327/original/leslie-jaccuzi.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></span> Leslie enjoying the jacuzzi.</p>
<p><span class="font_regular">The first sign that doing this cruise was going to add some stress to our lives came with the requirement that no more than 72 hours before leaving we had to have a negative COVID test result. The number of COVID cases were rising fast, the inevitable result of the local populace frequenting the bars during the summer months. So when we went to get tested we were told that they would only test people who had symptoms or who had been in contact with someone who had symptoms. So we went on a search and found a laboratory that took appointments. The next hurdle was that most places said that it would take a week to receive the results. We were very fortunate to get the results in 24 hours. Okay so with that problem solved we could take a breath and start packing! On Sunday, September 27 with our negative test results in hand we arrived at 7:00 am at Gare de Lyon and joined thirty-five musicians on a train for the three and a half hour trip to Marseille (yet another COVID hot spot). That was when we first heard the news that one of the singers was unable to make the trip due to a positive COVID test result. The trip to Marseille was thankfully uneventful. But there were soon to be a number of surprises, the first being that the Italian cruise line wouldn’t dock the ship in Marseille due to that city’s fast growing number of COVID cases. The ship was instead docked in Genoa, Italy. So the plan was to travel the five hour plus trip to Genoa by bus and meet the ship there. Before leaving Marseille we were taken from the train terminal by bus to the port of Marseille where there were makeshift tents set up with medical personnel and equipment. Upon arrival we were tested twice and waited for the results. One of the musicians tested positive resulting in the cruise line not accepting any of the people who rode from the train station to the port in the bus with him. We had the good fortune of riding in a different bus and therefor were cleared to continue on. Keep in mind it was only a 15 minute ride from the train station to the port. So those pour souls turned around and went back to Paris. The rest of us having tested negative boarded a couple of buses and headed to Genoa. It was late in the afternoon by the time we arrived at the port in Genoa. There were a few other buses carrying musicians who traveled from other areas of France. By the time we got through the check in lines and boarded the ship it was around 7:00 pm. We had left our home in Paris 12 hours and thirty minutes earlier that day. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/4fdf9add6324780bbb86bdb4adf051dc9696a317/original/genoa-from-our-deck.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> Port in Genoa, Italy.</span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/4de0b1003e67f57d0595a488a382188981d554c8/original/ship-at-night-boarding.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> View of the ship as we boarded in Genoa, Italy.</span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/d18288edfa58c6674d0617f37e05fefc77864052/original/poolside.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></span> Poolside at night.</p>
<p><span class="font_regular">We were pleasantly surprised to find that we had a fairly large room, at least by cruise ship standards, or even by Paris apartment standards. There was a small terrace so we could sit outdoors, which we did quite a bit. The passengers would not arrive until the next day so we enjoyed a quiet dinner and an even more quiet night. It would be the last quiet night we would have. From that point on we needed to be flexible and accepting of schedule changes as new ensembles were formed to replace the musicians who were sent home before the cruise began. We were very fortunate in that we would be placed in a group of musicians that would change our band for the foreseeable future. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/b2eaabb57a8324587d3e45348bf03a55a2bf53cf/original/italy.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> View from our deck, Lazio Italy.</span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">The ship went to extremes to keep from having any Covid breakouts. There were hand sanitizers at the entrance of every common area on board. The staff was constantly cleaning the ship day and night. Masks were required everywhere except while eating or drinking. Each week our terrace was sanitized. Every so often you would see someone in a hazmat type suit fumigating the halls. I don’t even want to think of the chemicals we were breathing. Once we had boarded the ship we were not allowed leave the ship to visit any of the port cities. We could take an excursion that was offered by the cruise line. For those who left the ship with a group excursion there were more tests to take. We opted to remain on board for the duration. In all we were tested 5 times in two weeks. Those passengers who tested positive faced the prospect of leaving the ship and being quarantined in a hotel for two weeks where ever the ship happened to be. Needless to say Leslie and I feel very fortunate to have been healthy through all of this. I have to say that I honestly doubt that I would have accepted the gig had I known it was possible that I would be left somewhere to be quarantined for two weeks. Leslie says that she is not sure what she would have done. But we sure didn’t ask all the pertinent questions before we left. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">So beyond all of that the trip was great! No kidding, it was actually a lot of fun. The first concert I played was with an ensemble that included a drummer and bassist from Toulon that as it happened Leslie and I have worked with often. The group included a guitarist that we also knew well and percussionist that we had just met. Leslie came to listen to the concert and she agreed with my opinion that the group was a very good combination. That opinion was shared by the other musicians and so we decided to play as often as possible during the two week cruise. We had so much fun playing that Leslie and I decided that when possible we would add the guitarist and percussionist to our Paris based band when we start touring again. Fortunately they are both based in Paris so the logistics are good. In addition they will be recording with us in Paris this December. It will be the first of several sessions for our next CD. While on the cruise we made an agreement to release this recording on a French label. Leslie and I are very excited about the prospects for the expanded band and the new recording. I am working on new arrangements to include them.</span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/7ed0ef6d42bc783c5d172d9e72303ce93ae1e368/original/gerard-poolside.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> Instrumental set Poolside. Gerard, Christophe Le Van bass, Jean-Philippe Naeder percussion, Philippe Le Van drums, Nicolas Peslier guitar </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/d2824824f0ea5677367f575e1bd88769e454f678/original/afternoon-pre-concert.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> Pre-concert in the afternoon.</span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/06c5c27bb393a31edfcdd6c7eb2ca3798c040595/original/leslie-jazz-club-set-upjpeg.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> Before the late set, Gerard, Nico Peslier, Leslie, Christophe LeVan, Philippe LeVan, Jean-Phillipe Naeder.</span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/23c38909416d58f4f1125222bfd0f8d8d21b8f14/original/leslie-pool-set-up.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> Leslie before a poolside set.</span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/88e3be5db25a8b8ebdf9c008cbe5d7c4f8affca7/original/leslie-pool-singing.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> Gerard, Christophe LeVan, Leslie, Philippe LeVan, and Jean-Philippe Naeder, Nici Peslier not pictured.</span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">During the cruise Leslie was featured on a concert with Rhoda Scott and also with a big band from Toulouse called Big Band Brass. She sounded great with both groups. We had four concerts together and I had the previously mentioned instrumental concert as well. Every day there were concerts held poolside for late afternoon cocktails, followed by the main evening concert in the showroom and a late night set in one of the dance clubs that was converted to be a jazz club. Some days there was an 11:30 am poolside set, (which we were fortunate to never be scheduled to play) and somedays there was a mid afternoon concert in one of the clubs. Finally we came to the last day of the cruise and we thought we had the day off when that morning Leslie received a text asking that she make an appearance with the big band during the last concert of the cruise. It was only one song but it required that she spend several hours that afternoon doing a sound check and rehearsal and then of course the evening concert which affects dinner and so on. Even though it cut into what should have been a day to relax, it was a good way to close the last concert in the showroom and a nice moment for a proud husband to enjoy from the audience. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/7f4cd8490efc7b639ff2d0a21ff8eada2d5956b0/original/rhoda-leslie.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> Leslie with Rhoda Scott.</span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/fda4c2830063d7980baf0051cf0ad86c4e19a99b/original/rhoda-band.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> "Rhoda Scott & Friends" Nico Peslier guitar, Thomas Derouineau, Leslie, Philippe Chagne saxophone, Rhoda Scott.</span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/ac739a5f31528773fb346ccbdacdc09b206f9ea0/original/leslie-big-band.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> Leslie with Big Band Brass.</span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">This week I begin my classes at IMEP. Having missed the first two weeks of the semester I have some catching up to do. The teaching conditions will be different from what was the pre-pandemic norm but then again every year is different anyway so there is always something new to manage, we’re jazz musicians, it’s what we do. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Thank you for giving us your time and attention, we appreciate it very much. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">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 </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">We hope that you are all healthy, safe and able to see better times coming ahead. Thanks for staying in touch with us. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Until next time, Leslie et Gerard</span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6432500
2020-09-13T18:16:01+02:00
2020-10-15T19:12:12+02:00
"Leslie Lewis and Gérard Hagen" Bonjour de Paris 13 septembre 2020
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_xl"><em><strong>Bonjour de Paris ... </strong></em></span> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_large">“The Art Of Doing Nothing." </span> </p>
<p>Chers Amis, </p>
<p>We’ve been back in Paris since Sept.1st. We worked in Paris on August 1st and left the following day to spend some time with friends in La Baule and Bordeaux. Even though during our time away I worked on my French language skills daily and for the most part I got to the piano regularly, it felt too much of a luxury to take an entire month away from work. After all we had around sixty concerts canceled and the plan for this summer was to do festival concerts in Europe and do a short tour in the U.S. At best somewhere in the middle we’d try to find some time for a little vacation. But world events caused all of us to change our plans. So being that we had no work, a vacation was the only real option for us other than staying home and spending August in the same apartment where we have been sheltering in place since March. As the days of August passed, I became aware that Leslie and I were developing the art of doing nothing. This is excessively difficult for many of us, and even more so for musicians since the work we do to prepare to perform happens largely in our own head, (even if there is an instrument involved). Therefore we bring our work with us to the beach or wherever else we happen to be. This is why finding ways to get out of our own heads is so important. For me it’s cooking, reading, and in Leslie’s case it’s exploring interior design. This is how we practice the art of doing nothing. </p>
<p>While in La Baule we stay with Lois in her lovely summer home. Over the years of visiting Lois’ summer home there have been too many experiences to recount. However a few stand out including my falling down a flight of stairs and breaking two ribs, Leslie having to be taken to the hospital with an asthma attack and me chasing an intruder out of the house at 1 am. But for every crazy thing we’ve lived through what I treasure are the countless days we’ve spent on the beach followed by wonderful evenings with after dinner conversations going into the early AM. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/44545eb361cf6119dfd6df1f20354c660b7b6553/original/lois-salon.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Lois' home in La Baule, the site of many late night conversations, scrabble games and once in a while an afternoon nap.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/4355135f73c02af55b98836c67cdf1f20bc3df09/original/lois-garden-3.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Lois' garden in La Baule, site of many BBQ's, and summer garden parties.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/32ea06f59e0a81c519dafffdd2fd7d47c6dfe4c5/original/gerard-sleeping-crop.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Gerard waking at the crack of 1:00 pm.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/9f4fd92ec6fe6f2039bc4039ea1aed3bc7ab8374/original/leslie-in-water.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Leslie checking the water temperature in La Baule.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/03734d6411933a477fe6ba1a3e642fd777582348/original/horses-at-la-baule.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Leslie took this photo of horses enjoying a late afternoon run in the surf in La Baule.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/23b020e46ba0e188672b3be2940b57380eb49376/original/houses-in-la-baule.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Beach houses in La Baule.<br> </p>
<p>During the years that Peter Giron has worked with us we’ve become very close with both Peter and his wife Nicole (AKA “the saint”). We have vacationed together, had Christmas together, and the week we had in Bordeaux this August was, as always, a blast. There were seafood dinners in Cap Ferret, the beach in Lacanau, hours spent poolside, and games of “Cards Against Humanity”. Don’t judge us. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/c55cfb76f19aea53f59dd50ce40e20d597b05dee/original/peter-nicole-masked.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Peter and Nicole are apparently preparing themselves for our visit.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/8194d3b4da403acc93bd67178527549eaa4af1d0/original/peter-poolside.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Peter poolside in Bordeaux.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/354af503ce68bd4af18b1a96e446de6d50624b4f/original/leslie-in-the-pool-bordeaux.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Leslie in deep thought about the meaning of life.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/f3958d0ea480ad5b287f9dd3a9914c332adb1839/original/lacanau-beach-1.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Beach at Lacanau, sort of near Bordeaux!</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/b14e014efc9e9c69d010c6f391623e6a9f112719/original/lacanau-beach.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Another shot at Lacanau, the traffic cones create a path for the jeeps that the life guards drive.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/efe896f609efd735c8a55f8af4509b1ed654a749/original/cap-ferret.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Dinner in Cap Ferret, if you like oysters, this is your place!</p>
<p>Leslie and I both found the time spent by the sea to be a calming influence for us. It seems to open us up for conversations (much like bass solos do) and there is a sense of health and well being that is absent in Paris. We have been longing for this since we left Laguna Beach and have it in the back of our minds that a more permanent move is worth considering. But alas even though thoughts of the sea are never really out of our minds, any move is a ways down the road. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/b3c1e8273471c16e0a830dcf61288369713c8775/original/le-pouliguen.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Leslie took this shot of the Pouliguen, a village next to La Baule. We often walked there for groceries, or to have dinner, or just to walk.</p>
<p>We are back in the swing of things in Paris but that just means that like everyone else we are having to constantly adjust to new ways of doing things due to the pandemic. From what I am seeing it’s going to be a long time before we can all exhale and relax into something that resembles normalcy. </p>
<p>For our part we are choosing to believe in the future. We are filming performances and have booked some studio time in preparation for future tours with the show we did last winter before the world changed. The last few times we have been able to play with the quartet have been exceptionally fun so we are excited for the future. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/856b269b630db4fae9ad3abe4f3c6d4e35c02c81/original/band-cercle-suedois-crop.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />A pre-concert dinner at Cercle Suédois. On the far left is Mourad our drummer, Sébastien the videographer and Peter (bass) enjoying a laugh. On the right is Göran who promotes the Wednesday Jazz Concert Series, and yours truly. Leslie took the photo. </p>
<p>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 </p>
<p>We hope that you are all healthy, safe and able to see better times coming ahead. Thanks for staying in touch with us. </p>
<p>Until next time, Leslie et Gerard</p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6354505
2020-06-16T02:24:58+02:00
2020-10-15T19:12:30+02:00
"Leslie Lewis and Gérard Hagen" Bonjour de Paris 15 juin 2020
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><span class="font_large">Bonjour de Paris ... </span></strong></p>
<p>"Living in the new Normal." </p>
<p>Chers Amis, </p>
<p>The above title was “lifted” by yours truly from an email written by our good friends Clifford and Lydia. Under previous conditions they would most likely be in Paris or at least would be arriving soon. This is true for a number of our stateside friends who visit Paris yearly, bi-yearly or even more often than that. So there are a number of you folks that we miss seeing here in the city of lights. That also includes the people we know who live here that we haven’t seen since we sheltered in place on March 15th. We had 57 days of quarantine and in the ensuing 5 weeks since Paris was allowed to partially open we have effectively stayed quarantined with the exception of shopping for groceries, an appointment with our doctor and our feeble attempt at exercising by taking daily walks which sometimes don’t happen if we put it off too late. I am afraid that we are all becoming too used to living the new normal, separated from one another, and the result will be that we will become comfortable having fewer and fewer opportunities to be together. The word ZOOM has a whole new meaning. For my students I set up a virtual classroom including office hours, a special section for assignments, and a question and answer section using DISCORD. The convenience is very enticing but I am afraid that we have no idea what the long term consequences will be for society. In some ways I’m liking being shut in! There are so many decisions that no longer have to be made, and the headaches of dealing with our fellow man on the street, metro, bus, stores, etc., are all but gone and forgotten. It’s all very comforting to know pretty much what to expect from any given day. And there is the plus of only having to look presentable from the waist up! But that’s just me. I wonder what things will look like in the future as COVID-19 becomes less of a threat? Are we forever changed as a society now that we have learned to do just about everything in our daily lives while being sheltered in place? </p>
<p>Based on the behaviour of many of my fellow Parisiens, they are ready to be back with their friends with no social distancing. On those few occasions when we are out and about we see that the cafe life in Paris is as strong as ever. After the quarantine was lifted restaurants here have been able to serve outdoors on terraces if they have them. So consequently every place in town has put tables and chairs on the sidewalk outside of their place whether there is room or not. Duc des Lombards, a jazz club that was unable to present shows on their stage has been inviting their patrons to come and enjoy cocktails on their terrace. The thing is their terrace is what most of us would call a street. </p>
<p>Our summer concerts were all cancelled. Our last gig was March 14th at Monteverdi. President Macron has announced that the clubs, bars and restaurants can open this week. We have already been told by some clubs that they will not be opening until September. Our jazz cruise is set for October, but we are still debating whether to accept those gigs. But a few of the places we normally work in Paris are just this week beginning to open and happily we received phone calls to play gigs this Wednesday and Saturday (June 17th & 20th) at Chez Papa Jazz Club and Monteverdi respectively. The situation is pretty good as far as the musicians being separated from the audience so I think with social distancing it will be OK. Normally we would try to talk with some of the people in the audience between sets, but that is not going to happen until we get a better feel for the situation. Leslie and I are content to take things slow and be a little more cautions with our re-entry into professional life. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/d18af586a96e91d1bb02b5a37496e17e911cf0c7/original/76901736-3077728758922347-7189500989777379328-n.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />A happy pre-covid-19 memory from Leslie's birthday dinner last November at "Oh My Cod" one of our favorite restaurants in Paris.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/d569379df321944ff1a67c1b112862d8de4b321a/original/leslie-gerard-jazz-in-paris-chez-papa-2.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Our first post quarantine gig this Wednesday, June 17th at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. www.//papajazzclub-paris.fr</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/a4949353852fd0fdf1a440fd72f5b6beb9146038/original/l-g-duo-chez-papa.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Leslie and I on a duo gig at Chez Papa Jazz Club, Paris. www://papajazzclub-paris.fr</p>
<p>In an ironic twist, the time when we were all confined was the year that Paris enjoyed an unbelievably beautiful spring. And I mean beautiful, I never thought it possible since the previous years have always been wet, chilly and overcast. But of course this was the year that Paris actually had “spring”. This is one of those times when I am glad to be a jazz musician. Being a jazz musician teaches us to always expect the worst in any and all situations. That way you are always prepared and sometimes even pleasantly surprised. So having to be indoors during the best spring season since we moved here was just another “jazz thing”. The musicians who read this will know exactly what I mean. </p>
<p>Last Friday, in what I hope will be my last important responsibility for this school year at IMEP, I used Zoom (there’s that word again) to audition some prospective students for the up-coming fall trimestre. This past trimestre technically ending on June 5th but due to the newness of using distance learning we are giving some students a little more time to complete their work.  Many of them were good with the structure of weekly classes on campus but not so good with the self direction needed when one is learning at home using the internet. So I'll have some grading to do in the next week or so. This distance learning thing was very labor intensive for me. Having to communicate complex concepts in written form is much more difficult than explaining them in a class. I set up special mailboxes in my email program for each class I taught. The last time I checked there were just over 1,100 emails since mid March. So I’m glad to be in the last stages of teaching for this year. </p>
<p>Thank you to everyone who has already downloaded "Fragile", our latest recording. Â It is available as a download on CD Baby at this link. https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5Â </p>
<p>Â 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 </p>
<p>We hope that you are all healthy, safe and able to see better times coming ahead. Thanks for staying in touch with us. </p>
<p>Until next time, Leslie et Gerard</p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6272294
2020-04-05T10:17:53+02:00
2020-10-15T19:12:53+02:00
"Leslie Lewis and Gérard Hagen" Bonjour de Paris 4 avril 2020
<p>Bonjour de Paris ... </p>
<p>Chers Amis, </p>
<p>We are on day 20 of quarantine. Our last gig which was March 14th in a very sparsely populated Parisien club. Around the second set I was just beginning to feel sick. I wasn't sure what it was. I had chest congestion, a headache and later that night I would get very intense muscle pain to the point that it wasn't possible to sleep. The next day was the first day of quarantine in France. The thing was that during the next few days I was mostly just annoyed that I wasn't feeling great but aside from a few daytime naps I was up and doing things around the apt. The evenings were a different story. At night the muscle pain was pretty intense. After about six days I was back to feeling the normal aches and pains that I have become used to at this point in my life and the other symptoms were gone. Fortunately Leslie has stayed healthy thus far. In any normal time I would have said that I had some type of flu virus, and that is very likely what I had, but it wasn't like any other flu I've had in the past and if in fact it was the COVID-19 virus based on what I've seen I must have had the lightest form possible. </p>
<p>So beyond that episode I am on a steep learning curve in order to learn to teach my classes remotely. I am spending four or five times the amount of time to accomplish what I normally can do in the 6-7 hours I had weekly in the classroom. This is a poor substitution by my account but it is the only way possible to finish this trimester. I doubt we will be back in business at the college before June and so this is the way forward. One thing stays the same, the students who did quality work in the classroom continue to take their work seriously and then there is the rest who run the gamut.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/67daac58ab669139fb7b53f9cd958e17bfd3a190/original/89505858-3334848399877047-399386552133746688-n.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />The weekend before the quarantine our long time friend Louis Durra, L.A. pianist now living in Berlin, came to Paris to play a couple of concerts and we happened to be able to hang for a meal. </p>
<p>Work is non-existant, but I have really been enjoying playing solo piano in our home. We have had most of our summer concerts cancelled which is a bit disconcerting. We had been planning a short tour of the East coast beginning this August in New York but that has been postponed. The jazz cruise that we were scheduled to be on right now was rescheduled for early June. We decided along with many other artists that it was just too difficult to know if we would feel safe doing it then so we opted out. (Two more weeks of work gone.) It's funny because I used to love traveling to play concerts around the globe but this past year we've done pretty well staying busy in Paris and without realizing it I've come to be a home body. So now when we have had to leave home to work (which is less and less) I don't find much joy in anything but the concert. At the moment I'm liking playing at home so much that once it is safe for Paris to open again I'm afraid that I won't even want to walk to work here! So I need to find a way to get people to pay me to stay home. </p>
<p>Leslie is handling everything in stride like she usually does. She is the person you want in the trenches with you when it really counts. She spends a part of her day online reading and researching things that interest her. She occasionally watches an old (and I mean old) movie or she checks out some music. We have been taking turns cooking and doing the shopping although due to the amount of time I spend trying to learn to teach online she goes out shopping more than I. We haven't done the hoarding thing simply because we don't have space to store whatever we would be hoarding. So about every third day one of us makes the 2 minute walk to shop for groceries and then like most everyone else we spend the rest of our time at home. When we do go out, with the exception of one or two other people, the street is empty. It is strange because there is no traffic or street noise and normally there are more people working in the store than there are customers. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/c68f6560ca311d579a26fb2a33db5161297d6f54/original/87983769-10158129966461913-7936623371393957888-n.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Our L.A. friend Karla Ross was able to catch a couple of gigs in Paris at Sunside Jazz Club and Café Laurent. This is after our second set at Café Laurent.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/97016bcbb56fba788e86c7ad658a1dabeed31ab4/original/88183279-3311712195524001-1776206162169954304-n.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>While Andrea Miller was in town from L.A. we had dinner with Sacha Boutros a singer from San Diego now based in Paris. So it was three singers and one pianist, I was able to hold my own against all odds! </p>
<p>In February we had a very great night at Sunset/Sunside Jazz Club in Paris. Leslie developed a Nina Simone show. We discussed the direction of each tune and I wrote the arrangements. The show was sold out to the point where there were extra chairs placed wherever there was any possible space. People had to stand up and move their seats so there was a way for us to walk up to the stage. I'm sure the Fire Marshall would have frowned! At the beginning of the third set, which was still very full, Leslie made her piano playing debut in France by accompanying herself playing her own arrangement of "Will You Still Love Tomorrow" with Peter and Mourad. She had to be talked into doing it but she did and I was a very proud husband/pianist. We had so much fun that night and we were thrilled that Californians Karla Ross and Andrea Miller happened to be in town and were able to make the gig. We had plans to record a couple of tracks from the show and do some touring with the quartet next year but the financial and social upheaval of late has put all of our plans on hold until our "new reality" becomes more clear. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/ed40cdd3f8d35057dc8e574f2e765d6629cfee23/original/86288937-3260067947355093-6134732712088436736-o.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Promo for our Nina Simone concert at Sunside Jazz Club, Paris.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/ce4de9152cfec865b0923a9e8d3b2511343574e7/original/87176745-3292396077455613-7844582316729958400-n.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Leslie and Ursuline Kairson who was a guest artist with us on "Four Women" at Sunset Jazz Club, Paris.</p>
<p>So we send our best hopes and wishes to you all that you and your loved ones stay safe, healthy and whole as we push through this very difficult time. For those of you who have been able to put a smile on my face with your Corona Virus wit I thank you for your talent because laughter can help to heal during this most surreal time. </p>
<p>Not sure when we will be performing again, perhaps sometime in May, but in reality at this point there is no way to know with any certainty. </p>
<p>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 </p>
<p> 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 </p>
<p>Thanks for staying in touch with us. </p>
<p>Until next time, Leslie et Gerard </p>
<p> </p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6223035
2020-02-21T20:20:32+01:00
2022-07-03T22:43:13+02:00
"Leslie Lewis and Gérard Hagen" Bonjour De Paris 20 Février 2020
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="font_xl">Bonjour de Paris ...</span></em> </p>
<p>Chers Amis, </p>
<p>It has been too long since I last posted to you. Many things have conspired to put me behind including computer problems, concerts, teaching, traveling, arranging, rehearsing, practicing, booking gigs and on and on. Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled to have all of these responsibilities, but I have had to prioritize and this newsletter, along with a number of other things, had to wait. </p>
<p>So I'm writing this on a new MacBook Air and getting used to using an AZERTY keyboard which is what is sold in Europe. It is possible to get a computer with a QWERTY keyboard but I didn't have the time to wait for a special order so instead it is taking three times as long as what would be normal for me to type this newsletter. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/0a93a394d79b79a14dbbbe01e9f229d51133ab7d/original/sunday-night-paris.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Leslie and I love to walk in Paris at night. This was taken on a Sunday night as we were crossing the Seine to the left bank where we live. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/896c1f0629e32f2744c4ed86ac38193536e6b2ef/original/gig-cropped.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Leslie and I played a "concert privé" with bassist Clément Blumen in a beautiful room in Paris. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/1a342b7e538bd3ec91d6433247f1ce7a326869c7/original/gig-bar-cropped.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />What is a "concert privé" without a "bar privé"? </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/bfaa87044daa835f6d458eff1cd8568b9b9c4b7b/original/gig-arch-cropped.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />The musician's break room. </p>
<p>In the past two months there were road trips to Cérans-Foulletourte, Le Mans and Bagnoles-de-l'Orne-Normandie. Nothing too note worthy there, but our pre-Christmas trip to Madrid was killin'. We had three days in Madrid returning to Paris on December 23rd. The purpose of the trip was to see our friend Mariya who recently moved from Los Angeles to Madrid. Lois, a good friend to Leslie, me and Mariya, traveled with us. There was a transit strike in Paris during that time, it was incredibly disruptive. Fortunately it really only affected us on a few occasions, largely because most of our work is a 5-10 minute walk from our home. But since the strike lasted for a number of weeks, getting to and from airports, train stations and one or two of our gigs was a bit of a hassle. I did have to cancel one gig because the métro and buses were not running and even if I could have gotten a taxi, Uber, Lyft, Bolt, or Kapten which was not at all a sure thing, the streets were so crowded that a 15 minute drive was likely 2 hours. All of that was forgotten once we arrived in Madrid. Like Paris it is a pretty walkable city, but it soon became clear that driving there is another matter entirely. I thought that it might be a bit like Barcelona but it has it's own personality. As is normal for us, we prefer to explore the neighborhoods in the cities that we visit rather than hit the tourist areas. So we fell into a routine of afternoons searching for the areas in town that offered interesting things to see and evenings spent in restaurants with good food and friends. There was no music on this trip, sometimes it is good to get away from all of that. The people of Madrid were very warm and hospitable, but then again we live in Paris so the hospitality bar is set pretty low. Nevertheless it was a very enjoyable few days in a lovely city. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/f81b245b645d627f42bc4fc9272cceddf47bbe69/original/madrid-place-cropped.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Center city Madrid, Spain Dec. 2019. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/bcd17b2a2c633a085fe5f9060886064ce82c44b9/original/madrid-tree-cropped.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Christmas tree decoration Madrid, Spain. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/ce3f49393a333f3dbfc7dbf46f434f196440624e/original/madrid-christmas-decor-cropped.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Christmas decorations Madrid, Spain. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/9427e7ba2edda30383b4953f19eb44becb713ec3/original/frog-cropped.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Lois, Gerard & Mariya under a huge frog in Madrid, Spain. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/f9259c30c6c232e6ae89f01e8e085110ba9c3681/original/madrid-rest-cropped.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Restaurant in Madrid. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/3dfe79b026083a60f76bbefc9c24af1319c3fc1b/original/havana-rest-cropped.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />"Havana" restaurant Madrid, Spain. </p>
<p>We have had our regular dates at Chez Papa Jazz Club, Café Laurent, Monteverdi and Bar Josephina in the Hôtel Lutetia but Leslie started the year as a part of a "Women In Jazz" concert series that was hosted by Sacha Boutros at Le Duc des Lombards jazz club in Paris. The show featured Sacha with Leslie, Michele Hendricks and Janis Siegel. The three shows were all sold out. The night with Leslie and Sacha was a spectacular evening largely due to their individual artistry as well as their repartee on stage. Unfortunately Leslie and I were working on the nights that Michele and Janis sang so we missed them, but the reports on their shows were fabulous. This weekend we are doing a concert of Nina Simone's music at Sunside Jazz Club in Paris. <a contents=" https://www.sunset-sunside.com/2020/2/artiste/1852/6797" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.sunset-sunside.com/2020/2/artiste/1852/6797"> https://www.sunset-sunside.com/2020/2/artiste/1852/6797</a>/. Be sure to come if you are in Paris. Please pardon the following shameless plug, use this code 20LL222 to receive a 4€ reduction on your ticket. Based on advanced sales the room will sell out so don't wait. I have been busy writing arrangements for the show, based on the rehearsals that Leslie and I have had, I am really excited to hear them performed by the quartet. We are thinking that down the road we could tour with this show. </p>
<p>Although I have this week off from teaching there is always something that needs to be prepared, graded, or researched. Earlier in January I was asked by some of the students at IMEP to give them a masterclass on playing Be-Bop melodic lines which was both heartening and terrifying in almost equal measure. I had to think this one through since these were pretty advanced students so they already had some basic understanding of the subject. Ultimately I came back to using musical examples from Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and Monk to give them what I hoped were some practical ways to practice and ultimately make playing Be-Bop more natural for them. </p>
<p>For those of you in Paris or if you’re planning to visit, here is our February/March schedule to date. </p>
<p>Feb. 22 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Quartet performs at Sunside Jazz Club in Paris with bassist Peter Giron and drummer Mourad Benhammou. <a contents="https://www.sunset-sunside.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.sunset-sunside.com">https://www.sunset-sunside.com</a> </p>
<p>Feb. 25 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Duo performs at Café Laurent Jazz Club in Paris. <a contents="http://www.hoteldaubusson.com/en/cafe-laurent.html&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.hoteldaubusson.com/en/cafe-laurent.html">http://www.hoteldaubusson.com/en/cafe-laurent.html </a></p>
<p>Feb. 28-29 Leslie Lewis and Gerard Hagen perform at Monteverdi in Paris. <a contents="http://www.lemonteverdi.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.lemonteverdi.com">http://www.lemonteverdi.com</a> </p>
<p>March 7 Leslie Lewis and Gerard Hagen perform at Monteverdi in Paris. <a contents="http://www.lemonteverdi.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.lemonteverdi.com">http://www.lemonteverdi.com</a> </p>
<p>March 13-14 Leslie Lewis and Gerard Hagen perform at Monteverdi in Paris. <a contents="http://www.lemonteverdi.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.lemonteverdi.com">http://www.lemonteverdi.com</a> </p>
<p>March 18-19 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Duo performs at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. <a contents="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</a> </p>
<p>March 20 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Trio performs at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris with bassist Peter Giron. <a contents="&nbsp;http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr"> http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</a> </p>
<p>March 21 The Gerard Hagen Trio with bassist Bruno Rousselet and drummer Julie Saury performs at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. <a contents="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</a> </p>
<p>March 27 Leslie Lewis and Gerard Hagen perform at Monteverdi in Paris. <a contents="http://www.lemonteverdi.com&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.lemonteverdi.com">http://www.lemonteverdi.com </a></p>
<p>Thank you to everyone who has already downloaded "Fragile", our new recording. It is available as a download on CD Baby at this link. <a contents="https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5">https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5</a> </p>
<p> 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. <a contents="http://www.surfcovejazz.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com">http://www.surfcovejazz.com</a> </p>
<p>Thanks for staying in touch with us. </p>
<p>Until next time, Leslie et Gerard </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/4e87bfc6604c71ae89cd30a949e39f6794db385a/original/duc-job-promo.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Promo for Sacha's Women in Jazz concert series. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/b0877feb5860dceb5dec05b19101b5b560fb8f61/original/l-s-duc-job-cropped.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Leslie and Sasha at Duc des Lombards Jazz Club, Paris. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/d946c3ba7252bb16c7c59e50407f214d8768e45b/original/l-s-duc-stage-cropped.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Leslie and Sacha perform together at Duc des Lombards jazz club, Paris. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/6d8acd88764a65fb06c43d03b4a942e180e990d8/original/cruise-2020.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Promo poster for the up coming jazz cruise this spring.</p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137479
2019-12-05T01:00:00+01:00
2020-02-27T06:47:10+01:00
"Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen" Bonjour de Paris 5 Décembre 2019
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#000000;"><em><strong>Bonjour de Paris ...</strong></em></span></div>
<p><span style="color:#000000;">Chers Amis,<br> <br> It rarely happens but... we had last weekend free. So with some extra time on our hands we made up for the fact that we missed celebrating Thanksgiving for the first five years that we lived here and had Thanksgiving dinner with friends on Thursday, Saturday and Monday night. The reason that we were free was that our concerts in Minsk and Riga were postponed until a later date. Having previously experienced Minsk in January, we're okay if they wait until spring to bring us back. So Leslie and I had the time to go to "The Real McCoy" which is a store in Paris where one can purchase food that is typically found in America. We bought things like cranberries and stuffing mix that aren't available in local grocery stores. On Thanksgiving day we had a great time eating dinner with the Giron family. That holiday got started on the right foot with a delicious meal shared with good friends. Saturday night we were with Joan Minor, a jazz singer and another good friend. She and her husband Paul hosted fourteen people for dinner. It was a lovely evening during which Joan asked each guest to put an ornament on her Christmas tree as they were saying their goodbyes. By the time the evening was winding down, her tree was well on the way to being decorated. On Sunday we rested and then we did it all over again at our home on Monday night with Sacha Boutros, our friend and fellow jazz singer from San Diego, who is now living in Paris. That evening we put the groceries we had bought at "The Real McCoy" to good use.<br> <br> Speaking of Sacha, she is doing a "Women In Jazz" show at Duc des Lombards on January 2nd, 3rd and 4th. The show will feature Sacha with three other jazz women of note including Leslie, Michele Hendricks and Janis Siegel. Michele is the daughter of jazz legend Jon Hendricks and of course you know Janis Siegel from her work with Manhattan Transfer; so three nights and three jazz women with Sacha and her band. If you are in Paris, you gotta be there! </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://ducdeslombards.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#000000;">https://ducdeslombards.com</span></a><br> <span style="color:#000000;"> </span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"> <p><span style="color:#000000;">Leslie's birthday was the day before Thanksgiving. We had her celebratory dinner with our friends Lois and Mariya at her favorite Parisian restaurant called "The Cod House". It serves small plates like a tapas restaurant, but the cuisine is Japanese with an emphasis on sushi, sashimi and other seafood. Besides the incredible food, I dig that they have decorated the walls with a neon sign that reads "Oh My Cod" and another sign that reads "Stop trying to make everyone happy, you're not tequila"! When you are in Paris you should definitely check it out. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://www.thecodhouse.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#000000;">https://www.thecodhouse.fr</span></a><span style="color:#000000;"> <br> <br> Richel and Ken Nash, friends who used to come and hear us in California, were visiting Paris and came to hear us at our recent Jazz Night at Les Deux Magots concert. It is always good to see our friends here.<br> <br> <br> Leslie has done it again! We brought home a Christmas tree last Friday night and she brought forth a home beautifully decorated for Christmas. I think it's her best work to date.<br> </span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:#000000;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/3fb26fb4-c4fc-41c0-bd87-7a90c38b63b1.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:#000000;">Birthday dinner with Leslie at the Cod House.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:#000000;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/8d2a6507-109c-42cf-b144-f2e1b6167988.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:#000000;">Richel and Leslie enjoy "Thursday Jazz Night" at Les Deux Magots in Paris.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:#000000;"> </span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:#000000;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/e1883717-9bce-43e2-a3b6-af33aa632b5a.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:#000000;">Leslie's 2019 Christmas Tree all lit up.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:#000000;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/cd57743f-6e94-457f-9b9a-6cbe2c35264b.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:#000000;">Another shot of Leslie's tree 2019.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:#000000;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/3582186a-1f12-467a-b76e-a600e5b8ac55.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:#000000;">Leslie sings at Chez Papa Jazz Club on New Years Eve.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:#000000;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/d68145d8-50d9-46bd-a62f-46d519ef1dc1.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:#000000;">Gerard at New Years Eve at Chez Papa Jazz Club (before a haircut).</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:#000000;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/02d44f24-a6e8-4415-adea-f9eb26538272.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:#000000;">Bassist Bruno Rousselet will work with us at Chez Papa Dec. 27-28, 30-31.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:#000000;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/2c0ad8d8-110d-4173-b2bf-1a95bc786c6f.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:#000000;">Leslie and Gerard perform at Chez Papa Jazz Club.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:#000000;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/e480ce40-3369-4083-a54a-6d761db29b0f.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:#000000;">Gerard playing solo at Hotel Lutetia, Paris.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:#000000;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/e098b7db-6c55-49e1-90a6-edb1018956cc.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:#000000;">Promo poster for the up coming jazz cruise this spring.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"> <p><span style="color:#000000;">We are going to be busy in Paris for the next few months with just a few short trips here and there. Once again we are ending the year with a four night run at Chez Papa Jazz Club which will culminate on New Years Eve. We are thrilled to have bassist Bruno Rousselet join us. Looking ahead, we will be on the road a bit this spring, and summer is looking busy as well. It's possible that we will be in New York and that general area in August. I don't think that we will make it all the way to California, but we aren't going to have the relaxing summer we enjoyed last year. In fact we have dates booked all the way into May 2021.<br> <br> Paris is about to experience a general strike which will affect transportation. We should be ok since we can walk to our gigs in town, but it will mean that twice a week I will have about an hour walk to get to my teaching gig in Montparnasse. Of course it'll be the same walk home so hopefully there will be some time to rest before going to work at night. I do have to get to a gig in the 15th arrondissement in Paris in December which could become an issue depending upon how the negotiations between the unions and the government go. We are a bit concerned because we have a four day trip to Madrid right before Christmas so there is the little matter of getting to the airport during a transit strike. One can only hope that someone will be in the control tower so that our flight can get off of the ground. <br> <br> For those of you in Paris or if you’re planning to visit, here is our Décember schedule to date. <br> <br> Dec. 7-8 Leslie Lewis and Gerard Hagen perform at Monteverdi in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.lemonteverdi.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#000000;">http://www.lemonteverdi.com</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:#000000;">Dec. 12 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Duo performs at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#000000;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:#000000;">Dec. 13-14 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Trio performs at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. Friday with bassist Peter Giron and Saturday with Bruno Rousselet. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#000000;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr </span></a><span style="color:#000000;"> <br> <br> Dec. 17 Gerard & Peter Giron perform with vocalist Emilie Forbin at Bistro Le Monclar in Paris. <br> <br> Dec. 18 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Duo performs at Café Laurent Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.hoteldaubusson.com/en/cafe-laurent.html" target="_blank"><span style="color:#000000;">http://www.hoteldaubusson.com/en/cafe-laurent.html</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:#000000;">Dec. 27-28 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Trio with bassist Bruno Rousselet performs at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#000000;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a><span style="color:#000000;"> <br> <br> Dec. 30-31 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Trio with bassist Bruno Rousselet performs at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#000000;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a><span style="color:#000000;"> <br> <br> Jan. 2 Leslie with Sacha Boutros at Duc des Lombards in Paris </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://ducdeslombards.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#000000;">https://ducdeslombards.com</span></a><span style="color:#000000;"> <br> Jan. 3 Sacha w/ Michele Hendricks<br> Jan. 4 Sacha w/ Janis Siegel<br> <br> Thank you to everyone who has already downloaded "Fragile", our new recording. It is available as a download on CD Baby at this link. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5%C2%A0" target="_blank"><span style="color:#000000;">https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5 </span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:#000000;"> 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. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#000000;">http://www.surfcovejazz.com</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:#000000;">Thanks for staying in touch with us.<br> <br> Until next time, Leslie et Gerard </span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"></table> </td> </tr>
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Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137481
2019-10-31T01:00:00+01:00
2020-02-27T06:47:41+01:00
"Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen" Bonjour de Paris 31 Octobre 2019
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:null;"><em><strong>Bonjour de Paris ...</strong></em></span></div>
<p><span style="color:null;">Chers Amis,<br> <br> Leslie and I hope that all is well with you. It is fall in Paris, the sun has left the building, so to speak. Somehow this year I seem to be able to embrace this situation better than past years, or perhaps it is because it is still early in the season. We'll see how I feel in February! As I walk the city going to and from work, I have been enjoying the grey skies along with the changing colors of the trees and the crispness in the air. Recently there have been several times that I have actually enjoyed walking in the rain, well light rain, without an umbrella. After seven years, I still really love living in this city. For her part, Leslie is already pretty much in full on Christmas mode. As we walked home from work the other night we noticed some city workers were starting to put up Christmas lights. Leslie loves to see the city lit up at Christmas so perhaps that is what triggered her early Christmas mood. I find it adorable that she gets so excited about getting a tree and decorating our home. Since we have lived in Europe, Christmas for us has changed considerably. We no longer suffer from much of the stress causing elements of the season. What little shopping we do is done on foot which makes the whole experience so much better, maybe even pleasant. We pretty much do the things that we enjoy about the holidays and forget about the rest. Having said all of that it would be nice to have our family and long time friends nearby, so there is always a trade off. </span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;">Last week we were in Berlin for the first time. We still can't get over how short the flight time is between cities here. That is one of the advantages of living in Paris which is centrally located to much of Europe. We arrived at one of the two airports (Tegel) serving Berlin. I was surprised that it was so easy to negotiate the distance from the plane to the street. We walked outside into a beautiful fall day and immediately found a taxi (a new Mercedes Benz) that was ready and waiting for us. The drive into town followed a route next to a canal that was surrounded by trees that were changing color. So it was not the typical airport drive into town. You can't really say that the area around l'aéroport Charles de Gaulle or LAX is charming, but the drive into town from Tegel was pretty scenic. Having arrived in Berlin at 9:00 am, we were very pleasantly surprised to find that our hotel had a room that was available. The room was fine, most importantly there was a comfortable bed with four pillows, two that were softer and two that were firmer. I was beginning to think that the Germans really had this "making life easier" thing going. Then reality hit. After a nap, Leslie tried to use the TV, the remote didn't work. I wanted to lower the temperature in the room. The thermostat didn't work. We wanted to put some things into the room safe, the lock didn't work. Reality bites! <br> <br> Around the time that we moved to Paris, our friend and fellow pianist Louis Durra moved from L.A. to Berlin. Over the past years we have hung out in Paris a few times. I think that Louis came for Christmas for two years in a row. So we had a very nice hang with him as he showed us the city for the next few days. Louis has really built a nice life for himself there. He has regular gigs but most importantly he has integrated himself into his neighborhood and into the larger music community. <br> <br> In retrospect we shouldn't have been surprised that Berlin seems a bit a haphazard in terms of city planning. Of course it makes sense since the city needed to be rebuilt as quickly as possible after the second war and there was also the little matter of that wall to deal with. So it is easy to tell which parts of the city were in the east and which were in the west. We have experienced Soviet era architecture in a number of countries. Even after all of the time that has passed since the fall of the Soviet Union, those buildings still afflict the neighborhoods no matter what efforts the locals make. Fortunately there are many beautiful neighborhoods in Berlin, and a thriving art/music/culinary scene. It is a vibrant city and very fun to explore. </span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/3c736d15-6fc6-454b-8990-1074d8122550.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Skies over Germany at daybreak.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/5c5c8624-dac0-4d2a-832a-fd4fc1b8e3f2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Ariel view of suburban Berlin, Germany.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/d2afd6d5-f6bc-410f-991c-9d443fe7a102.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Neighborhood in Berlin, Germany.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/f4c1a40a-485a-4e41-9cda-1c76d8a4e717.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Japanese restaurant Berlin, Germany.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/81da7f1c-2109-48df-83d7-47de648dbfda.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Leslie & Gerard at the Brandenburg Gate Berlin, Germany.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/9e948e1f-ba01-4406-8b7c-42b13dca31a3.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Louis Durra at A Trane Jazz Club Berlin, Germany.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/0825da5a-7ff7-4132-af84-a7055046d744.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Louis Durra, Leslie & Gerard at A Trane Jazz Club Berlin, Germany.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/c6d500c9-0f43-4c98-bd15-a271cf5b8d69.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Promo for Louis Durra's regular Monday night gig.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/da68459e-33ab-41ba-82bc-46c809c157ce.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Louis and Katherina perform in Berlin, Germany. Katherina sings and plays the musical saw. She really does!</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/9b8b5312-60c4-40c3-af15-171bb34022bd.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Gerard playing solo at Hotel Lutetia, Paris.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/e098b7db-6c55-49e1-90a6-edb1018956cc.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Promo poster for the up coming jazz cruise this spring.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top">
<span style="color:null;">Work has been moving along nicely. We were both sick for a while, Leslie had a very severe respiratory infection that was diagnosed as pneumonia. She had to sub out a couple of dates which she almost never does. Beyond that we have had a pretty nice balance between work and free time. We are very fortunate that we now have five venues that we work on a regular basis and that are within a ten minute walk from our home. I have made it into the regular rotation of pianists playing solo at Hotel Lutetia </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://www.hotellutetia.com/bar-josephine" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">https://www.hotellutetia.com/bar-josephine</span></a><span style="color:null;"> which has been a fun thing for me. Once again we are going to be at Chez Papa Jazz Club for the week prior to New Years Eve. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a><br> <span style="color:null;">This year we are going to be in trio with bassist Bruno Rousselet. He is one of our favorites. So please check our web site when you are next in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.surfcovejazz.com</span></a><span style="color:null;"> <br> <br> Classes at IMEP college are in the sixth week.</span><a data-imported="1" href="https://www.imep.pro/en/%C2%A0" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;"> https://www.imep.pro/en/ </span></a><span style="color:null;"> I have a good group of in-coming pianists. Over the course of their first year I need to get them prepared to tackle the coursework for the second and third years and ultimately for a life in music. In December my music history courses begin. This year I have two sections of thirty students in each. So that is going to be a challenge. <br> <br> For those of you in Paris or if you’re planning to visit, here is our November and Décember schedule to date. <br> <br> Nov. 1-2 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Trio with bassist Peter Giron performs at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr </span></a><span style="color:null;"> <br> <br> Nov. 8-9 Leslie Lewis and Gerard Hagen perform at Monteverdi in Paris. http://www.lemonteverdi.com</span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.lemonteverdi.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.lemonteverdi.com</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Nov. 11 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Duo performs at Café Laurent Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.hoteldaubusson.com/en/cafe-laurent.html" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.hoteldaubusson.com/en/cafe-laurent.html</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Nov. 14 Leslie & Gerard perform at a concert privé in Paris.<br> <br> Nov. 21 Leslie & Gerard perform with Clément Blumen at Les Deux Magots in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://lesdeuxmagots.cafe/lesprit-du-jazz-aux-deux-magots/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://lesdeuxmagots.cafe/lesprit-du-jazz-aux-deux-magots/</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Nov. 22 Leslie Lewis and Gerard Hagen perform at Monteverdi in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.lemonteverdi.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.lemonteverdi.com</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Nov. 23 Leslie & Gerard perform at a concert privé in Paris.<br> <br> Dec. 1 Gerard performs solo piano at Bar Josephine in the Hotel Lutetia in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://www.hotellutetia.com/bar-josephine" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">https://www.hotellutetia.com/bar-josephine</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Dec. 7 Leslie Lewis and Gerard Hagen perform at Monteverdi in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.lemonteverdi.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.lemonteverdi.com</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Dec. 12 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Duo performs at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Dec. 13-14 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Trio performs at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. Friday with bassist Peter Giron and Saturday with Bruno Rousselet. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a><span style="color:null;"> <br> <br> Dec. 17 Gerard & Peter Giron perform with vocalist Emilie Forban at Bistro Le Monclar in Paris. <br> <br> Dec. 18 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Duo performs at Café Laurent Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.hoteldaubusson.com/en/cafe-laurent.html" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.hoteldaubusson.com/en/cafe-laurent.html</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Dec. 27-28 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Trio with bassist Bruno Rousselet performs at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://%C2%A0http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr%C2%A0" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http:// http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr </span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Dec. 30-31 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Trio with bassist Bruno Rousselet performs at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;"> http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a><span style="color:null;"> <br> <br> Thank you to everyone who has already downloaded "Fragile", our new recording. It is available as a download on CD Baby at this link. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;"> 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. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.surfcovejazz.com</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Thanks for staying in touch with us.<br> <br> Until next time, Leslie et Gerard </span>
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Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137480
2019-09-22T02:00:00+02:00
2020-03-17T15:40:56+01:00
"Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen" Bonjour de Paris 22 Septembre 2019
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:null;"><em><strong>Bonjour de Paris ...</strong></em></span></div>
<p><span style="color:null;">Chers Amis,<br> <br> It is September in Paris. That means that it is "la rentrée" which for families with school age children means get ready for the school year and get back to work after summer vacations. For us preparing for my teaching during the fall trimester at IMEP is as close as we get to that experience. La rentrée also means that normal life in Paris resumes after the summer break. The city is again full of Parisiens who now outnumber the tourists. The stores, restaurants, clubs etc. are open and crowded and there is a bit more energy in the air. The weather is perhaps the best it will be all year with the sun thankfully keeping the temperature moderate after the August heat. Soon it will be cloudy and rainy but it's best not to think about that so we can enjoy the rest of September.<br> <br> This summer was probably the closest we have come to having the traditional French summer. In July we traveled to Italy for a week vacation and with the exception of Leslie making an over night trip to work with Philippe Martel's trio, the rest of the month was spent working in and around Paris. We spent most of August vacationing away from Paris with the exception of a couple nights when I was back in Paris to play solo at the Hotel Lutetia. It took seven years but we finally experienced a French summer holiday! <br> <br> We have both found the time off from performing to be restorative. I was able to work on some repertoire while we were away in August. My playing on my solo dates as well as my work with Leslie feels more free and I am enjoying performing more now that I had before. I know that having that much time away from work was really good for Leslie. Since her instrument is her body, being able to rest her voice and relax for an extended period of time was just what she needed. This month she was invited to perform two dates with Philippe Duchemin's trio. One was in Cherbourg and the other near Avignon. We did a duo date at the Qatar Embassy, and had gigs in two new clubs as well as our normal monthly Paris dates. Leslie was scheduled to play two nights next weekend at Jazz Cafe Montparnasse with Rhoda Scott but the club has been closed for renovation and they of course didn't get the work finished in time so those dates are canceled leaving us with an unexpected hole in our calendar. On the plus side, that gives us some free time to see our friends Clifford and Lydia who are on one of their bi-yearly visits to Paris. Finally I am happy to say that I will be playing solo at Hotel Lutetia in October. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://www.hotellutetia.com/bar-josephine" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">https://www.hotellutetia.com/bar-josephine</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Classes begin next week at the college. During last week's faculty meeting I learned that I will have the same teaching load as last year. So my days of summer are long gone and it's back to work. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.imep.pro/en/%C2%A0" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">https://www.imep.pro/en/ </span></a></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/32d9e7ea-861c-492f-87ed-4a2f373c5fbb.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">View of the beach in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/a0e59225-3986-4173-91ca-e9a175eebf67.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Restaurant at Hossegor Beach, it looks like a dump but we had a great lunch there.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<span style="color:null;">Leslie and I spent a few days in Saint-Jean-de-Luz with our friends Peter and Nicole Giron. It is a small village on the Atlantic ocean in Basque country very near the Spanish border. It is not far from Biarritz, France and it is also very near to Saint Sebastien, Spain. We were able to spend time exploring the area. The last time we were there, we discovered a beautiful restaurant on the water in Bidart, France. Luckily they were able to squeeze us in on what was a very busy Saturday night and we enjoyed a wonderful dinner together. Leslie and I keep fantasizing about moving down there so that we can be near the sea and enjoy more sunny days. <br> <br> In the next few months we will be going to Berlin, Minsk, Belarus and Riga, Latvia. It looks like we will be in Madrid right before Christmas and we will end the year with our week long residency at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris culminating with a New Years Eve concert there. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;"> http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">This should have been included in last month's news but better late that never. Maureen and John Vastardis have been friends with Leslie for many, many years. Fortunately they travel quite a bit so occasionally we see them in Europe or when we are in California. Maureen is a very accomplished photographer and has several photos being shown in exhibits in CA. So if you are near that area you may see her work at The Front Porch Gallery Carlsbad, CA. (Aug. 25- Nov. 24) and the Oceanside Museum of Art (Aug. 31 - Nov. 2).</span>
<p><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.frontporchgallery.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">www.frontporchgallery.org</span></a></p>
<p><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.oma-online.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">www.oma-online.org</span></a></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/390a19a6-48cf-4a34-b4ad-bd990a2afbe2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Leslie & Gerard after lunch Hossegor Beach, France.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/9b8b5312-60c4-40c3-af15-171bb34022bd.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Gerard playing solo at Hotel Lutetia, Paris.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/ecaf82d0-9dcd-4001-8369-67aefac80216.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Jazz Dans Les Vignes near Avignon, France.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/e098b7db-6c55-49e1-90a6-edb1018956cc.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Promo poster for the up coming jazz cruise this spring.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"> <p><span style="color:null;">For those of you in Paris or if you’re planning to visit, here is our late September and October schedule to date. <br> <br> Sept. 25 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Duo performs at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Sept. 29 Leslie & Gerard perform at a concert privé in Paris. <br> <br> Oct. 2 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Duo performs at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Oct. 6 Leslie travels to Bagnoles-de-L'Orne-Normandie to perform with Rhoda Scott at Musicale de-L'Orne. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://www.septembre-musical.com/fr/rhoda-scott-et-leslie-lewis-181.html" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">https://www.septembre-musical.com/fr/rhoda-scott-et-leslie-lewis-181.html</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Oct. 11-12 Leslie Lewis and Gerard Hagen perform at Monteverdi in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.lemonteverdi.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.lemonteverdi.com</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Oct. 16 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Duo performs at Café Laurent Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.hoteldaubusson.com/en/cafe-laurent.html" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.hoteldaubusson.com/en/cafe-laurent.html</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Oct. 18-19 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Trio performs at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. Friday with bassist Raphael Devers and Saturday with Peter Giron. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a><span style="color:null;"> <br> <br> Oct. 23 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Duo performs at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Oct. 25 Leslie Lewis and Gerard Hagen perform at Monteverdi in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.lemonteverdi.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.lemonteverdi.com</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Oct. 26 Leslie & Gerard perform with Peter Giron at a concert privé in Paris. <br> <br> Oct 27 Gerard performs solo piano at Bar Josephine in the Hotel Lutetia in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://www.hotellutetia.com/bar-josephine" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">https://www.hotellutetia.com/bar-josephine</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Oct. 30-31 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Duo performs at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Nov. 1-2 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Trio performs with bassist Peter Giron at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a><span style="color:null;"> <br> <br> Thank you to everyone who has already downloaded "Fragile", our new recording. It is available as a download on CD Baby at this link. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5</span></a><span style="color:null;"> <br> <br> 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. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.surfcovejazz.com</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Thanks for staying in touch with us.<br> <br> Until next time, Leslie et Gerard </span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137478
2019-08-27T02:00:00+02:00
2020-02-27T06:48:43+01:00
"Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen" Bonjour de Paris 27 Août 2019
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:null;"><em><strong>Bonjour de Paris ...</strong></em></span></div>
<p><span style="color:null;">Chers Amis,<br> <br> It is often the case that we send out a newsletter upon returning home to Paris from time spent away somewhere. This time it was a quiet few weeks spent with friends in the lovely seaside home of our friend Lois in La Baule, FR. Over the past few years, as August rolls around, this has become an annual trip for us. Due to our lighter than usual work schedule this year, we were able to stay for a considerable amount of time. We spent our time at the beach browsing through the downtown stores, cooking dinners, reading etc. Leslie and I worked on our French language skills. I played Lois' piano quite a bit. This summer Marcy and Pearl, friends from L.A., included La Baule in their French vacation so we were able to have lunch with them. Over the years that we have been going to La Baule, we have met quite a few people so it is good to catch up with them during our time there. Now that we are back in Paris and the forecast is for a few more days of 90º heat we are really missing the beach.</span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/453a44a3-f873-436a-86ea-92377789010e.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Early evening view of the beach in La Baule, France.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/0edc61e3-7f7c-4cb0-9408-379ead40de1a.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">View of the beach in La Baule, France.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"> </span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/ac44280b-89f2-4b15-8d46-ef8c1a491397.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Almost time for sunset.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/8107d1eb-e4e6-4931-8005-39fe950e31cb.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Enjoying la côte de sauvage near Batz sur Mer, France.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/33aa7598-81ca-4d37-81c9-6c5706dc05a6.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">View of la côte de sauvage Batz sur Mer, France.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/17a98221-0db6-4f2e-b3fd-474e7059f426.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">The home of our friend Lois in La Baule, France.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/d8ca1836-66d7-4c38-9451-13d267cb7178.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Lois' garden La Baule, France.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/93d2d428-0e10-4fbf-9a7b-c6a554222d90.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">The result of many conversations over a (few) glass(es) of wine.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top">
<span style="color:null;">I was asked to do a couple of solo piano dates at L'Hotel Lutetia in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://www.hotellutetia.com/bar-josephine" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">https://www.hotellutetia.com/bar-josephine</span></a><span style="color:null;"> Lutetia is a beautiful hotel in Paris that recently re-opened after a four year renovation. Since I have not had many opportunities to play solo piano dates since we moved to Paris, I needed to dust off my solo piano repertoire. Our time in La Baule gave me plenty of time to do just that. Last Friday I took the train back to Paris to play my first date there. The room is unbelievably gorgeous. There are windows looking out on the street which after dark is even more beautiful as the city lights up. There is a very modern looking Pleyel grand piano that plays well and has a warm sound. I casually put out a little promo for these dates not expecting to draw many people. Normally hotels have their own clientele. I did draw a few people, including a childhood friend whom I haven't seen since 1981 who happened to be visiting Paris. What I wasn't expecting was the number of people who after seeing the promo contacted me with congratulations on playing at the Lutetia. I've played in many, many venues, some grand and some not so grand, but I can't recall this many people congratulating me about a gig. I will be back there this Friday for another night of solo piano for that I am grateful. <br> <br> This week is about getting back into the real world, playing a few gigs and preparing for another year of teaching at IMEP. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://www.imep.pro/en/%C2%A0" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">https://www.imep.pro/en/ </span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">In a few weeks we will be in Saint-Jean-de-Luz with Peter and Nicole Giron. More on that trip next month.</span>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/58ec3b48-7273-4d71-9eff-63b85995c5ff.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Fireworks looking toward the Pornichet south of La Baule.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/abcc0efb-1a5f-443b-9f0d-7fa07a088921.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">I like this photo of Leslie from our time in Varenna, Italy.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/e098b7db-6c55-49e1-90a6-edb1018956cc.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Promo poster for the up coming jazz cruise this spring.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"> <p><span style="color:null;">For those of you in Paris or if you’re planning to visit in the remaining weeks of summer, here is our late August and September schedule to date. There are a number of dates in September that need to be confirmed so please check back.<br> <br> <br> August 30 Gerard performs solo piano at Bar Josephine in the Hotel Lutetia in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://www.hotellutetia.com/bar-josephine" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">https://www.hotellutetia.com/bar-josephine</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Sept. 1 Leslie travels to Cherbourg-Octeville, to perform with Philippe Duchemin's trio at Jazz Sur Les Quais. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.jazzsurlesquais.fr/event/philippe-duchemin-trio-invite-la-chanteuse-americaine-leslie-lewis/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.jazzsurlesquais.fr/event/philippe-duchemin-trio-invite-la-chanteuse-americaine-leslie-lewis/</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Sept. 5 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Duo performs at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Sept. 10 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Duo performs at Café Laurent Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.hoteldaubusson.com/en/cafe-laurent.html" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.hoteldaubusson.com/en/cafe-laurent.html</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Sept. 20 Leslie Lewis and Gerard Hagen perform at Monteverdi in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.lemonteverdi.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.lemonteverdi.com</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Sept. 21 Leslie travels to Sérignan-du-Comtat to perform with Philippe Duchemin's trio at Jazz dans les Vignes. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://www.jazzdanslesvignes.fr/programme-2019/philippe-duchemin-invite-leslie-lewis/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">https://www.jazzdanslesvignes.fr/programme-2019/philippe-duchemin-invite-leslie-lewis/</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Sept. 27-28 Leslie Lewis performs with the Rhoda Scott Quartet at Jazz Café Montparnasse in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://jazzcafe-montparnasse.com/programmation" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">https://jazzcafe-montparnasse.com/programmation</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;"><strong>There will be more dates to be confirmed at Chez Papa Jazz Club.</strong><br> <br> Thank you to everyone who has already downloaded "Fragile", our new recording. It is available as a download on CD Baby at this link. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5</span></a><span style="color:null;"> <br> <br> 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. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.surfcovejazz.com</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Thanks for staying in touch with us.<br> <br> Until next time, Leslie et Gerard </span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137477
2019-07-24T02:00:00+02:00
2021-07-14T18:10:33+02:00
"Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen" Bonjour de Paris 24 Juillet 2019
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<center><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="bodyTable" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;"><tbody> <tr> <td align="center" id="bodyCell" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateHeader" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="headerContainer" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"> </span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateBody" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="bodyContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:null;"><em><strong>Bonjour de Paris ...</strong></em></span></div>
<p><span style="color:null;">Chers Amis,<br> <br> So we are back in Paris after a week in Italy. This trip was a birthday present for Leslie and she made the absolute most of it beginning with doing a ton of research on locations, accommodations and with things to do in the area. She decided that she wanted to see Lake Como and so we made the arrangements to make that happen. She was able to direct our activities based on all of the reading that she had done in preparation for the trip. Based on the amount of time that we have spent traveling to gigs, we became very good traveling companions a long time ago, but I think we are even better at vacationing together. To that end, we had a great time visiting that area of Italy. The weather was forecast to be rainy for most of the time that we were to be there. As it turned out there was only a little rain one afternoon and it was a welcome cool down from the afternoon sun. Beyond that, it rained hard once overnight. The rest of the time was sunny and a bit on the warm side. We stayed in a beautiful villa in Varenna enjoying a private terrace and a pool, both with unbelievable views of the lake. We used the pool every afternoon to cool down after spending the day visiting the charming villages that surround the lake. It was easy to get around the lake by ferry. We spent the most time in the villages of Bellagio and Menaggio. Pretty much everywhere we looked at any given time there was something charming, beautiful or even stunning to see. The food in Italy is by and large delicious. Even the one night when we decided to cook pasta dinner at the villa was great. We heard two concerts (an R&B band and a remake of "Birth Of The Cool") which were held in the village square on the steps of a church that was a few minutes walk from where we stayed. The R&B concert was very well done. It was a Zucchero Fornaciari tribute band (he no longer performs). Having lived in Europe for seven years now even we recognized some of his music. Lisa Hunt, an American singer now living in Australia, was the featured guest artist. She did a couple of Aretha tunes in a way that really captivated the audience. The "Birth Of The Cool" concert was another matter. I was very influenced by that recording in my college years and it is a classic. So it is incumbent when one tries to "update" that music that they do it with a clear understanding of what that music is! Sadly this was not the case and while I applaud the effort, I would have preferred that they had played the music as it was originally written. Both concerts were sponsored by the village of Varenna and were free to the public. Our travel which included planes, trains and taxis was thankfully uneventful. Often I have noticed that upon our return to Paris after being away for a week or more I have a tinge of excitement. I love to see the city, the cafes, the lights, the Seine, and to feel the energy of Paris. </span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/18700514-4b31-4e20-a570-87c330e29bf2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Lake front in Varenna, Italy.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/542d01af-66da-418a-af90-20db83355640.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">View from the terrace in "our" villa, Varenna, Italy.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"> </span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/022622b8-1d0e-44ff-8e7c-2be0bf9d930c.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Courtyard in Milan, Italy.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/afae4011-96a2-4a1e-980b-eeba8a758b9c.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">We enjoyed a great dinner at this restaurant in Milan. It was a good way to start our vacation.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/adb99f5a-8d7a-4a76-a52a-25b53b0d4b34.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">View of Lake Como in Bellagio, Italy.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/fa751666-f7f0-4139-9178-812fcc1f004a.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Nun plays with children in Menaggio, Italy.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/ce744eb6-940b-42b5-9c36-d44b07f36da4.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Rock concert in front of a church in Varenna, Italy.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/7e3e3808-333b-4b31-b6f3-395463c029bc.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Sign indicating the home of Franz Liszt in Bellagio, Italy.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;">We have great news in that we received our Titres de Séjour (residency permits), so July of 2019 begins another four years of legal residence. With them comes Cartes de Séjour which are often necessary to pair with our passports when we travel to prove that we are legal residents of France. Since the previous ones expired last April and our temporary ones expired July 15th, as the time for our Italian vacation was nearing, we became a little concerned that we would not have valid credentials. As it happened they had the Cartes de Séjour ready on a Friday morning (three days before our flight), so off we went to the Prefecture to get them. </span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/6bb39b1a-ba9d-4eca-8a8f-051201d1c2be.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Beautiful garden in the front yard of a home in Menaggio, Italy.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/abcc0efb-1a5f-443b-9f0d-7fa07a088921.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Leslie enjoys a lakeside dinner in Varenna, Italy.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/acc6886d-bb1a-4788-98a0-2fed213a957f.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Entrance to a home in Bellagio, Italy.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/173a2099-f23d-4759-a50d-551001f127a6.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Gerard enjoying the pool in the villa.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/88a6f0c9-f84a-4bbc-b75c-3b501e42425b.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">View to Lake Como Varenna, Italy.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/65d25fc4-70b5-4349-b8a9-87c122262d3b.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">View from the villa Varenna, Italy.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/5eb3017f-4c0a-43c9-9c42-acffe8a9d9b8.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Stairway from the lake front to the village in Varenna, Italy.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/94b07a12-0216-4ef9-b0f8-5f750440a129.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Lakeside Varenna, Italy.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/facd25df-8725-45a5-b8e3-f2757490512a.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Sunset on Lake Como our last night in Varenna, Italy.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;">At the end of June we did a concert in the gardens of the U.S. Embassy in Paris. It was a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the first moon walk. We were a part of a ten piece R&B band comprised of American musicians living in Paris. We played mostly Motown music that was current roughly around the time frame of the Apollo 11 mission. There was an Army rock band there and a very cool re-creation of an astronaut doing a space walk which happened after dark. It was a good band and it was great fun to play that music. </span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/8400a367-50c0-4134-8102-41afaba685bd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Load in and set up for the concert at the U.S. Embassy, Paris.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/098fb116-f6b3-49b2-9737-5001af7e6b39.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Backstage looking toward the audience in the gardens of U.S. Embassy, Paris.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/bebfb7b2-4716-4f20-9240-590987b74d6c.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Another shot from backstage U.S. Embassy, Paris.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/87e8e4d8-fe92-44df-accf-cf0e0d4b8a7f.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Three singers Leslie, Crystal & Keri, waiting to be guest artists with the U.S. Army Band which is on stage behind them. Dig the red, white and blue dresses!</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top">
<span style="color:null;">This year we stayed home and watched the Bastille Day, 14th of July, celebration on TV. The main celebration in Paris is located around the Eiffel Tower. There is a symphony concert which lasts for several hours followed by the fireworks which begin after sunset. The fireworks are located on and around the tower and are timed to match a soundtrack. It is really an unbelievable show. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=271bf2bf3f&e=a57257d8b7" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">https://youtu.be/i5n74Cz7GnA </span></a>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;">We are having a quiet summer regarding work. It has been good for us to be at home more in order to do the things that get put off when we are too busy doing other work. Next month we are very happy to be making our annual trek to the lovely summer home of our friend Lois in La Baule, France. This year we have more time there than usual so we are looking forward to many great BBQ's, conversations over a glass of wine, afternoons at the beach or reading in the garden and Leslie's favorite... swimming in the Côte de Sauvage (savage coast). The Côte de Sauvage is like the beach areas north of San Francisco. I have to mention that I have been asked to do a few solo piano dates at the Hotel Lutetia in Paris next month. It will require that I take a train back and forth to Paris from La Baule which will interrupt my time with Lois and our other friends there. But it is a very good opportunity for me that I hope will lead to regular work there next year. In the fall, Leslie has some dates in Paris and will be on the road with Rhoda Scott. I am looking forward to more piano trio dates in Paris. We are very happy to have both been asked to do another jazz cruise next spring. This cruise will again be in the Mediterranean Sea but will go to different ports including Istanbul, Sardinia, Corsica, and Greece. I didn't think I would be saying this anytime soon, but it looks like we will be traveling back to Belarus later this year so there is much to look forward to... and to rest up for. </span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/e098b7db-6c55-49e1-90a6-edb1018956cc.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Promo poster for the up coming jazz cruise this spring.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"> <p><span style="color:null;">For those of you in Paris or if you’re planning to visit in the remaining weeks of summer, here is our rather sparse July and August schedule.<br> <br> July 26 Leslie travels to Ville d'Istres to perform with Philippe Martel's quartet at Jazz au Ranquet on the beach. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=ef76378455&e=a57257d8b7" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">https://www.istres-tourisme.com/jazz-au-ranquet.html#media</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">July 30 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Duo performs at Café Laurent Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=651cbb8e7f&e=a57257d8b7" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.hoteldaubusson.com/en/cafe-laurent.html</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">August 23 & 30 Gerard performs solo piano at Bar Josephine in the Hotel Lutetia in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=386e8a2e8b&e=a57257d8b7" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">https://www.hotellutetia.com/bar-josephine</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">There will be a few dates at Chez Papa Jazz Club in August but no dates are confirmed yet.<br> <br> Thank you to everyone who has already downloaded "Fragile", our new recording. It is available as a download on CD Baby at this link. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=17fd0a1647&e=a57257d8b7" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5 </span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;"> 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. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=255e797a05&e=a57257d8b7" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.surfcovejazz.com</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Thanks for staying in touch with us.<br> <br> Until next time, Leslie et Gerard </span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
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Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137476
2019-06-18T02:00:00+02:00
2021-08-07T04:54:26+02:00
"Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen" Bonjour de Paris 18 Juin 2019
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:null;"><em><strong>Bonjour de Paris ...</strong></em></span></div> <span style="color:null;">Chers Amis,</span>
<p><br> <span style="color:null;">We just returned from a killer four days in Porto, Portugal. Other than a quick run out that Leslie made to Volnay, FR earlier this month, it was the first time that we left Paris since returning from the jazz cruise in May. The weather was fantastic, (so nice to see the sun everyday) and the city is beautiful in terms of both the people and the surroundings. We have been curious about the city since we met some people from Porto in Paris a couple of years ago. So when we heard that some friends from California were coming to Porto to do the walk to Santiago de Compostela, we decided to join them for a few days in Porto before they began their walk. So the city has both beach areas and also a river waterfront which winds through the city. It is a city built on many hills which makes it both very interesting in terms of cool neighborhoods, architecture, and visual surprises, but also a challenge to negotiate as one explores these neighborhoods on foot. There were a lot of things that reminded me of California, including freeways and a bit of urban sprawl, but also the weather, the beaches, the waterfront and the vibrancy of the people. There are many neighborhoods that have become run down but are being gentrified. For example we heard of a restaurant that had great sunset views as well as great food. When we arrived the entire block looked like it was a hang for bikers. The buildings had metal doors, barred windows and were covered in graffiti. Even so we checked out the inside to find this beautiful dinning room that was completely booked for the evening. Since we were a party of eight fortunately we had a reservation. We had an incredible meal that evening to go along with some great conversation. <br> <br> As you might imagine there are many opportunities to explore the making and drinking of port wine. I was told there was a winery in town that will let you taste port that was bottled in the year of your birth. As it happens I didn't take advantage of the opportunity to try a glass of port wine in Porto.</span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/ec94eea1-bf27-4b2d-845a-9a3d67556384.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Riverfront in Porto, Portugal.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/c4fc2928-5f2d-4bae-81bd-448441298bab.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Beach in Porto, Portugal.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/b34a5cb1-774b-4ac4-b0d7-03bde16a3fd5.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Street in Porto, Portugal.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/d9a6f481-91fa-44e4-b75d-f77386398b58.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Sunset in Porto, Portugal.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/36c13020-549f-42fd-ba78-852dc9a274c4.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Party of eight for dinner in Porto, Portugal.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;">We are still waiting to hear from the Prefecture about having our residency permits extended another four years. In 2015 we waited for nine months for them to process our dossiers and finally grant us new permits. So this could take a while longer.<br> <br> I have completed my teaching assignment at IMEP Paris College of Music. My grades are in and with the exception of a couple of auditions for incoming students, I am out of the classroom until mid September. I love the job but I am happy to have some time off.<br> <br> The rest of this month we are doing our normal gigs in Paris. However not all of our gigs are of the normal variety. We were asked to be a part of a band that will do a concert of motown music at the U.S. Embassy in Paris at the end of June. Leslie and I are fans of that music and the band is made up of some very good American musicians who are living in Paris so we are really looking forward to that night. </span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<span style="color:null;">For those of you in Paris or if you’re planning to visit this month, here is our remaining June schedule.<br> <br> June 19-20 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Duo performs at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">June 21 & 22 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Trio with Bruno Rousselet and Patrice Solar performs at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;"> http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">June 26 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Duo performs at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">June 27 Leslie and Gerard perform as a part of the band at the U.S. Embassy in Paris.<br> <br> June 28th & 29th Leslie and Gerard perform at Monteverdi in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.lemonteverdi.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.lemonteverdi.com</span></a><br> <br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Thank you to everyone who has already downloaded "Fragile", our new recording. It is available as a download on CD Baby at this link. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;"> https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5</span></a><span style="color:null;"> <br> <br> 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. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.surfcovejazz.com</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Thanks for staying in touch with us.<br> <br> Until next time, Leslie et Gerard </span>
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Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137475
2019-05-10T02:00:00+02:00
2020-02-27T06:49:33+01:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Bonjour de Paris" 10 Mai 2019
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:null;"><em><strong>Bonjour de Paris ...</strong></em></span></div> <span style="color:null;">Chers Amis,</span>
<p><span style="color:null;">So many things have transpired since I last reported to you. It's best that I follow events chronologically in order to lessen the chances of forgetting something important or more to the point, funny. <br> <br> Our concert at Jazz Club Grenoble was great fun. It was produced by a group of very active volunteers who love jazz music. These people rent the space, the piano, the P.A., do the advertising, buy and sell the drinks and food etc. They met us at the train station, took us to our hotel, and then to the venue. They fed us and took us back to the hotel after the concert. It is a huge undertaking, and they not only do a monthly concert series, but they also do a jazz festival and create opportunities for student musicians to perform. They are an amazing group of people. But this is not unusual in France. There are groups like this all over the country. Many in very small towns that one would never expect to find jazz of at all. <br> When we returned to the hotel Peter and Leslie's NY/NJ backgrounds came out in the form of having an appetite for a slice. Mourad (our drummer), who doesn't suffer from the same appetite, decided to turn in while the rest of us went on a midnight search in Grenoble for a slice. We found a place that was appropriately called "SOS" Pizza and it was only about 7 or 8 blocks away from the hotel. So off we went in search of satisfying our cravings. Oddly enough there was another pizza place across the street from "SOS", it was connected to an Indian restaurant. Their pizza was made in a wood fired oven so we abandoned "SOS" for the Indian/Pizza joint. We couldn't get only a slice so we ended up with a whole pie which we couldn't finish. We decided to bring the leftovers to the night guy at our hotel who had been very helpful earlier in the night. He was happy to get a take home box of pizza and we got into the elevator to go to our rooms. After a minute it became apparent that we weren't moving nor were we able to get the doors to open. So now it's 1:00 am and we are stuck in an elevator that is so small there wasn't enough room for three people to sit on the floor. Peter realizes he has the hotel's business card in his pocket. So we call the front desk and tell the night guy that we are trapped. After awhile he figures out how to open the door from the outside where upon Leslie jokingly tells him as we are exiting the elevator "I'll take that pizza back".</span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/0ca646f1-7252-411b-89c7-a8a7b30770e6.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Peter took a selfie, because what else would you do while waiting to be rescued from an elevator.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/98cbb3fc-ef3b-4ba2-b3c8-2f2748cecbe6.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Peter and Mourad at the sound check for the Jazz Club Grenoble concert. Sometimes it is scary to think that they are currently "at large".</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"> </span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;">Two days later Leslie and I were on a train to Marseille with forty some other musicians. We would leave from there for a two week "Jazz" cruise. The first night was pretty rough going which resulted in one band having to sub out most of the players due to seasickness. Luckily Leslie didn't have to work that night because she was pretty sick as well. She did have to work the following night and the Mediterranean sea was still pretty choppy. She had taken medication and wore a patch but it wasn't enough to do the job. The concert was in the showroom that was located on the 5th & 6th floors in the front of the ship. It was with a big band doing repertoire from Count Basie's band. The showroom really took the brunt of the punishment from the choppy seas. So much so that Leslie was barely able to move after the first show. She had another show in 45 minutes. Members of the crew recommended that she try to eat something and helped to get her to a restaurant and found her a private area where she could try to recover before she had to work again. She was able to eat an apple and some bread. We decided that she would sit in the audience because it would be easier to get on stage from there. Se we sat together in the third row and just as the band was about to play the first tune she gets sick and everything she had just eaten ended up on the floor in front of her. Just about the time that she was able to sit up after that episode her name was announced and it was time for her to sing. So she stood up and walked to the stairs and on the stage. As you can imagine there was an audible gasp from the people around us who had witnessed her getting sick and were very surprised to see her walk on stage. When she turned around to look at the audience the band was already playing the introduction for her first tune. She had completely composed herself and had the smile that I am so used to seeing when she is working. She sang her ass off while trying to steady herself as much as possible. She made it through the first four of five tunes that she was to sing. On the fifth and last tune of the night, she had to leave the stage during the instrumental solos where she lost what was left of her pre-concert snack. We all assumed that she was done for the night, but she returned to finish the song. People were amazed and she sort of became an audience favorite that night. After the showroom emptied out I got her back to our room. Along our way to the room as people recognized her, they were stopping to applaud her performance. The next day some of the other musicians said they heard that her performance was "heroic". That night I had tears in my eyes as I witnessed what she did. From then on she became a bit of a celebrity on the ship. People would clap as she entered a restaurant, or they would stop to talk with her at the pool or in the elevator. It got to the point that she couldn't be alone in any public space on the ship. Considering that Leslie is a private person who is not one to look for attention especially when she isn't working, she handled all that attention pretty well. </span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/56853e05-29bc-4d53-8ef1-4eb4a46ffdda.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Cruise ship in port. </span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/d4646945-f22d-4589-9029-74f2a51fec2c.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Leaving port in Marseille, France.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/8bc34308-0d03-4102-abbf-b627947963cd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">View of the showroom stage before Leslie's first concert.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/1d44c5b9-4ded-42d5-b006-fe81a6b103ff.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Leslie sings with a big band.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;">The next morning we woke up in the port at Valetta, Malta. From that point on the sea would be calm and Leslie would be okay for the rest of the trip. That afternoon she had recovered enough that we decided to check out Valetta and grab some lunch in town. In the following days we fell into a routine that started with getting up at the crack of noon and going into the village where we had arrived sometime earlier that morning. We would explore a bit, have lunch and then explore some more. After that it was back to the ship and landing poolside where we would spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing, napping and in the jacuzzi before heading back to the room to get cleaned up for dinner. Besides Malta the itinerary took us to Argostólion, Monemvasía, Kalamáta, Náfplion, Mykonos and Heraklion in Greece, followed by Catania, Sicily, and Salerno and Portoferraio, Italy. We traveled 2,925 nautical miles. Some places were more charming than others but we were glad for the opportunity to be visiting all of them. Leslie had pizza in Sicily! In fact the restaurant there was so authentic that we had quite a bit of difficulty communicating our lunch order. Leslie asked for a menu and the woman looked at her with a surprised look and came back with a beer! She wanted pepperoni on her pizza but they thought she wanted bell peppers. Eventually it all got sorted out. Finally they escorted Leslie to the meat counter (they sold meat to take out as well) and she chose the salami she wanted on her pizza so the problem was solved! She said it was some of the best pizza she has ever had. Leslie and I had so much fun enjoying all of the free time we had together. Once we had four days off in a row. The weather was incredible. Many of the villages were beautiful and very charming, and since wifi in port was spotty and the internet connection on the ship was expensive we were happily cut off from the rest of the world. </span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/d98187d2-d22c-41b4-a106-0ad6428925c7.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Garden in Valetta, Malta.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/a7546359-c5cd-446b-8be1-5656a54473a9.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">City square in Valetta, Malta.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/b67716bc-008c-4c52-a661-70b0b5b9633e.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Monemvasía, Greece. The rock is called the Gibralter of Greece.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/77eb5427-cf1f-4007-8632-c3473fc53221.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Náfplion, Greece.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/cb82a0b6-fd3c-42fb-9539-77a3d00d6681.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Village square Náfplion, Greece.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/4aea6cc5-7eba-4452-adfc-d123172ee04e.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Leslie at the port in Mykonos, Greece</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/c9b7fc77-187c-4635-964f-9df61682c76e.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Mykonos, Greece.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/ccd5f095-f271-469f-ae3e-d304d90c564d.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Leslie in Mykonos. </span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/dffd98d5-5524-43d4-8a00-0d6e112b76d0.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Catania, Sicily, the restaurant where we had lunch is on the right.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/5925837b-ed3f-4cae-b45c-7484598348fb.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">Salerno, Italy.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;">There was also a music performance routine which began with a poolside set at 5:00 pm which was followed by nightly concerts at 7:30 pm and 9:00 pm which featured a specific band or themed repertoire in the showroom. After that there was a late night set at 10:30 pm in the disco that had been turned into a jazz club including a Yamaha grand piano and a Hammond B-3. The nightcap was a jam session which began around 11:30 pm and sometimes went until 3:00 am. The concerts in the Showroom were rehearsed before the cruise but the rest of the shows featured different groups which were formed from the forty some musicians on board. Leslie had four concerts to play over the two week period so there was a good bit of down time. Because she was a crowd favorite she was often asked to sing at the after hours jam sessions which she graciously did even though her inclination at jam sessions is to be a listener rather than a performer.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/4d02b215-22df-413e-adcc-df08a84b3444.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">View of the pool deck onboard. There was a poolside concert everyday at 5:00 pm.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageCardBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageCardBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageCardBottomContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left" class="mcnImageCardBottomImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/776ac71a-c27e-4a52-8ee4-bae26743f72b.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top" width="546"><span style="color:null;">In the jacuzzi. Oh yeah!</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<span style="color:null;">We arrived back in Marseille and the great weather continued. By the time we were on the train one hour out of Paris the skies were gray and it was raining. The overcast skies continue in Paris and the sunshine in the Mediterranean is now a memory but fortunately next month the sun will typically be out even in Paris!<br> <br> For those of you in Paris or if you’re planning to visit this month, here is our remaining May schedule.<br> <br> May 10 & 11 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Trio with Peter Giron performs at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://%C2%A0http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;"> http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">May 15 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Duo performs at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">May 16 Gerard Hagen performs with Sacha Boutros at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">May 18th & 24th Leslie and Gerard perform at Monteverdi in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.lemonteverdi.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.lemonteverdi.com</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">May 25th The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Duo performs at a Concert Privé in Paris. <br> <br> Mai 30th The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Trio with Peter Giron performs at Les Deux Magots in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.lesdeuxmagots.fr/en/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.lesdeuxmagots.fr/en/</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Mai 31st Leslie and Gerard perform at Monteverdi in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.lemonteverdi.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.lemonteverdi.com</span></a><br> <br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Thank you to everyone who has already downloaded "Fragile", our new recording. It is available as a download on CD Baby at this link. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5%C2%A0" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5 </span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;"> 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. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.surfcovejazz.com</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Thanks for staying in touch with us.<br> <br> Until next time, Leslie et Gerard </span>
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Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137474
2019-04-10T02:00:00+02:00
2020-02-27T06:49:51+01:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Bonjour de Paris" 10 Avril 2019
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:null;"><em><strong>Bonjour de Paris ...</strong></em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <span style="color:null;">Chers Amis,</span>
<p><span style="color:null;">We are seeing more and more nice days in Paris of late. Perhaps we can dare to hope for springtime in Paris this year. To go along with the nice weather, our work routine has been pretty mellow this past month. The "yellow vest" protesters have not caused any problems for us. The protests seem pretty crazy on television, but unless you happen to live in the protest area, or had your business torched, you wouldn't know what was going on. We have been working in town and have been enjoying a day or two each week without any scheduled work. That free time has allowed us to see some friends and do some things that we have been putting off for too long. The timing is good because later this month we are going to be on the road for almost three weeks. You may remember that sadly Leslie had to retire "red" her well traveled suitcase. I am happy to say that after an exhaustive search we have found a great replacement. "Yellow". But not just any "yellow", it's a Lipault "yellow". Which means that in order to justify the price the color is called "mustard". The problem is that I can't get myself to use "mustard" as a nickname for a suitcase! "Yellow" is just in time for the up-coming gig in Grenoble followed by the jazz cruise to Malta, Italy and Greece. When we return we have close to 30 dates booked during May and June in Paris. Around then the school will go into the final stretch of the spring term so things will be extra busy into June. <br> <br> Last year in July and August we traveled around 6,000 kilometers, the summer before that, our work in the U.S. and Europe meant that we traveled around 17,000 kilometers. This year, with the exception of a couple of dates in July, we will be traveling only for vacations. I wish I could schedule our road work in a more balanced way, but for now we just go when and where the work is. That's fine. We are very happy and grateful to have work, but this year we get to stay busy working in Paris and so we are looking forward to having a more relaxed summer. <br> <br> In June we will be meeting some friends from California in Porto City, Portugal followed in July by one of Leslie's dream trips to Milan and Lake Cuomo in Italy. Later in August we hope to be able to spend some time with our friend Lois at her beach home on the Atlantic coast in La Baule, France. </span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em>Here are some throw back photos from the 1980's. Leslie is about 21 years old and working at Opryland in Nashville around 1979. The second photo is of Leslie and friends while taping a television show in Hawaii, also for Opryland (Nice work if you can get it.) The photos of Gerard are from 1986, he is 26 years old and performing in the Dan Jacobs Quintet. It would be 19 years before Leslie and Gerard would meet. </em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/35a99be0-d2fd-49fd-beb1-cf6545ccae2e.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_center border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em>Denise, Leslie, and Nancy in Nashville. Leslie and Nancy are still very close, she came to our wedding in California. We see her when she tours in Europe.</em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/5ff2e31c-ec47-4aed-a725-f636eccd8ac8.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_center border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em>Leslie, Sam Harris, Nancy Hayes and Scott in Hawaii, "working" on a TV show. Sam appears on Broadway, television and is an author. Nancy lives in Chicago acts and sings in plays and tours with her one woman show.</em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/561c8664-c695-4686-9c84-eeafbf59f823.jpg" class="size_orig justify_center border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em>This is the Dan Jacobs Quintet after a rehearsal in Orange County, CA. Dan plays trumpet, Don Hawkins, saxophone, Ernie Nunez bass and Peter Pfiefer drums. These guys are all still at it. We recorded a CD called "Play Song" in 2008, long after we had ceased performing as working band. It was nice to document this group which worked a lot up until the early 1990's. Photo courtesy of Myrna Jacobs.</em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/d8393038-bf69-490c-b095-c33cae684d2c.jpg" class="size_orig justify_center border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em>Gerard during a rehearsal of the Dan Jacobs Quintet. Photo courtesy of Myrna Jacobs.</em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/f7ced2a4-5f7e-4e6c-ac9e-555d56d9c6ea.jpg" class="size_orig justify_center border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em>The Dan Jacobs Sextet working at the Cafe Lido on the Balboa Peninsula, sometime in the later 1980's. Mike Zelazo trombone, Dan Jacobs trumpet, Don Hawkins saxophone, Gerard (between Dan and Don) piano. Not seen, Ernie Nunez bass and Peter Pfiefer or maybe Gary Wing drums.</em> <em>Photo courtesy of Myrna Jacobs.</em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/0f6bed27-7b0f-451a-b7a3-820f46cdf884.png" class="size_orig justify_center border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<span style="color:null;">Once again we are waiting to hear from the Prefecture about the status of our residency permit which is the French equivalent to a green card in America. We have submitted our dossiers the making of which which was a huge undertaking in both time and also paper. This project was definitely not a green one. I suspect that we are responsible for the use of a lot of our natural resources. We have applied for another four years of time to legally work and live in France and should receive an answer in July. But the last time it took almost nine months longer than we thought it would to get the permits. We have learned more and more about the art of patience since we moved here!<br> <br> For those of you in Paris or if you’re planning to visit this month, here is our remaining April schedule.<br> <br> April 9 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Duo performs at Café Laurent in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.hoteldaubusson.com/en/cafe-laurent.html" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.hoteldaubusson.com/en/cafe-laurent.html</span></a><br> <span style="color:null;">April 10 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Duo performs at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a><br> <span style="color:null;">April 12-13 Leslie and Gerard perform at Monteverdi in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.lemonteverdi.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.lemonteverdi.com</span></a><br> <span style="color:null;">April 18 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Quartet with Peter Giron and Mourad Benhammou performs at Jazz Club Grenoble in Grenoble FR. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://www.jazzclubdegrenoble.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">https://www.jazzclubdegrenoble.fr</span></a><span style="color:null;"> <br> April 20 Leslie and Gerard perform at Monteverdi in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.lemonteverdi.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.lemonteverdi.com</span></a><br> <span style="color:null;">April 21- May 5 Jazz Cruise </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://www.tmrfrance.com/voyage/croisiere/15eme-jazz-en-mer/112/plan" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">https://www.tmrfrance.com/voyage/croisiere/15eme-jazz-en-mer/112/plan</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Thank you to everyone who has already downloaded "Fragile", our new recording. It is available as a download on CD Baby at this link. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5%C2%A0" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5 </span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;"> 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. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.surfcovejazz.com</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Thanks for staying in touch with us.<br> <br> Until next time, Leslie et Gerard </span>
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Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137473
2019-03-10T01:00:00+01:00
2021-09-22T14:25:22+02:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Bonjour de Paris" 10 Mars 2019
<center><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="bodyTable" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;"><tbody> <tr> <td align="center" id="bodyCell" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateHeader" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="headerContainer" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"> </span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateBody" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="bodyContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:null;"><em><strong>Bonjour de Paris ...</strong></em></span></div>
<div> </div> <span style="color:null;">Chers Amis,</span>
<p><span style="color:null;">We are both back in Paris after spending a few days in Bordeaux with Peter and Nicole Giron. There is a "fast" train that goes from Paris to Bordeaux in two hours (normally the trip by car is around five hours) so it is an easy thing to use Bordeaux as a get away location. The four of us spent one day exploring the southern Atlantic coastal area of France. We made the two hour drive to Biarritz and checked out a few of the coastal towns near the border with Spain. We were very taken with Saint-Jean-de-Luz. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=9281352154&e=a57257d8b7" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">https://www.saint-jean-de-luz.com/en/</span></a><span style="color:null;"> Even though it was a rainy day the beach area was beautiful. The old town area is a series of narrow streets, pedestrian only, that is filled with restaurants, shops, and art galleries. Almost immediately Leslie and I started to dream of how we could make things work for us professionally with Saint-Jean-de-Luz as our home base. We both miss the ocean and fondly remember the years we lived in Laguna Beach so finding a way to get back to the sea is never far from our minds. The rest of our time was spent relaxing, eating and enjoying some down time with friends. Leslie, Peter and I even managed to get in a rehearsal on some new material that we will play this week on our gigs at Chez Papa Jazz Club. The day after Leslie and I arrived home in Paris she was on a train for an overnight trip to Sens to perform with Philippe Martel's trio. Now she is back and we will be home for almost six weeks until the last half of April when we go out again for a few weeks to do a concert in Grenoble followed by a trip to Marseille, the departure city for the jazz cruise. We are back in Paris after the first week of May. </span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"> </span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em>View from the stage towards the house at Leslie's concert with Philippe Martel in Sens, France.</em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/17789a09-024d-4a93-bcfc-d9171d9af0ec.jpg" class="size_orig justify_center border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em>Gerard, Leslie, Nicole and Peter Giron in Biarritz, France.</em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/2b6fd94a-ba08-4914-9912-5347d3cb33f6.jpg" class="size_orig justify_center border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em>Peter and Gerard enjoy some seaside hot chocolate in Biarritz.</em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/4185fa29-dd32-461e-b77d-0dcba581005f.jpg" class="size_orig justify_center border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em>View toward the sea in Biarritz.</em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/238aafa6-97a3-423f-bf67-1e8b44602e62.jpg" class="size_orig justify_center border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em>View of the shoreline Biarritz, France. </em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/4da3f45a-e38a-4407-bee6-7025bcbee2f8.jpg" class="size_orig justify_center border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"> <p><span style="color:null;">Leslie informs me that she needs a new suitcase. Apparently the overnight to Sens was a bridge too far for "red" (my name for her suitcase). Since "red" is about to be retired, it seems like we should have some acknowledgement of the service that "red" provided. Numerous trips back to L.A. and New York, Asia, several trips to Africa, and across western and eastern Europe. I am sure I'm forgetting some locations but the point is that as far as luggage goes, it was a workhorse. My bag, "blue" is a littler younger than "red" so it still has some miles to go.<br> <br> We are both healthy again and surviving the gloom of another winter as we await the one day transition from winter to summer that seems to be the way things go here. I shouldn't complain because we did have a few gorgeous weeks in February when the temps were in the low 60's and the sun was out, for the most part. But if things go as normal we will have overcast and rain with mild temps until one glorious June day when all of the sudden flip flops and shorts are in order and sweaters can get packed away. That is the day we stumble outside onto our now sunny street and shed our coats, scarves, sweaters and gloves. We will be rubbing our eyes because we aren't used to the sun and thus we will have begun the process of becoming human again! </span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/d261f4e9-71f8-43ba-a91a-63c82301ece7.png" class="size_orig justify_center border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"> <p><span style="color:null;">For those of you in Paris or if you’re planning to visit this month, here is our remaining March schedule.<br> <br> March 14-15-16 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Trio with Peter Giron performs at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=e036f439f9&e=a57257d8b7" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;"> http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a><br> <span style="color:null;">March 19 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Duo performs at Café Laurent in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=eddea45d7f&e=a57257d8b7" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.hoteldaubusson.com/en/cafe-laurent.html</span></a><br> <span style="color:null;">March 22-23 Leslie and Gerard perform at Monteverdi in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=29e8328547&e=a57257d8b7" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.lemonteverdi.com</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Thank you to everyone who has already downloaded "Fragile", our new recording. It is available as a download on CD Baby at this link. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=2dfb56f913&e=a57257d8b7" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5</span></a><span style="color:null;"> <br> <br> 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. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=e4a28455e6&e=a57257d8b7" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.surfcovejazz.com</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Thanks for staying in touch with us.<br> <br> Until next time, Leslie et Gerard </span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;">Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <</span><a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=097a280e2f&e=a57257d8b7" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">gerard@surfcovejazz.com</span></a><span style="color:null;">>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=ee1b0c1924&e=a57257d8b7" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</span></a><br> <br> <a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=8917aecfff&e=a57257d8b7" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</span></a><br> <br> <a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=44575ce555&e=a57257d8b7" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</span></a><br> <br> <a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=c118aeacaa&e=a57257d8b7" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</span></a><br> <br> <a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=0568aadc8f&e=a57257d8b7" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</span></a></p>
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Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137472
2019-02-12T01:00:00+01:00
2022-07-03T22:42:35+02:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Bonjour de Paris". 13 Février 2019
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:null;"><em><strong>Bonjour de Paris ...</strong></em></span></div> <span style="color:null;">Chers Amis,</span>
<p><span style="color:null;">The other day I saw a coffee mug that had the following message printed on it, “Music is the reason I get up in the afternoon”. I had to laugh because the sentiment suits Leslie and I. Sleeping patterns not withstanding, our concerts have really gone up a notch or two of late. I cannot identify why things on stage have felt so good lately and this would surprise you if you’d been around Leslie during her off hours. For the past few weeks she has been fighting to get past a cold that has turned into a deep cough which sounds as if it could become bronchitis. She always amazes me how she can perform under these conditions.<br> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;">The weekend before we left for Minsk, she sent a sub to sing for her on both nights while she spent that time in bed. Two days later we did a date at Café Laurent in Paris despite Leslie’s condition we had a really great evening. The next morning we left for Minsk, Belarus where as things turned out we would be working with very little sleep. Leslie was trying to conserve as much energy as possible during the flight. Some problems, that were never disclosed (thank you Belavia Airlines), caused us to leave more than ninety minutes late so we had to go directly from the Minsk airport to the auditorium. Once there we would meet the musicians we would work with and have a sound-check/rehearsal for that night’s concert. As often happens due to limitations in translating between different languages, we never really know exactly the details of our concerts when we go on the road. But this was beyond anything that we’ve encountered before. We were expecting to play two nights at the Jazz Club Minsk. Once we arrived we found out there is no Jazz Club Minsk! That first night our concert was at a beautiful auditorium with a wonderful “Estonia” 9’ grand piano, decent sound guys and a wonderful audience. When I first walked on stage to meet the other musicians I noticed a film crew setting up and later learned that our concert would be broadcast live on 7 channels in the country. Normally this would be something that needed to be negotiated in advance of agreeing to do the date but this group of people were clearly not living in that world so we decided to let it slide and learn from our experience to ask more questions in the future. (Before now it never occurred to me that I needed to ask if our concert was going to be broadcast live on TV.) We will get some video out of the deal so there is that! The musicians were pros. Aleksander, the drummer lives in Minsk, Norberts bass, and Raivo saxophone came that day by bus from Riga, Latvia. We had a decent rehearsal, their English language skills were good and most importantly, they did a very good job on both concerts. The first night we started the concert as a trio and added the saxophonist for the second tune and then Leslie joined us. It was a smooth transition which created a nice energy in the room. Right about the time we came back to the stage for the second half, Evgeny, the producer who was also a trombonist, decided that he would join the group and our second half got extended by three songs. That was a huge challenge for Leslie since she had thought she had completed the bulk of her evening in the first half. So now it’s late, we are tired and we haven’t eaten since we “enjoyed” a really bad meal on the plane that afternoon. But okay, we handle it and made it through the set. The audience had been wonderful all night and they give us an enthusiastic ovation. We decided that an encore was in order, so once more on the stage, Leslie is completely spent and I’m running on fumes. At last we are done but instead of leaving, many people in the audience walk on the stage and ask to take photos with Leslie and I. We are very grateful for their interest in us but we are also not used to this kind of thing, after all we are jazz musicians, our normal after concert routine is to see who can be the fastest one out of the door. Finally it is time to check into our hotel which is a Soviet era building but still very comfortable. The hotels bar restaurant have long since closed so our hosts bring us to a hotel meeting room and brought in something to eat. To be honest, I’m not sure what we ate that night, but we ate it. I drank some Belarusian cognac with my meal, Leslie not being a drinker, had only the choice of water to drink with her dinner. The other option was vodka! As he refilled my glass, Raivo kept telling me that the cognac wasn’t for me, it was for my health!</span></p>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em>View of the stage of the first concert in Minsk, Belarus.</em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em>Side view of the stage with Evgeny introducing the second half of the concert.</em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/b39bb225-0144-4421-9561-de15b8c7ccb9.jpg" class="size_orig justify_center border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em>Aleksandre drums, Norberts bass, and Raivo saxophone.</em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/c13fd24b-15f2-4348-bee3-a1a1e42b12f9.jpg" class="size_orig justify_center border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em>The camera man for the TV broadcast is clearly visible in this shot.</em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/e747ff59-d26a-4e29-ab5f-ffd38e56b453.jpg" class="size_orig justify_center border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em>The audience at our first concert in Minsk, Belarus. </em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/639db627-292e-4505-a4b7-e9ab08647666.jpg" class="size_orig justify_center border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em>Evgeny, trombonist, producer, director "Jazz Club Minsk".</em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/00c70833-28e2-4048-a5ae-59b719764abd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_center border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"> <p><span style="color:null;">After dinner Leslie fell asleep pretty easily, as usual I had more difficulty. Having made it through our first day in Minsk, we both slept pretty hard. The next day at 3:00 pm we received a phone call that was literally our wake up call. There is no telling how late we would have slept without that call. Anyway, we were told that there was a driver waiting in the hotel lobby to take us to the gig that night. After a few tense moments on the phone we got a 45 minute reprieve in order to shower and get ready for the rest of the day. <br> <br> So the second concert was at very nice restaurant that functions as the location for the “Jazz Club Minsk”. We were called to the club in the afternoon so that they could feed us lunch, which was very thoughtful, but we would have been happy to have skipped lunch, slept later and had a more leisurely shower. After we has eaten there was time to go back to the hotel but no one to drive us so the manager of the restaurant offered us the use of her office which had a couch and some overstuffed chairs which provided us a nice place to relax before the sound check. This night was like the first in that the room was beautiful, the people were great, but it was a more intimate setting since there was no stage and the audience was literally right next to us. As we were walking to the room to begin the concert, once again Evgeny found us to ask about a change in the program. Keep in mind that the band speaks English well enough but Evgeny, not so much. This conversation is taking place in what can only be described as “broken” English. His request to me…”Please play solo piano, give our audience a jazz piano clinic!” Yes, this happened about 2 minutes before the concert. Now on the up side, the guy really liked my playing, on the down side was pretty much everything else. We agreed that I would play one solo piece and then Leslie and the rest of the band would join me. After my solo was done, which wasn’t exactly a jazz piano clinic, but not horrible considering the circumstances, the only person who came into the room was Raivo the sax player. We did a duo and next, you guessed it Norberts the bass player came in for a trio tune. Finally Aleksandre the drummer joined us for song number four, all before Leslie has made her entrance. For months they had been promoting this concert as an opportunity to see and hear Leslie Lewis and we do four tunes before she comes out. There was no discussion about repertoire (beyond what we had already prepared) prior to the concert and we had only played together once before so there was the awkward “do you know this tune” conversation going on every time a new guy showed up to play. Despite the rough start we had a good night. Leslie and I had slept enough to be able to perform well for the duration plus we had to end by 10:30 pm because Raivo and Norberts had to catch an 11:30 pm bus back to Riga so it was not possible to extend the concert like we had the night before. We did an encore and stood around for a while while people asked to take photos with us. We said our goodbyes to Raivo, Norberts and Aleksandre and went back to the hotel meeting room for a late dinner with Evgeny and some new friends. There was more cognac and this time dinner was potatoes, white fish smothered in cheese with shrimp topping the cheese. There was also pizza, which Leslie was thrilled to learn. Afterward we said our goodnight to Evgeny and his friends and we got some sleep before leaving for home the next morning.</span></p> <br> <span style="color:null;"> </span>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em>View of Minsk from our hotel room.</em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/d38a0b17-5149-47cd-b3f3-0e57b657cbfa.jpg" class="size_orig justify_center border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;">The second evenings concert at "Jazz Club Minsk".</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em>Evgeny, Gerard and an audience member. There are probably another 250 of these types of photos floating around Minsk.</em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/111421de-594c-4ba4-be75-cbb21700ec0a.jpg" class="size_orig justify_center border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"> <p><span style="color:null;">Happily other than overcast skies with some light snow and rain the weather was not too bad. Leslie had her new coat and hat which was good, but the temperature never got below freezing. The worst weather we encountered was Friday morning as we were getting ready to leave for Paris. The snow was getting pretty heavy causing the airport to have an army of snowplows working on the runways as well as numerous vehicles that drove from plane to plane de-icing the wings. Even though it was 9:00 am we decided to eat at Burger King in the airport. Truth be told, it was the only real option, but we were both ready for something simple and we knew the food on the plane would be bad based on the flight over. So we sat and ate a hamburger while watching the activity taking place outside in the heavy snow. Fortunately the good people at the Minsk Airport easily handled the snow and we left for Paris only 15 minutes after our stated departure time.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;">Back home in Paris the skies were overcast as normal, but the temperatures were higher and there was no snow on the ground and no rain as well. We took a taxi from the airport to the college so I could teach my Friday afternoon classes while Leslie went home to nurse her cold. Fortunately we didn’t take any work for that night so we could enjoy a sushi dinner and for once an early night even though it was a Friday. Saturday night we were back to work in Paris as if nothing had happened.</span></p> <br> <span style="color:null;"> </span>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"> </span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"> <p><span style="color:null;">For those of you in Paris or if you’re planning to visit this month here is our remaining February schedule.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;">Feb. 14-15-16 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Trio with Bruno Rousselet performs at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=bab3ba99db&e=a152175c8a"><span style="color:null;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a><br> <span style="color:null;">Feb. 25 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Duo performs at Café Laurent in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://cercle-suedois.com/rivoli-mercredi-jazz/"><span style="color:null;">https://cercle-suedois.com/rivoli-mercredi-jazz/</span></a><br> <span style="color:null;">Feb. 27 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Quartet with Peter Giron and Mourad Benhammou performs at Mercredi Jazz, Cercle Suedois in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=763987b501&e=a152175c8a"><span style="color:null;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a></p> <span style="color:null;">Thank you to everyone who has already downloaded "Fragile", our new recording. It is available as a download on CD Baby at this link. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=ef638283db&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5 </span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;"> 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. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=939b3eeacc&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.surfcovejazz.com</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Thanks for staying in touch with us.<br> <br> Until next time, Leslie et Gerard <br> <br> Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <</span><a data-imported="1" href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com"><span style="color:null;">gerard@surfcovejazz.com</span></a><span style="color:null;">>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=cb3cb80cba&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;"> </span><br> <br> <a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=b241c4ecff&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</span></a><br> <br> <a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=15e841b614&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</span></a><br> <br> <a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=bc2a5c9cd8&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</span></a><br> <br> <a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=8b566290b3&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</span></a>
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Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137471
2019-01-13T01:00:00+01:00
2020-03-17T15:43:12+01:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Bonjour de Paris". 13 Janvier 2019
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:null;"><em><strong>Bonjour de Paris ...</strong></em></span></div> <span style="color:null;">Chers Amis,<br> <br> We hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas/Hanukkah holiday season and New Years celebration. We wish you all the best for 2019. We enjoyed a quiet December 24th and 25th, two nice, calm days surrounded by a totally crazy rest of the month. It was pretty busy but it also wasn't overwhelming. We really enjoyed our gigs and we are starting the year in a very good place. Our six night "end of the year" run was so much fun. The progression from night 1 to night 6 was perfect in that we started with two nights as a duo, followed by two nights in trio with Peter Giron and finished with two nights featuring our quartet with Peter and Mourad Benhammou. Our sixth night was New Years Eve and was also pretty mellow compared to past years. We finished playing at 2:00 am and I think we were home by around 4:00 am. (In past years the sun was rising as we walked home from the gig!) </span>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em>Leslie on New Year's Eve at Chez Papa Jazz Club, in Paris, FR.</em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/a4ee9988-4e38-4fe8-96d9-29578b7ec9bd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_center border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;">In the coming months we are looking forward to some time on the road. We will be playing Soyaux, Sens, Bordeaux and Grenoble in France, Minsk Belarus, and a jazz cruise that will visit Messina Sicily, Argostóli, Monemvasía, Kalamáta, Náfplio, Mykonos, Iraklio in Greece, Valletta, Malta and Portoferraio, Italy. Later this summer we have plans for vacations (actual non-working trips) to Milan and Lake Como, Italy and a few days with friends in Porto, Portugal. We are always amazed and grateful for all of the experiences and the places that music has taken us. I am never surprised anymore by our travels, I just expect that every so often we will end up someplace that I never imagined I’d be. So we are curious about our gigs in Belarus later this month. Leslie has already informed me that she is buying a winter wardrobe for the trip. I don’t know exactly what that entails but I’m guessing it includes one of those faux fur hats with matching gloves. Like our tour in Japan, the musicians we are going to work with don’t speak English so any discussions about the music will require that we sing what we want them to play. Music is truly an international language.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<span style="color:null;">So here’s to 2019 and the hope that all of our experiences will be the ones we desire and that the difficult times are manageable and leave us with some additional wisdom or at least strength. <br> <br> Here is our remaining January schedule.<br> <br> Jan. 17 we are a duo at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a><br> <span style="color:null;">Jan. 18-19 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Trio with Bruno Rousselet at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a><br> <span style="color:null;">Jan. 24 The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Trio with Bruno Rousselet at Les Deux Magots in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.lesdeuxmagots.fr/en/news.html" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.lesdeuxmagots.fr/en/news.html</span></a><br> <span style="color:null;">Jan. 25-26 we are a duo at Monteverdi in Paris </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.lemonteverdi.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.lemonteverdi.com</span></a><br> <span style="color:null;">Jan. 29 we are a duo at Café Laurent in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.hoteldaubusson.com/en/cafe-laurent.html" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.hoteldaubusson.com/en/cafe-laurent.html</span></a><br> <span style="color:null;">Jan. 30-31 we are a quartet at Jazz Club Minsk in Minsk, Belarus. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.jazzclub.by/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.jazzclub.by</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Thank you to everyone who has already downloaded "Fragile", our new recording. It is available as a download on CD Baby at this link. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5%C2%A0" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5 </span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;"> 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. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.surfcovejazz.com</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Thanks for staying in touch with us.<br> <br> Until next time, Leslie et Gerard <br> <br> 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. </span><a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/blog" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;"> </span><br> <br> <a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</span></a><br> <br> <a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</span></a><br> <br> <a data-imported="1" href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</span></a><br> <br> <a data-imported="1" href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</span></a>
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Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137470
2018-12-23T01:00:00+01:00
2018-12-23T16:55:01+01:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Joyeux Noël de Paris". 23 Décembre 2018
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ff0000"><strong><em>Joyeux Noël de Paris ...</em></strong></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#008000"><em>Chers Amis, </em></span></p>
<p><em style="color: #008000; font-size: medium;">This year I am adding to my message from 2017. Mostly because it says what is important to us. I hope that you will forgive my lack of originality. </em><em style="color: #008000; font-size: medium;"> </em></p>
<p><em style="color: #008000; font-size: medium;">Leslie and I have purposely kept our schedule open this year so that we can enjoy a <em>more relaxed Christmas holiday. We will be celebrating </em><em>together in our little corner of Paris. </em><em>We</em><em> hope that you all enjoy a very Merry Christmas and send our best wishes for a New Year filled with all of the things that make you happy and fulfilled. We are very grateful and honored for your friendship, your support of our music and that you have remained interested in our lives even as we are separated by many miles.</em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/bbe96b322bfd73de5fe52a9fe0a01d03f3ffb8bb/original/christmas01-2017.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" style="color: #000000; font-size: 10px;" width="660" /></em></p>
<p><span style="color:#008000"><em><em>This time of year brings universal themes of love of family and friends, hope for peace, wishes of goodwill, and the joy of giving of ourselves, that are the most important part of the way Christmas is celebrated worldwide. Leslie and I have much to be thankful for, we are very blessed with family and many friends who have filled our lives with laughter, joy and love. We send all of you the most heartfelt wishes for a blessed Christmas and a New Year that brings health, happiness and much love. </em><br></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ff0000">Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,</span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ff0000"><em>Joyeux Noël et une Bonne Année,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ff0000"><em>Feliz Navidad y un Feliz Año Nuevo,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ff0000"><em>Buon Natale e un Felice Anno Nuovo,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ff0000"> <em>Leslie and Gerard </em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#008000"><em>Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <</em><a href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#008000"><em>gerard@surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em>>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. </em><a href="/blog" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"><span style="color:#008000"><strong><em>http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</em></strong></span></a></span></p>
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Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137469
2018-12-10T01:00:00+01:00
2020-03-17T15:43:48+01:00
"Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen" 10 Décembre 2018 Bonjour de Paris
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:null;"><em><strong>Bonjour de Paris ...</strong></em></span></div> <br> <span style="color:null;"><em>Chers Amis,</em><br> <br> <em>We are happy to be home in Paris after doing six days on the road. We performed as a quartet, trio and duo which kept things fresh every night. While the audiences were great all week long, I must say that Leslie had something to do with that. Her energy level and her emotional range were unbelievable. Every night she brought them to their feet. It was interesting because we only played one jazz club, the other rooms were in hotels and restaurants that had decided to feature music as a way to distinguish their businesses. They all did what was necessary to showcase the band including having a stage, lights, sound systems and, with one exception, very good pianos. This makes a huge difference in the success of the performances which helps tremendously to bring in listeners.</em></span>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageGroupBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageGroupBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageGroupBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageGroupContentContainer" style="width: 273px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageGroupContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/2963694f-f52e-47ba-90f4-05873b1e71e3.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="264" /></em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageGroupContentContainer" style="width: 273px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageGroupContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/d48db75c-bbf1-485f-bd5e-f7ae438e3dc4.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="264" /></em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnImageGroupBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageGroupContentContainer" style="width: 273px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageGroupContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/b4848ad7-954f-484f-acb5-8695918b8596.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="264" /></em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageGroupContentContainer" style="width: 273px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageGroupContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/d8d7db59-94ee-4252-8106-586f67a02afd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="264" /></em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em>Poster for our concerts and photos from the Gourmet Bar in Lyon. </em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageGroupBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageGroupBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageGroupBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageGroupContentContainer" style="width: 273px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageGroupContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/9a8f3b49-211b-4573-8b57-1f74469e148b.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="264" /></em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageGroupContentContainer" style="width: 273px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageGroupContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/3eda085b-730e-4dfe-97af-e6dc476bf269.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="264" /></em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnImageGroupBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageGroupContentContainer" style="width: 273px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageGroupContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/b67f2a34-d664-44cf-8696-22d5c23d9330.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="264" /></em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageGroupContentContainer" style="width: 273px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageGroupContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/2c60ad2e-1bbc-4c86-8b5d-cfeb9ff11aa6.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="264" /></em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em>Photos from Jazz Club Torino, Italy. Gerard at sound check, audience before the show, the staff at the club were great to work with, and the Hotel at 2:00 am.</em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageGroupBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageGroupBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageGroupBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageGroupContentContainer" style="width: 273px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageGroupContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/d586e467-ff0f-4154-83a9-79fdf5db99fc.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="264" /></em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageGroupContentContainer" style="width: 273px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageGroupContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/818cd10c-9914-4de5-b188-b56ed27ff1bb.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="264" /></em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnImageGroupBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageGroupContentContainer" style="width: 273px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageGroupContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/14fd265a-7435-4a67-b01f-ba926ac08150.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="264" /></em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageGroupContentContainer" style="width: 273px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageGroupContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/9b45c931-9077-4023-8b7b-9bb78cdb1a2a.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="264" /></em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em>Last month I really enjoyed the opportunity to play in trio at Bab-ilo. We had a very good night but I must admit that it was a little difficult to make the transition from accompanist for Leslie to leading a trio again. I realize that it has been over six years since I did a trio date and I doubt that the audience was aware, but I am constantly dealing with the inner workings of making music. We were invited back in February so it looks like I'll be able to add trio playing to my musical life on a more regular basis! Meanwhile Leslie enjoyed a weekend working with Philippe Martel's trio in Geneva, Switzerland.</em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em>Leslie's photos traveling to Geneva.</em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageGroupBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageGroupBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageGroupBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageGroupContentContainer" style="width: 564px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageGroupContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/4a82df29-a283-4926-91d8-a969e147a622.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnImageGroupBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageGroupContentContainer" style="width: 273px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageGroupContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/393af31a-91cb-442a-a228-c64dd9ad1c08.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="264" /></em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageGroupContentContainer" style="width: 273px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageGroupContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/27193b19-61b6-43fb-8b00-7ba2479cb271.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="264" /></em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em> </em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em>Kristin Marion and Philippe Martel, two wonderful artists in their own right, have done an incredible amount of work to make this week of concerts possible for us. We are very grateful to them for everything. Sharing lunch together at "The American Diner" in Sillingy, France was just one of many good memories we have with them.</em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td><span style="color:null;"><em> </em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageGroupBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageGroupBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageGroupBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageGroupContentContainer" style="width: 564px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageGroupContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/a219f42b-8f96-45b7-9f8c-f4fb10d7648c.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="516" /></em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnImageGroupBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageGroupContentContainer" style="width: 273px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageGroupContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/8e39bb08-9d87-4b6c-a480-94c8a162f10c.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="264" /></em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageGroupContentContainer" style="width: 273px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageGroupContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/50be915c-d96b-4f47-adaf-9f33e1c397ef.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="264" /></em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"> <p><span style="color:null;"><em>At the last minute we decided to make Thanksgiving dinner with Peter and Nicole Giron. It was the first time since moving to Paris that we celebrated with a real Thanksgiving dinner on Thanksgiving day. It was so much fun to actually have the holiday, be with friends, and of course, be thankful.</em><br> <br> <em>Once again Leslie has worked her magic decorating our home for Christmas. We have some down time between December 23rd and the 25th and we are making plans to enjoy Christmas dinner at home and perhaps have Christmas Eve somewhere out on the town. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em> </em></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageGroupBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageGroupBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageGroupBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageGroupContentContainer" style="width: 564px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageGroupContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/ef48dbe5-e921-4ec0-8be9-40c5db4ef221.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="564" /></em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnImageGroupBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageGroupContentContainer" style="width: 273px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageGroupContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/7ef48c99-80bf-4a80-91a0-a546999efb71.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="264" /></em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageGroupContentContainer" style="width: 273px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageGroupContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/_compresseds/83d22212-7662-4a23-b178-a63328861c6b.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="264" /></em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em>Last month we celebrated Leslie's birthday at the beautiful home of Lois Delmas, our very good friend here in Paris. She graciously offered her home for Leslie's birthday party. Lois made everything feel special. We all had a blast. Below are photos of Leslie, Sacha Boutros and Peter Giron.</em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageGroupBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnImageGroupBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageGroupBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageGroupContentContainer" style="width: 564px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageGroupContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/e815d0a2-3324-4e13-9df8-873be7f89907.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="540" /></em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnImageGroupBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageGroupContentContainer" style="width: 273px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageGroupContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/da00dea8-4026-4583-9bf0-44d42727a3e9.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="264" /></em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageGroupContentContainer" style="width: 273px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageGroupContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/80295925-9c0c-4778-92ba-dcdc0aa78ebd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" width="264" /></em></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top">
<span style="color:null;"><em>Thank you to those of you who have asked about us due to the news coverage of the protests. They have caused major disruptions around the country but we have, as yet, to be affected by them. We are rarely anywhere near where they have been occurring and we have no need to be there any time soon, so for us things are as normal here as they ever have been. But we very much appreciate your concern.</em><br> <em> </em><br> <em>Beginning on the 26th we end the year with a night at the Café Laurent followed by a five night run at Chez Papa Jazz Club. We begin the week as a duo, add Peter Giron on bass and finish the week as a quartet with Mourad Benhammou on drums. If you are in Paris please make plans to join us one, or more, of those nights. </em><br> <br> <em><strong>Here is our remaining December schedule.</strong></em></span><br> <br> <em><span style="color:null;"><strong>Dec. 13th</strong> we are a duo at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=398d23bb14&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a></em><br> <em><span style="color:null;"><strong>Dec. 14-15th The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Trio</strong> with Peter Giron at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=0ffbddd1af&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a></em><br> <em><span style="color:null;"><strong>Dec. 21-22nd</strong> we are a duo at Monteverdi </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=2bd21c60cf&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.lemonteverdi.com</span></a></em><br> <em><span style="color:null;"><strong>Dec. 26th</strong> we are a duo at Café Laurent in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=ef6010c569&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.hoteldaubusson.com/en/cafe-laurent.html</span></a></em><br> <em><span style="color:null;"><strong>Dec. 27 </strong>we are a duo at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=f0b5bd5a33&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a></em><br> <em><span style="color:null;"><strong>Dec. 28 - 29th The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Trio</strong> with Peter Giron at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=04e4a9a342&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a></em><br> <em><span style="color:null;"><strong>Dec. 30 - 31st The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Quartet</strong> with Peter Giron and Mourad Benhammou at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=4673061ba5&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a></em><br> <br> <em><span style="color:null;">Thank you to everyone who has already downloaded "Fragile", our new recording. It is available as a download on CD Baby at this link. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=2bde009489&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5 </span></a></em><br> <br> <em><span style="color:null;"> 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. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=377dbfe9ef&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.surfcovejazz.com</span></a></em><br> <br> <span style="color:null;"><em>Thanks for staying in touch with us.</em><br> <br> <em>Until next time, Leslie et Gerard </em></span><br> <br> <em><span style="color:null;">Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <</span><a data-imported="1" href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com"><span style="color:null;">gerard@surfcovejazz.com</span></a><span style="color:null;">>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=567f5a37e3&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</span></a></em><br> <br> <em><a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=a5ecadaa2b&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</span></a></em><br> <br> <em><a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=0067da3ba5&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</span></a></em><br> <br> <em><a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=ef80ac1e54&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</span></a></em><br> <br> <em><a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=9c59964eda&e=a152175c8a" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</span></a></em>
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Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137468
2018-11-08T01:00:00+01:00
2020-03-17T15:44:13+01:00
"Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen" 8 November 2018 Bonjour de Paris
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%;"><tbody> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateBody" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="bodyContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:null;"><em><strong>Bonjour de Paris ...</strong></em></span></div> <br> <span style="color:null;">Chers Amis,<br> <br> October was a good month. We enjoyed a bit of an Indian summer which happened to coincide with the time that one of my sisters chose to visit Paris for the first time. Leslie and I enjoyed showing her our favorite things in town. We introduced her to some of our Parisienne friends as we visited some jazz clubs, art galleries and restaurants. She was up for just about anything so we of course ended up being out way too late. She even agreed to a night of bowling with our rag-tag barely organized team. I was sad to see her go, which was a sign that it was a good visit. Last month we also had a few gigs in venues that were new for us and were great fun to play. More and more we are getting opportunities to work with a quartet which offers a nice change from our normal duo and trio dates. I like the clarity of the duo situation, that being said, the addition of bass and drums in a trio or quartet setting changes my role considerably and allows me to play differently. Plus the interaction between players and especially between Leslie and the band is way more complex as are the textural possibilities. So things here are moving forward in a nice groove.</span>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/a84a7919-b2ca-43d1-a123-8f1c2c21df30.jpg" class="size_orig justify_center border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/06c462ef-e693-4a6b-9648-6411de7c58c9.jpg" class="size_orig justify_center border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;">Celebrating my birthday with our friends Sara (pictured) Jules and Sacha.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/569997bf-c71f-48c9-91db-3a7742055444.jpg" class="size_orig justify_center border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;">Krista, my sister, enjoying her first evening in Paris.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;">At Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/0a5ad6d1-57b7-4dbf-a210-4db62bc54f1f.jpg" class="size_orig justify_center border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;">This one doesn't really need a caption does it!</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;">That Indian summer weather is long gone. We are well into fall and soon enough we will be staring at another winter. This year I have a plan to use the road trips we have coming up (Annecy, Lyon, Turin Italy, Minsk, and two weeks on the Mediterranean Sea in Greece, Italy and Malta) as a way to mentally break up the winter months in Paris which I find difficult at times. Also we are hoping to have a non-working get away to someplace warm for few days in February. </span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/8458d801-6413-4a71-afdb-d92fceb0dc3c.jpg" class="size_orig justify_center border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;">Poster for a very enjoyable concert at Le Tsuba Hôtel, Paris.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;">But before all of that there is always Christmas in Paris which is magical. Leslie loves the season and does a great job of decorating our home which brings me much joy. Buying the tree is something she really looks forward to, as do I, but for me mostly it's because she has so much fun searching out the tree. Since we are on foot, getting a tree back home is another challenge but also a part of the shared experience. <br> <br> We are on the road for a week in December and we will end the year with a six night run at the Café Laurent (Dec. 26th) and Chez Papa Jazz Club (Dec. 27-31). With the addition of the end of the year activities at the college and our regular gigs we won't have much time for Christmas celebrations. We have decided not to take any work on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day so that we can have (for us) a "normal", and hopefully quiet, holiday. </span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;"><img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9/images/fbffc20f-bcde-47d7-b9d1-3c99b73bc5f9.jpg" class="size_orig justify_center border_" alt="" width="564" /></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;">Christmas Day in Paris!</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><span style="color:null;">I have been rehearsing with a trio for a gig on November 23rd at Bab-ilo. It has been a good opportunity to play some instrumental music which I don't get to do very much since we moved to Europe. So if you are in Paris on that date please come out to hear our efforts toward creating some improvised jazz trio music. Leslie will be working with Philippe Martel's trio in Geneva, Switzerland that weekend.</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
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<span style="color:null;">Here is our November schedule if you are in France.<br> <br> Nov. 8th we are a duo at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;"> http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a><br> <span style="color:null;">Nov. 9-10th The Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Trio with Peter Giron at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a><br> <span style="color:null;">Nov. 16-17th we are a duo at Monteverdi </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.lemonteverdi.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.lemonteverdi.com</span></a><br> <span style="color:null;">Nov. 23rd Leslie works with the Philippe Martel Trio in Geneva, CH. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.jazz-agmj.ch/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.jazz-agmj.ch</span></a><br> <span style="color:null;">Nov. 23rd Gerard works with Peter Giron and Tony Saba in trio at Bab-ilo in Paris, FR. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://babilo.lautre.net/htm/babilo.html" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://babilo.lautre.net/htm/babilo.html</span></a><br> <span style="color:null;">Nov. 24th Leslie works with the Philippe Martel Trio in Briançon, FR. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://briancon.lesrelaisdalsace.com/en/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">https://briancon.lesrelaisdalsace.com/en/</span></a><br> <span style="color:null;">Nov. 28th we are a duo at Café Laurent in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.hoteldaubusson.com/en/cafe-laurent.html" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.hoteldaubusson.com/en/cafe-laurent.html</span></a><br> <span style="color:null;">Nov. 30-Dec. 1st Leslie works with Rhoda Scott at Jazz Club Étoile in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://www.jazzclub-paris.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;"> https://www.jazzclub-paris.com</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Thank you to everyone who has already downloaded "Fragile", our new recording. It is available as a download on CD Baby at this link. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5</span></a><span style="color:null;"> <br> <br> 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. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.surfcovejazz.com</span></a><br> <br> <span style="color:null;">Thanks for staying in touch with us.<br> <br> Until next time, Leslie et Gerard <br> <br> Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <</span><a data-imported="1" href="http://gerard@surfcovejazz.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">gerard@surfcovejazz.com</span></a><span style="color:null;">>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. </span><a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/blog" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</span></a><br> <br> <a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</span></a><br> <br> <a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</span></a><br> <br> <a data-imported="1" href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</span></a><br> <br> <a data-imported="1" href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736" target="_blank"><span style="color:null;">http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</span></a>
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Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137467
2018-10-01T02:00:00+02:00
2020-03-17T15:44:36+01:00
"Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen" 2 October 2018 Bonjour de Paris
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>Bonjour de Paris ...</strong></em></div> <br> <em>Chers Amis,<br> <br> We have been enjoying a few weeks in our own home getting back into a routine of gigs in town and the start of my fall classes at the Paris College of Music. I am teaching 1st year jazz piano, 2nd year jazz repertoire and two sections of jazz history. And so it begins...<br> <br> Next week Leslie is making a quick overnight trip to Capbreton, FR for a concert with Philippe Duchemin's trio. Meanwhile we are looking forward to my sister's visit to Paris later this week. We are wanting to check out the Picasso Blue and Pink exhibit at Musée D'Orsay, along with the many other things we'd like her to see and do while she is in Paris. Perhaps an evening of bowling with the "gutter balz", (my sister does have a sense of humor and a decent amount of patience). </em>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top">In September we enjoyed an evening with friends cruising along the Seine river. There was dinner, and a show, followed by dancing and plenty of champagne, wine and other good things. Here are are some photos of the event.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><em>Well it took almost two years but I did finally get a concert booked for the piano trio that I would like to get off of the ground here in Paris. We are working on November 23rd at a small jazz club here called Bab-ilo. Leslie will be working in Geneva that weekend so the timing is good for me to have this gig.<br> <br> The first week in December we will be working with Christophe (bass) and Philippe (drums) Le Van in Annecy and Lyon. They live in the south of France, so when we work down there sometimes we get lucky enough to use them. The last time we worked together was the jazz festival in Annecy last August.<br> <br> In January we are going to Minsk, Belarus. Yes you read that correctly, in January... we are going to be in Belarus... Minsk to be exact. Originally they invited us for the spring, but for reasons unknown, we are going at the height of winter. But all is not lost because in April and May we are on a jazz cruise on the Mediterranean sea. The dates match perfectly with the two week spring break from classes at the college. The cruise includes stops in Italy, Malta and the Greek Islands. There will be forty some musicians on the cruise so who knows what goes on there. In Belarus we are working with a local rhythm section so I guess I could say the same thing, who knows what goes on there? Stay tuned!</em></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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<em><span style="text-decoration:underline"><strong>Here is our October schedule if you are in France.</strong></span></em><br> <br> <span style="text-decoration:underline"><em><strong>Oct 12th</strong></em></span> Leslie works with the Philippe Duchemin Trio in Capbreton, FR. <br> <span style="text-decoration:underline"><em><strong>Oct. 13th</strong></em></span> the <em><strong>Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Quartet</strong></em> with Bruno Rousselet and Mourad Benhammou at Le Génie Sous Les Étoiles in Paris. <a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=318d525086&e=bf9134ac33" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank"> </a><a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=7a8108ed8e&e=bf9134ac33" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.legeniesouslesetoiles.com</a><br> <span style="text-decoration:underline"><em><strong>Oct. 14th</strong></em></span> we have a concert privé in Paris with Peter Giron.<br> <span style="text-decoration:underline"><em><strong>Oct. 16th</strong></em></span> we are a duo at Café Laurent in Paris. <a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=d56ca5c9ae&e=bf9134ac33" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.hoteldaubusson.com/en/cafe-laurent.html</a><br> <span style="text-decoration:underline"><em><strong>Oct. 18th</strong></em></span> we are a quartet with Clément Blumen and Lionel Boccara at Le Tsuba Hotel in Paris. <a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=dbb21f4372&e=bf9134ac33" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.parisjazzclub.net/en/503/club/tsuba-hotel</a><br> <span style="text-decoration:underline"><em><strong>Oct. 19th</strong></em></span> we are a trio with Peter Giron at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. <a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=35719f53a3&e=bf9134ac33" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</a><br> <span style="text-decoration:underline"><em><strong>Oct. 20th</strong></em></span> we have a concert privé in Paris with Peter Giron.<br> <span style="text-decoration:underline"><em><strong>Oct. 26-27th</strong></em></span> we are a duo at Monteverdi <a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=2442b405b1&e=bf9134ac33" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.lemonteverdi.com</a>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="width: 100%;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" valign="top"><em>Thank you to everyone who has already downloaded "Fragile", our new recording. It is available as a download on CD Baby at this link. <a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=31f39fe5be&e=bf9134ac33" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank"> https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5 </a><br> 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. <a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=9bb979e6ef&e=bf9134ac33" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.surfcovejazz.com</a><br> <br> Thanks for staying in touch with us.<br> <br> Until next time, <strong>Leslie et Gerard</strong> <br> <br> Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=358bde7e89&e=bf9134ac33" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank"><gerard@surfcovejazz.com>.</a> I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. <a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=e72e4b3f2f&e=bf9134ac33" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</a><br> <br> <a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=f93ffc8156&e=bf9134ac33" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</a><br> <a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=1816426483&e=bf9134ac33" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</a><br> <a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=f866459d46&e=bf9134ac33" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</a><br> <a data-imported="1" href="https://surfcovejazz.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=395f5e9b938568f537dd3e2d9&id=b20c951aaf&e=bf9134ac33" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</a></em></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr>
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Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137466
2018-08-20T02:00:00+02:00
2021-07-17T11:54:30+02:00
"Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen" 20 Août 2018 Bonjour de Paris
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:null;"><strong><em>Bonjour de Paris ...</em></strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color:null;"><em>Chers Amis,</em></span></p>
<p><br><span style="color:null;"><em>Planes, trains and automobiles is the theme for this newsletter. We arrived in La Baule by train late Saturday night. Earlier that day we spent four hours traveling from Annecy to Paris (by train) and had two hours in Paris before we did the three hour train ride from Paris to La Baule. We happily arrived knowing that, although over the years we have done many, many gigs in La Baule, this year we are on vacation. This is great because it has been a crazy summer for us. By the time we return to Paris at the end of this month to work at Chez Papa Jazz Club, our travels for July and August will have covered over six thousand miles including two flights, seventeen trains and I don't know how many automobiles (Uber, taxis and rides with fellow musicians). We will have done twenty two concerts. We also will have wonderful memories of all the great people we were able to hang with and all of the new places that we got to experience and enjoy as well as memories of all of the music we made with some of our favorite musicians. We were able to schedule our work on consecutive days, usually three, and then enjoy as much as five days off in between gigs. So even though the working part was pretty intensive, we still managed some time at the pool, beach or lake as well as some time to explore new places. We had some great meals with friends and enjoyed some funny conversations, mostly about musician war stories, told over a bottle of wine or two. Peter Giron taught us a dice game, I think! I still think he was making up the rules as we played. Why? Well at one point I had something like 500 points and he had 39, but in the end, with two rolls of the dice, who do you think wins? I'm still not over that yet! Do yourself a favor and don't get into a 2:00 am dice game with him.</em></span></p>
<p><em><span style="color:null;">In early August Mike and Carol Penn came to France with their daughter Alexis and Anya their grand daughter. We had so much fun in Paris and thanks to the hospitality of Peter and Nicole Giron we continued the fun in Bordeaux. I was impressed by how the Penn's made the best use of their time in order to do and see just about everything that was possible to do and see. I have known their family for thirty five years. Leslie and I always stay with them when we are back in southern California. So this was a great treat to be able to spend some time together in France. Speaking of friends, Bobby Chitwood and Sue Hilton from Dallas came to hear our concert with Christophe and Philippe Le Van at the music festival in Annecy.</span><a data-imported="1" href="%20https:/www.imperial-annecy-festival.fr/programme-jazz-1151"><span style="color:null;"> https://www.imperial-annecy-festival.fr/programme-jazz-1151</span></a><span style="color:null;"> We were able to have dinner together and catch the last concert of that night. Our friend Serge drove from Grenoble to Annecy to hear our concert as well.</span></em></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/d5f6ed85c0e1d4537728e81533557ecd2191f520/original/giron-home-bordeaux.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"> <em>Peter & Nicole Giron's home in Bordeaux.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/fd1fd9517763cb994f886ab2b400ace7897ec9ac/original/peter-nicole-giron.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDg4MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="880" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Peter and Nicole Giron.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/e4a7adbb668202dbe35caaf87113a43557cf72e6/original/lacanau.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"> <em>Beach in Lacanau, FR.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/2a41c4ab608994dee8deb07674942d257792da00/original/peter-gerard-leslie-in-bordeaux.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Dinner in Bordeaux.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/45796d0b9c3780fa419711d6fff810c54be9773b/original/penns-gironshagens-in-bordeaux.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDY2MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="660" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"> <em>The whole gang in Bordeaux. Mike, Carol & Alexis Penn, Peter and Nicole Giron, Leslie and Gerard. The bottle of wine that Nicole is holding was the same as was served at their wedding!!!</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/5c4d7303acd7959ea736abe5874c0d483f8af60f/original/bass-in-bordeaux.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"> <em>Bass before our concert in Bordeaux.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/2bd548382136118b39affa52d6f02373566229a4/original/piano-in-bordeauxjpg.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Piano in Bordeaux.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/0da1f57b638dec7281869485e08d62b7fc2cd081/original/view-from-hotel-in-annecy.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"> <em>View of Annecy from Hotel.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/f03dac99cb6bf9211701b5377b78791f82e792fc/original/way-to-la-clusaz-cropped.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5OCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="498" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>View on our way to work in La Clusaz, FR.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/2aebce21bed7501e7221edb9e39e9be0ab50aebe/original/cows-in-la-clusaz.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Cows on the way to our gig in La Clusaz, FR.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/dafbc7abb3706d61a38e3264b1647267954048ec/original/imperial-backstage.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"> <em>View toward the audience at the jazz festival at the Imperial Palace.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/fb774891adb786d0a0ea024233cce5ccf32665bc/original/imperial-jazz-festival.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDU0MiJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="542" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"> <em> Jazz festival at the Imperial Palace Annecy, FR.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>So here we are in La Baule in yet another house that is filled with friends. We have been so blessed to have so many fun, creative and interesting people with whom to share a part of our lives. It helps to re-energize us and helps to keep me from retreating into my own head which happens too often. For the next week we have only to relax, go to the beach, get some sleep, read and enjoy some downtime without any schedules to keep.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>In looking ahead to the fall we are going to be in Paris more than we have been. I will start teaching at the Paris College of Music around mid-September. Later in the year there are gigs in Geneva, Lyon and a few trips back to Annecy but so far it looks to be less travel intensive than this past spring and summer were. I would like to announce that we have been offered a few concerts in Minsk, Belarus scheduled for early next March. It is a place we thought we'd never see, but we are grateful for the opportunity to go there and make music. Something tells me that there will be some good stories coming from that trip. There are a few other things on the horizon for 2019 including a new music project that we will start working on when we return to Paris. We are both excited about the possibilities for this project and what lies ahead.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>I want to say that other than being tired and a bit worn down, Leslie and I are in a very good place these days. We have been blessed with opportunities to play music and wonderful people to share these opportunities with. I can't really tell you how this has all come about. It never seems as though we are laser beam focused on our careers. In fact just the opposite, I often feel as if I barely get the minimum daily tasks completed in order to have any career. Somehow the phone rings or more and more often a text comes in and dates go on the calendar and the next thing we know, we are crazy busy. We never really know what tomorrow will bring. In fact we have learned to expect almost anything. It is definitely a bit of a wild ride, but one I really hope will continue because I love being on this ride with Leslie and I can't imagine doing anything else with anyone else. We know that we are very lucky and we are very grateful to you for your interest in our music, for coming to our gigs, for reading about the crazy things that we experience and mostly for your friendship. To those of you who respond these emails, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.</em></span></p>
<p><br><span style="color:null;"><em>Here is our late August/September schedule if you are in France.</em></span></p>
<p><em><span style="color:null;">Aug. 29-30th we are a duo at at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr"><span style="color:null;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a></em><br><em><span style="color:null;">Aug. 31st Peter Giron joins us in trio at Chez Papa. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr"><span style="color:null;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a></em><br><span style="color:null;"><em>Sept. 1st we have a concert privé in Paris with Clément Blumen.</em></span><br><em><span style="color:null;">Sept. 7th we are a duo at Monteverdi </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.lemonteverdi.com"><span style="color:null;">http://www.lemonteverdi.com</span></a></em><br><em><span style="color:null;">Sept. 13th we are a duo at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr"><span style="color:null;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a></em><br><em><span style="color:null;">Sept. 14-15th we are a trio with Peter Giron at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr"><span style="color:null;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a></em><br><em><span style="color:null;">Sept. 21-22th we are a duo at Monteverdi </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.lemonteverdi.com"><span style="color:null;">http://www.lemonteverdi.com</span></a></em><br><em><span style="color:null;">Sept. 28-29th we are a duo at Monteverdi </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.lemonteverdi.com"><span style="color:null;">http://www.lemonteverdi.com</span></a></em></p>
<p><br><em><span style="color:null;">Thank you to everyone who has already downloaded "Fragile", our new recording. It is available as a download on CD Baby at this link. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5"><span style="color:null;">https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5</span></a></em></p>
<p><em><span style="color:null;">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. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com"><span style="color:null;">http://www.surfcovejazz.com</span></a></em></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Thanks for staying in touch with us.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Until next time, Leslie et Gerard</em></span></p>
<p><em><span style="color:null;">Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <</span><a data-imported="1" href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com"><span style="color:null;">gerard@surfcovejazz.com</span></a><span style="color:null;">>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. </span><a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/blog"><span style="color:null;">http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</span></a></em></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><em><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis"><span style="color:null;">http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</span></a></em></p>
<p><em><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio"><span style="color:null;">http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</span></a></em></p>
<p><em><a data-imported="1" href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719"><span style="color:null;">http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</span></a></em></p>
<p><em><a data-imported="1" href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736"><span style="color:null;">http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</span></a></em></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em> </em></span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137465
2018-08-02T02:00:00+02:00
2020-03-17T15:45:26+01:00
"Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen" 2 Août 2018 Bonjour de Paris
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><strong>Bonjour de Paris ...</strong></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Chers Amis,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>After working away from Paris for much of July we are back in town for about a week before we head out again. It has been nice to be in our own home and to sleep in our own bed. The plan is to keep the work we do in August down to a minimum and try to maximize our free time into a vacation. To that end we are very excited to be spending some time with friends from California who are coming to visit France. Our first stop is Bordeaux and some down time at the home of Peter and Nicole Giron. While in Bordeaux we are playing a concert with Peter and Philippe Gaubert beyond that we are looking forward to some time spent with friends, afternoons by the pool, perhaps a game of golf if the spirit is willing. After Bordeaux we travel back to Annecy for three concerts, two in duo and one festival concert in quartet with Philippe and Christian Le Van. What follows next is a series of long sunny afternoons at the beach followed by evening BBQ's during what has become our traditional August hang in La Baule at the beautiful beach home of our friend Lois. We end the month the same way we will begin it, with three nights at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. If you are in Paris, Thursday (Aug. 2nd) we start the first of three nights at Chez Papa Jazz Club. Bruno Rousselet will join us on Friday and Jean-Pierre Rebillard is with us on Saturday.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>July was a blast if not a bit much with travel. We had five days vacation in Lisbon and Cascais, Portugal. We had never been there before so we didn't know quite what to expect. I am happy to say that we were thrilled with our choice to vacation there. The city is very lively with tons of things to do. Once you get used to the hills, it is very walkable. There are galleries, museums, a lot of outdoor music, a nice waterfront area, and many killer restaurants. We pretty much did all of it as well as spending some time in Cascais, a beautiful seaside town with a great beach. The people are very warm and we are hoping to get back there sooner rather than later. Upon our return we went directly to the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and spent eight days traveling between concerts in Annecy, La Clusaz and Charancieu. We did have some days off and so we had an opportunity to visit some of the beautiful lakes in that area. From there we travelled through Lyon, Marseilles and Toulon on our way to Brignoles to play the "Jazz á Brignoles" festival. Following that concert I returned home while Leslie had a 4:00 am lobby call to catch a train to Cormeilles for a concert with Rhoda Scott. She joined me in Paris the next day.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/225b98c669dfe392f883a563229a0324acdeea33/original/lisbon-view-to-water-small.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> View to the waterfront in Lisbon</em> <em>.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/86988598d8df65997ca41dcbd922bbbe98fa077b/original/lisbon-street-small.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDg4MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="880" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em>Streets in Lisbon.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/b40995126d24131d5401dd9ad047c639d2ff4407/original/leslie-nooo-small.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em>Leslie hates getting her picture taken!</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/bfadbf365ce75d4a3e1b777ed2059eee339a608c/original/g-on-the-water-small.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em>Gerard on a boat in Lisbon.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/1da28bb493e8adce1b89b396c6f0e2c5bc1f9b32/original/leslie-at-cascais-small.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em>Leslie at the beach in Cascais.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/1b8a70351c4e83c2f2f23de80d7779b703b8aa77/original/cascais-sunset-small.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em>The sun begins to set in Cascais.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/d805a366a32a81950f96c53622c518c741ebf15a/original/annecy-lake-small.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em>Lake in Annecy.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/acdcaede14d4211191bfbbf4b31212bf42e06c62/original/diva-chair-small.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDg4MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="880" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>The diva chair at the Imperial Hotel Annecy.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/3c6f4a0093f5dd897f15721d33eaa12d7eade0da/original/piano-in-la-clusaz-small.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>The piano in La Clusaz.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/6099909a23ac763ef204aafe79eee3793760efab/original/sound-check-brignoles-small.jpeg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em>After the sound check at Jazz á Brignoles.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/38c428338b29af14fbb72ceb6581b45dd2cc7283/original/pre-concert-brignoles-small.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDYxNyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="617" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Pre-concert view from back stage Jazz á Brignoles.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Here is our August schedule if you are in France.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Aug. 2-3-4 we are with Bruno Rousselet and Jean-Pierre Rebillard at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. <a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Aug. 10 the Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Quartet is at Le Caillou du Jardin Botanique in Bordeaux, FR. <a data-imported="1" href="http://lecaillou-bordeaux.com/jazzATcaillou/"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://lecaillou-bordeaux.com/jazzATcaillou/</span></a></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Aug. 15 we are a duo at Hotel Beauregard in La Clusaz, FR. <a data-imported="1" href="https://www.hotel-beauregard.fr"><span style="color:#ffffff">https://www.hotel-beauregard.fr</span></a></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Aug. 16 the Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Quartet is at the Festival at L'Impérial Palace in Annecy, FR. <a data-imported="1" href="https://www.hotel-imperial-palace.com/fr/le-hip-bar-150"><span style="color:#ffffff">https://www.hotel-imperial-palace.com/fr/le-hip-bar-150</span></a></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Aug. 17 we are a duo at Au Coeur du Village in La Clusaz, FR. <a data-imported="1" href="https://www.hotel-aucoeurduvillage.fr"><span style="color:#ffffff">https://www.hotel-aucoeurduvillage.fr</span></a></em></span></p>
<p><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Aug. 29-30-31 we are a duo at at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. <a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a></em></span></p>
<p><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Thank you to everyone who has already downloaded "Fragile", our new recording. It is available as a download on CD Baby at this link. <a data-imported="1" href="https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5"><span style="color:#ffffff">https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5</span></a></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>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. <a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/blog"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://www.surfcovejazz.com</span></a></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Thanks for staying in touch with us.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time, Leslie et Gerard</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <a><span style="color:#ffffff">"><gerard@surfcovejazz.com></span></a>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. <a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/blog"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</span></a></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><a data-imported="1" href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><a data-imported="1" href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137464
2018-07-02T02:00:00+02:00
2020-03-17T15:45:51+01:00
"Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen" 2 Juillet 2018 Bonjour de Paris
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:null;"><em><strong>Bonjour de Paris ...</strong></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Chers Amis,</em></span></p>
<p><br><span style="color:null;"><em>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.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>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.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/630fd5dd4562f418b192bfbb38d5f7c0dc0e4962/original/chamberry.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Chamberry, France near Annecy where we are working 8 concerts this summer.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/d3db52af1d9ccb2cf73418b999be8fa826aa8003/original/french-alps.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDU3NiJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="576" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>The French Alps, near The Jazz and Cheese Festival.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/5d2ec2a1bfb8b276731ab0b04791080780055937/original/italy-hotel-view-torino.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>View from the Hotel Torino, Italy.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/a4b16174f23314aaa7e430fa0d2af3aaf50a2c30/original/italy-torino-piazza-1.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Piazza in Torino, Italy.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/62794bf45e36b5590a3bb9b6223393c47ddb2683/original/philippe-kristen.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Kristen Marion, jazz singer & Philippe Martel, jazz pianist. Our friends from Charancieu, FR.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>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.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/d8c3db2e751b0c053cf27f3b559deae67e66edcd/original/dipolmatico.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDU3OSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="579" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/04a0d0c59f71fee74652369fe1bb04de985b8a74/original/imep-logo.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDY2MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="660" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>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.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Here is our July and August schedule if you are in France.</em></span></p>
<p><em><span style="color:null;"><strong>July 5-6-7</strong> we are with Peter Giron at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr%20"><span style="color:null;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a></em><br><br><em><span style="color:null;"><strong>July 10</strong> we are a duo at the Café Laurent in Paris </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.hoteldaubusson.com/en/cafe-laurent.html."><span style="color:null;">http://www.hoteldaubusson.com/en/cafe-laurent.html.</span></a></em></p>
<p><em><span style="color:null;"><strong>July 18-19</strong> we are a duo at L'Impérial Palace in Annecy, FR. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://www.hotel-imperial-palace.com/fr/le-hip-bar-150"><span style="color:null;">https://www.hotel-imperial-palace.com/fr/le-hip-bar-150</span></a></em></p>
<p><em><span style="color:null;"><strong>July 20</strong> we are a duo at Au Coeur du Village in La Clusaz, FR. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://www.hotel-aucoeurduvillage.fr"><span style="color:null;">https://www.hotel-aucoeurduvillage.fr</span></a></em></p>
<p><em><span style="color:null;"><strong>July 25-26</strong> we are a duo at L'Impérial Palace in Annecy, FR. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://www.hotel-imperial-palace.com/fr/le-hip-bar-150"><span style="color:null;">https://www.hotel-imperial-palace.com/fr/le-hip-bar-150</span></a></em></p>
<p><em><span style="color:null;"><strong>July 27</strong> we work with a quartet at Jazz à Brignoles in Brignoles, FR. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.jazzabrignoles.net/Programme-2018"><span style="color:null;">http://www.jazzabrignoles.net/Programme-2018</span></a></em></p>
<p><em><span style="color:null;"><strong>July 28</strong> Leslie works with Rhoda Scott at Theatre de Cormeilles in Cormeilles, FR. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://tinyurl.com/ycklrgjx"><span style="color:null;">https://tinyurl.com/ycklrgjx</span></a></em></p>
<p><em><span style="color:null;"><strong>Aug. 2-3-4</strong> we are with Bruno Rousselet at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr"><span style="color:null;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a></em></p>
<p><em><span style="color:null;"><strong>Aug. 10</strong> the Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Quartet is at Le Caillou du Jardin Botanique in Bordeaux, FR. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://lecaillou-bordeaux.com/jazzATcaillou/"><span style="color:null;">http://lecaillou-bordeaux.com/jazzATcaillou/</span></a></em></p>
<p><em><span style="color:null;"><strong>Aug. 15</strong> we are a duo at Hotel Beauregard in La Clusaz, FR. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://www.hotel-beauregard.fr"><span style="color:null;">https://www.hotel-beauregard.fr</span></a></em></p>
<p><em><span style="color:null;"><strong>Aug. 16</strong> the Leslie Lewis Gerard Hagen Paris Quartet is at the Festival at L'Impérial Palace in Annecy, FR. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://www.hotel-imperial-palace.com/fr/le-hip-bar-150"><span style="color:null;">https://www.hotel-imperial-palace.com/fr/le-hip-bar-150</span></a></em></p>
<p><em><span style="color:null;"><strong>Aug. 17</strong> we are a duo at Au Coeur du Village in La Clusaz, FR. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://www.hotel-aucoeurduvillage.fr"><span style="color:null;">https://www.hotel-aucoeurduvillage.fr</span></a></em></p>
<p><em><span style="color:null;"><strong>Aug. 29-30-31</strong> we are a duo at at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr"><span style="color:null;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a></em></p>
<p><br><em><span style="color:null;">Thank you to everyone who has already downloaded "Fragile", our new recording. It is available as a download on CD Baby at this link. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5%20"><span style="color:null;">https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5</span></a></em></p>
<p><em><span style="color:null;">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. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/"><span style="color:null;">http://www.surfcovejazz.com</span></a></em></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Thanks for staying in touch with us.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Until next time, Leslie et Gerard</em></span></p>
<p><em><span style="color:null;">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. </span><a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/blog"><span style="color:null;">http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</span></a></em></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis"><span style="color:null;"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</em></span></a></p>
<p><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio"><span style="color:null;"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</em></span></a></p>
<p><a data-imported="1" href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719"><span style="color:null;"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</em></span></a></p>
<p><a data-imported="1" href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736"><span style="color:null;"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</em></span></a></p>
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Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137463
2018-05-30T02:00:00+02:00
2021-08-02T12:24:18+02:00
"Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen" 1 Juin 2018 Bonjour de Paris
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:null;"><em><strong>Bonjour de Paris ...</strong></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Chers Amis,</em></span></p>
<p><br><span style="color:null;"><em>Friday night Marc Ghoukassian from Bayside Restaurant in Newport Beach was at our gig in Paris with a group of his friends. When we lived in California Leslie and I worked for him at Bayside as well as its' sister restaurant Bistango in Irvine. (Ron Kobayashi hosts a jam session at Bayside on Friday nights if you are ever in Newport and looking to play or listen to some music.) It was good to get caught up with Marc over drinks after our gig. After we returned home and I finished returning some email, I had six hours before I had to be at the college to listen to prospective students audition for entrance in the fall trimester. So after a few hours sleep I arrived a little before 9:00 am on Saturday morning trying to psych myself into audition mode. What I didn't know was that due to the fact that the students were from places such as Norway, Poland, South Africa etc., most of the auditions I was scheduled to do would use Skype. So François, my audition partner, and I spent the next four or five hours administering a performance evaluation followed by theory, ear training and sight-reading tests followed by a question and answer session for each candidate. Having survived that, I returned home, had a bite to eat and slept for a while before going to work with Leslie Saturday night. Speaking of Leslie, she has been at home at little more lately and she has been in designer mode. Why you ask? Well, we had our kitchen painted as well as some other minor updates which has put Leslie in designer mode. Designer mode is triggered by something new in our home that in turn requires another new thing and so on. It is both fun and frustrating for her due to the limits of space and also the time and effort it takes to find just the right thing and get it home from the store using public transport. I am very happy that she likes to take on these duties. Both because I know that she enjoys making our home as nice as possible but also because my vision of what those possibilities might be is shall we say, cloudy. The one good thing about having a small home is that little things can make a huge difference in both esthetics and functionality.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/e76b4af7c29899732d15e82d585b77bfe57d7f63/original/imep-ensemble.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>One of my student ensembles at IMEP Paris College of Music.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Leslie is out on the road twice in June. I can barely keep my schedule straight let alone hers, but I do know that one gig is in Le Mans and the other is where ever the Jazz and Cheese Festival is held! I also know that the transit workers strike is causing her to have to stay over an extra day during one of the trips. Which is a real drag, but at least she will be in a very nice hotel. I am in the last two week push that will close out the spring trimester. My last responsibility for the school will be concluded, I hope, on June 16th with another Saturday of student auditions for the fall. (Leslie will be on the road that weekend.) My last teaching responsibility is Sunday night June 10th, when my two student ensembles perform at Sunside Jazz Club in Paris. I am very proud of these students. They have been working hard to get prepared for this gig. It is a great opportunity for them to get an understanding of what it takes to do a professional performance at a jazz club in Paris. I really don't get too nervous anymore on my gigs but I suspect that I will be nervous that night for my students. I am really looking forward to having the summer off from teaching. I have enjoyed working with these students immensely and I don't teach every day, but between teaching and performing I am ready for a little down time.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/393f1b89c9757bb5933041d96bd703bb593458ae/original/imep-big-band.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDUyMyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="523" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>IMEP Big Band in concert in Paris.</em></span></p>
<p><br><span style="color:null;"><em>We are waiting on some confirmations but it looks like we will be doing between 20-23 concerts in July and August. Since many of the are away from Paris this will require a lot of travel. So far I have reserved tickets for fourteen train trips and two flights. The list of a few of the places we will be includes Lisbon, Annecy, La Clusaz, Toulon, Cormeilles, Bordeaux and La Baule. We will return to a few of those places several times. There is a possibility that we will make the trip to Turin, Italy during some down time in between concerts in Annecy. We are very happy and feel very blessed to have these opportunities and I don't mean to make it sound like we are working everyday. Most of our concerts come in groups of consecutive days so we do have free time to enjoy with friends in the different locations where we are working. I can't say that we have been pushing hard to get these bookings. They are the result of people that know our work contacting us with offers. So we try to be sure that every time we perform it is at the highest level possible because one never knows who is in the audience.</em><br><br><em>We are still re-living the memories of our time basking in the warmth of southern California in April. We are so thankful for everyone who took the time to come and see us. We love you and can't wait to do it all over again.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/dc72b6c9771982545690914861cb3a6e320c9ce2/original/leslie-gerard-jazz-cette-semaine.png/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDU1MyJd.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="553" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Here is our June schedule if you are in France.</em></span><br><em><span style="color:null;">May 31st June 1-2 we are with Peter Giron at Chez Papa Jazz Club. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr%20"><span style="color:null;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr </span></a></em><br><em><span style="color:null;">June 7th we are in Pierrelaye with Christian Duperray (Contrebasse), Jean-Marie Lagache (Batterie) at Jazz Session de Pierrelaye-LA MEZZANINE </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.jazz-session.org/concert-2018-06-07.html"><span style="color:null;">http://www.jazz-session.org/concert-2018-06-07.html</span></a></em><br><span style="color:null;"><em>June 8th Leslie is in Le Mans.</em></span><br><em><span style="color:null;">June 10th my student ensembles perform at Sunside Jazz Club in Paris.</span><a data-imported="1" href="%20http://www.sunset-sunside.com/2018/6/artiste/1555/5467/"><span style="color:null;"> http://www.sunset-sunside.com/2018/6/artiste/1555/5467/</span></a></em></p>
<p><br><em><span style="color:null;">June 16-17 Leslie is with Philippe Martel at The Jazz and Cheese Festival. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://www.jazzandcheese.fr"><span style="color:null;">https://www.jazzandcheese.fr</span></a></em><br><span style="color:null;"><em>June 21st we are working with Peter Giron at Chez Papa Jazz Club for Fête de la Musique</em></span><br><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr."><span style="color:null;"><em>http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</em></span></a><br><em><span style="color:null;">June 23rd we are a duo at Monteverdi</span><a data-imported="1" href="%20http://www.lemonteverdi.com"><span style="color:null;"> http://www.lemonteverdi.com</span></a></em><br><span style="color:null;"><em>June 26th we have a concert privé in Paris with Clément Blumen.</em></span><br><em><span style="color:null;">June 27th we are a duo at the Café Laurent </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.hoteldaubusson.com/en/cafe-laurent.html."><span style="color:null;">http://www.hoteldaubusson.com/en/cafe-laurent.html.</span></a></em><br><em><span style="color:null;">June 29-30th we are a duo at Monteverdi. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.lemonteverdi.com"><span style="color:null;">http://www.lemonteverdi.com</span></a></em></p>
<p><em><span style="color:null;">Thank you to everyone who has already downloaded "Fragile", our new recording. It is available as a download on CD Baby at this link.</span><a data-imported="1" href="%20https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5"><span style="color:null;"> https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5</span></a></em></p>
<p><em><span style="color:null;">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.</span><a data-imported="1" href="%20http://www.surfcovejazz.com"><span style="color:null;"> http://www.surfcovejazz.com</span></a></em></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Thanks for staying in touch with us.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Until next time, Leslie et Gerard</em></span></p>
<p><em><span style="color:null;">Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <</span><a data-imported="1" href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com"><span style="color:null;">gerard@surfcovejazz.com</span></a><span style="color:null;">>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. </span></em><em style="color: #003366;"><a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/blog"><span style="color:null;">http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</span></a></em></p>
<p><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis"><span style="color:null;"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</em></span></a></p>
<p><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio"><span style="color:null;"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</em></span></a></p>
<p><a data-imported="1" href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719"><span style="color:null;"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</em></span></a></p>
<p><a data-imported="1" href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736"><span style="color:null;"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</em></span></a></p>
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Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137462
2018-05-01T02:00:00+02:00
2022-03-01T04:22:28+01:00
"Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen" 1 Mai 2018 Bonjour de Paris
<p style="text-align: left;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:null;"> <em><strong>Bonjour de Paris...</strong></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"> </span></p>
<p><br><br><span style="color:null;"><em>Chers Amis,</em><br><br><em>Breakfast in Los Angeles, lunch in London, dinner in Paris, we have made the journey back to Europe. Thank goodness for those restaurants because the food that was served during the flight was barely recognizable leaving us to pick at what was tolerable. Beyond the food, the flights weren't too bad largely because we were able to get window-aisle seats in a cabin that had a 2-4-2 seat configuration and also the departures and arrivals were on time. </em><br><br><em>It was so much fun to be back in California. We had great weather and a few free days that offered some time to hang with friends. We loved waking up to the sunshine, birds singing, trees and the beauty that is commonplace there. The commutes to our concerts in San Diego and Santa Barbara were stressful (the traffic has definitely gotten worse since we left and I don't miss driving one bit) but time spent at the beach was the antidote that made the rest of the time pretty relaxing. California really is a special place and we are happy to see that our musician friends and non musician friends are all doing well with family, work and careers. As for us, having made the transition to living here, we are happy to be back in Europe. We are finding opportunities here that are exciting and beyond what I ever thought I'd be doing if you had asked me a few years ago. So as with everything in life, one lives with tradeoffs based upon one's life decisions.</em></span></p>
<p><br><span style="color:null;"><em>Our concerts were a blast. We began with a concert on the "Osprey" which is a yacht in San Diego's Mission Bay. We did the date as a trio with Peter Giron our Paris based bassist who made the trip with us. We enjoyed a beautiful night anchored in the bay on a yacht that has been set up for concerts. There was a nice sound system, a decent Roland keyboard and a very appreciative audience. Once you add wine, interesting finger food, cioppino and dessert, it made for a wonderful way to start our California mini-tour. Due to the drop in temperature after sunset this was planned as an early night which gave us time to just barely catch the Friday night jam session run by Ron Kobayashi at Bayside in Newport Beach. It is always great to see Ron and he continues to provide wonderful music to jazz fans all over southern California. Saturday night we were back at Ron and Natasha Dye's beautiful home in San Juan Capistrano. Jerry Kalaf joined us to play drums and to fill out the quartet. Ron and Natasha really know how to host a concert and his Steinway grand piano is always a pleasure to play. This was maybe our third or fourth concert there and they have all been beautiful experiences for the band. Once again we were blown away by the audience and how far some had travelled to be there. We are so grateful to you all for being there for us. We were up early on Sunday to make the drive to Montecito for an afternoon concert at the home of Steve and Joan Bowman. Once again, we were reminded why we have concentrated on doing house concerts. We enjoyed a beautiful setting with a killer lunch that featured cookies in the shape of the Eiffel Tower. The Yamaha piano was great as well as a very good sound system which made the performance a joy. Ann Paterson an L.A. based saxophonist made the drive to be there and we were happy to have her sit in on a couple of tunes. She and Leslie definitely made a musical connection so there may be something in the future there. Once again the audience was wonderful. Thanks to Steve and Joan we were introduced to a whole new audience in Santa Barbara although I must add that several couples drove from Newport Beach and Laguna Beach to attend our concert there. Monday we pretty much stayed in one place after sleeping until sometime that afternoon. Tuesday was spent doing more hanging with friends (I got to drop by Saddleback College and get caught up with Joey Sellers). That night we finalized the groundwork for a trip to Bordeaux in August. More on this later. We ate Mexican food as often as possible and Leslie and I introduced Peter, a native of the Bronx, to The Harbor House in Dana Point, always a late night treat in O.C. Wednesday we did our concert for "Laguna Beach Live" at Seven Degrees in Laguna Beach. It was a fund raiser for children's music programs and our last concert on this trip so we really wanted it to be special. To that end we added Luis Mascaro who played violin with us last summer and is a blast to work with. As an added bonus Bijon Watson who is the Artistic Director for "Laguna Beach Live" and the man who has now invited us twice to perform for them joined us on trumpet. Once again, Leslie made a musical connection with Bijon as they traded improvised melodies over a couple of tunes. On Thursday's flight back to Paris we were able to get some sleep as well as enjoy the memories of the time spent with friends and making music in California.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"> <em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/c0d40cb5505eb5dcdfd62c7ed6e7bc07aca31d77/original/15039617-373587672979383-6663778354737744767-o.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ0MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="440" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"> <em>Osprey Yacht, Mission Bay, San Diego.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/6eeb43a54ebd87126e13efdaf7288f2d87430e9d/original/san-diego-mission-bay-osprey-yacht-concert-april-2018.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /><br><em>View of Mission Bay from Osprey.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/236d5d648f122abba96c48f6fc582c7cb6689c13/original/bayside-ronlesliegerard-april-2018.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"> <em>Bayside Jam </em><em>Session w/Ron Kobayashi.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/5ad39b41e665ed55dfa0cd9a11b20d0958db9577/original/bayside-wronlesliepeter-me-april-2018-1.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"> <em>Bayside with Ron, Leslie, Gerard & Peter.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/602eab1256859d9d3aeac09e1c51b3af480ab619/original/santa-barbara-concert-april-2018-1.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"> <em>Joan & Steve Bowman's Santa Barbara home.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/176b26b52b65840fd6f5e014fc3ff64938b155f9/original/laguna-live-w-bijon-april-2018.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"> <em>Laguna Beach Live concert w/ Leslie, Gerard, Peter, Jerry, Luis and Bijon.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/3022eda02eb1ab5b8c75242cc18995d8d9a5e67c/original/laguna-beach-live-leslie-peter-april-2018.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Laguna Beach Live concert w/ Leslie and Peter.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>We were back at work this weekend in Paris. Next week I am back teaching at the college and Leslie will be on the road to Le Mans to work with Philippe Duchemin's trio.</em><br><br><em>Here is our May schedule if you are in Paris.</em></span><br><em><span style="color:null;">May 9th we are at the Café Laurent </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.hoteldaubusson.com/en/cafe-laurent.html."><span style="color:null;">http://www.hoteldaubusson.com/en/cafe-laurent.html.</span></a></em><br><em><span style="color:null;">May 10-11-12 we are at Chez Papa Jazz Club </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr."><span style="color:null;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr.</span></a></em><br><em><span style="color:null;">May 17th we are at Les Deux Magots </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.lesdeuxmagots.fr/en/%20"><span style="color:null;">http://www.lesdeuxmagots.fr/en/ </span></a></em><br><em><span style="color:null;">May 19th we are at Le Hotel Cinq Codet. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://le5codet.com/en/"><span style="color:null;">https://le5codet.com/en/</span></a></em><br><em><span style="color:null;">May 25-26 we are at Monteverdi. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.lemonteverdi.com"><span style="color:null;">http://www.lemonteverdi.com</span></a></em><br><em><span style="color:null;">May 31st June 1-2 we are back at Chez Papa. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr%20"><span style="color:null;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr </span></a></em><br><br><span style="color:null;"><em>To everyone who helped to make this trip possible, Mike & Carol, Bruce & Laura, Arturo & Sacha, Ron & Natasha, Steve & Joan, Bijon, Ava & Jack, thanks isn't enough. You guys are incredible. <em>We are also grateful for all the help we received </em><em>from our dear friend Carol Roman whose </em><em>friendship</em></em><em><em> with Leslie goes back many years.</em> Fortunately for us there were far too many people who attended our concerts to name names (we don't have fans, we have friends), we know who you are and we treasure our friendships with you all. To Peter, Jerry and Luis thanks for sharing your talent on the bandstand with us.</em></span><br><br><br><br><em><span style="color:null;">Thank you to everyone who has already downloaded "Fragile", our new recording. It is available as a download on CD Baby at this link. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5%20"><span style="color:null;">https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5 </span></a></em><br><br><em><span style="color:null;">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. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/"><span style="color:null;">http://www.surfcovejazz.com</span></a></em><br><br><span style="color:null;"><em>Thanks for staying in touch with us.</em><br><br><em>Until next time, Leslie et Gerard </em></span><br><br><em><span style="color:null;">Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <</span><a data-imported="1" href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com"><span style="color:null;">gerard@surfcovejazz.com</span></a><span style="color:null;">>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. </span><a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/blog"><span style="color:null;">http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</span></a></em><br><br><br><br><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis"><span style="color:null;"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</em></span></a><br><br><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio"><span style="color:null;"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</em></span></a><br><br><a data-imported="1" href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719"><span style="color:null;"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</em></span></a><br><br><a data-imported="1" href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736"><span style="color:null;"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</em></span></a></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><strong><em> </em></strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"> </p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137461
2018-04-17T02:00:00+02:00
2020-03-17T15:47:09+01:00
"Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen" 17 Avril 2018 Bonjour de Paris
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:null;"><strong><em>Bonjour de Paris ...</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Chers Amis,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Tonight's plan was to spend the evening packing and getting everything ready for our early AM flight to L.A. But (there is almost always a but) we received an offer to go hear Kurt Elling in Paris tonight. So... I guess it'll be another late night of packing. Followed by the ardent hope of sleep during the flight. To be honest, this past month has gone by in a blur. And things are coming in quickly for the summer and later this spring. We are very fortunate to be in this position, but I sometimes wish that I felt just a little more ahead of the curve.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/826051b8364f459acd9a1024580c12222b75904a/original/see-you-in-ca.png/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDU1MyJd.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="553" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><em><span style="color:null;">I am really trying to promote The "Laguna Beach Live" concert on April 25th at Seven Degrees in Laguna Beach. It is a concert to raise funds for children's music programs that are free of charge for the participants. There will be food and drinks available at the venue. We are really excited to have Peter Giron, our Paris bassist join us along with L.A. drummer and my long time musical partner Jerry Kalaf to present this music to you. I can also confirm that Luis Mascaro, the wonderful violinist who performed with us in Laguna Beach last August, will be there as well. Tickets are available at </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://www.lagunabeachlive.org/special-fundraiser-for-live-music-kids%20"><span style="color:null;">https://www.lagunabeachlive.org/special-fundraiser-for-live-music-kids </span></a><span style="color:null;"> We really hope to see you there for this special event.</span></em></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/0faee8bdca54d330e6c43e8aa56171bc1351d7cf/original/california-concert-april-2018.png/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDY2MCJd.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="660" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Our other California Itinerary includes April 20th San Diego, April 21st San Juan Capistrano and April 22nd in Santa Barbara. We are hoping to have the opportunity to see as many of you as possible, although this trip is a short one and one that is quite full with work.</em></span></p>
<p><em><span style="color:null;">Thank you to everyone who has already downloaded "Fragile", our new recording. It is available as a download on CD Baby at this link. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5"><span style="color:null;">https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5</span></a></em></p>
<p><em><span style="color:null;">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. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com"><span style="color:null;">http://www.surfcovejazz.com</span></a></em></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Thanks for staying in touch with us.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Until next time, Leslie et Gerard</em></span></p>
<p><em><span style="color:null;">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. </span><a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/blog"><span style="color:null;">http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</span></a></em></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><em><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis"><span style="color:null;">http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</span></a></em></p>
<p><em><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio"><span style="color:null;">http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</span></a></em></p>
<p><em><a data-imported="1" href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719"><span style="color:null;">http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</span></a></em></p>
<p><em><a data-imported="1" href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736"><span style="color:null;">http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</span></a></em></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em> </em></span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137460
2018-03-28T02:00:00+02:00
2022-03-01T04:22:56+01:00
"Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen" 28 Mars 2018 Bonjour de Paris
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:null;"><em><strong>Bonjour de Paris ...</strong></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Chers Amis,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>This is going to be a shorter than normal post. We are going a mile a minute here. Last spring I was offered an opportunity to teach a jazz history class at the Paris College of Music. Last trimester I was asked to add an additional jazz repertoire class and direct two small ensembles. This past week I taught eighteen hours at the school. The combination of teaching and doing our gigs including four gigs on the road has made this a very busy month. For her part, Leslie has been on the road every week this month.</em></span></p>
<p><em><span style="color:null;">We have been preparing new repertoire for our concerts in California. The "Laguna Beach Live" concert on April 25th will be at Seven Degrees in Laguna Beach. It is a concert to raise funds for children's music programs that are free of charge for the participants. There will be food and drinks available at the venue. We are really excited to have Peter Giron, our Paris bassist join us along with L.A. drummer and my long time musical partner Jerry Kalaf to present this music to you. I can also confirm that Luis Mascaro, the wonderful violinist who performed with us in Laguna Beach last August, will be there as well. Tickets are available at </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://www.lagunabeachlive.org/special-fundraiser-for-live-music-kids%20"><span style="color:null;">https://www.lagunabeachlive.org/special-fundraiser-for-live-music-kids </span></a></em><br><span style="color:null;"><em>We really hope to see you there for this special event.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>We recently worked at the Imperial Palace in Annecy, near the Swiss boarder. There was a nice Yamaha grand piano and Bose sound system. There is a very long story that goes along with this trip including me driving around 90 kilometers in California type traffic using a manual car for the first time in maybe thirty years. Oh and the GPS failed within the first ten minutes of the trip and I never did figure out how to put the car into reverse! There is also a dog named "Nate King Cole", and a lovely couple that have a seventy seat jazz club on their property! On the plus side we have be offered nine more dates in Annecy spread over two trips this July and one in August. Also on the plus side, I am confident that my driving duties are over for this gig!</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/ddf359ae7ebc65ade93f3621ab349cb7b2a5c062/original/leslie-gerard-in-anncey.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em><br><em>Leslie & Geard in Annecy, France.</em></span></p>
<p><br><span style="color:null;"><em>Speaking of July and August, our summer is going to be spent largely away from Paris (Lisbon, Bordeaux, Annecy, Toulon, La Baule). Some of it working and some of it relaxing. Plus we are excited at the possibility of spending a few days in August visiting with friends near Turin, Italy.</em></span></p>
<p><br><span style="color:null;"><em>For those of you who are in, or visiting Paris here is the schedule:</em><br><em>March 30-31 Le Monteverdi Leslie & Gerard duo.</em></span><br><em><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.lemonteverdi.com"><span style="color:null;">http://www.lemonteverdi.com</span></a></em><br><span style="color:null;"><em>April 4-5 Chez Papa Jazz Club Leslie & Gerard duo.</em></span><br><em><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr"><span style="color:null;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a></em><br><span style="color:null;"><em>April 6-7 Le Monteverdi Leslie & Gerard duo.</em></span><br><em><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.lemonteverdi.com"><span style="color:null;">http://www.lemonteverdi.com</span></a></em><br><span style="color:null;"><em>April 12 Chez Papa Jazz Club Leslie & Gerard duo.</em><br><em>April 13-14 Chez Papa Jazz Club Leslie & Gerard with Bruno Rousselet.</em></span><br><em><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr"><span style="color:null;">http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</span></a></em><br><br><span style="color:null;"><em>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</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>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</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Thanks for staying in touch with us.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Until next time, Leslie et Gerard</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>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/</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em> </em></span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137459
2018-02-11T01:00:00+01:00
2021-09-22T14:26:30+02:00
"Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen" 12 Février 2018 Bonjour de Paris
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:null;"><strong><em>Bonjour de Paris ...</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Chers Amis,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Leslie and I hope that you all enjoyed the holidays and that 2018 is starting well for all of you. Over Christmas we enjoyed a few days off in Bordeaux starting with the new "fast train" two hour ride from Paris. It didn't seem much different from any other train ride, but we did get there in only two hours. Although we have been to Bordeaux to work we have never had the opportunity to really see the city. We stayed with Peter and Nicole Giron who made sure that we saw all of the best that the city has to offer. Some of you know Peter from hearing him perform with us. He is also the bassist on our latest recording "Fragile". Even though it was a little cold, we had a great time exploring the city and even had a little downtime with some conversations around the fireplace.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>We finished up 2017 with four nights at Chez Papa Jazz Club with Peter and Mourad, our current band here in Europe. As always New Year's Eve was quite the party with an after-party that went until morning. We are very fortunate that the club is only a 5 minute walk from our apartment.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/508c9defa5f9822d7e3794606064076aa079151b/original/photo-peter-giron-by-big-max-leo-copy.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDk5NCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="994" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Peter Giron</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/3face70847ebdf45f45d773939a83994fc5b61ce/original/mourad-benhammou.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Mourad Benhammou</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>We started 2018 with a sold out concert at Sunside Jazz Club and gigs in Dijon, Moulins, Montluçon and Saint Saturnin. Peter and I had a couple of enjoyable gigs working with Viktorija Gecyté, a jazz singer who moved to Paris from Lithuania. Last week our quartet did a concert just outside of Paris in Issy Les Moulineaux otherwise the rest of February we will be working in Paris. March will bring trips to Annecy, Dax and Toulouse and in April we travel back to California.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/48965447cf4d4f5988b26fe1d868c193e16189f2/original/pre-concert.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Pre-concert set up at Issy Les Moulineaux.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/af799910e1118fd38de612a26bfcf37218bc4b83/original/img-7602.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Concert at Issy Les Moulineaux. Leslie, Gerard, Peter, Mourad and saxophonist Eric Breton.</em></span></p>
<p><em><span style="color:null;">We are busy preparing new music for our California concerts. The "Laguna Beach Live" concert on April 25th will be at Seven Degrees in Laguna Beach. It is a concert to raise funds for children's music programs that are free of charge for the participants. There will be food and drinks available at the venue. Tickets are available at </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://www.lagunabeachlive.org/special-fundraiser-for-live-music-kids.%20%20"><span style="color:null;">https://www.lagunabeachlive.org/special-fundraiser-for-live-music-kids</span></a></em></p>
<p><em><span style="color:null;">Many of you know that we are very big on doing house concerts. So much so that we booked house concerts on the following dates, April 20th in San Diego, April 21st in Orange County, and April 22nd in Santa Barbara. These concerts are reservation only and space is limited so if you are interested in attending any, or all of them, please email me soon so that I can get reservations made for you. The San Diego concert is on a boat, the O.C. concert is in a lovely home with a wonderful Steinway grand piano as is the Santa Barbara concert. All of them will feature drinks and some type of food from snacks to a full meal that is included in the price of the concert. For more info or reservations I can be reached at <</span><a data-imported="1" href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com"><span style="color:null;">gerard@surfcovejazz.com</span></a><span style="color:null;">></span></em></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>I was offered two more classes at the Paris College of Music where I have been teaching for the past year. Now I am there three days a week teaching jazz history, jazz repertoire and directing an improvisation ensemble. It is great fun to work with these students. The school recently signed an agreement with Berklee College of Music in Boston which made them a member of Berklee's International Network of Colleges. So it looks like there are more good things on the horizon there.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>"The Gutter Balz" were reorganized last month at a local bowling alley. We had nine friends turnout for the event and have plans for more fun and games later this month!</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/0da64ca51ab6a95d87202e2150c601d0ea08e75d/original/leslie-bowling.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Leslie with "The Gutter Balz" at the bowling alley.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Paris has had a cold snap which included a few snowy days and nights. It is unusual for Paris to get snow. On those rare occasions when it does snow, it melts almost immediately. But this time it stayed for about three days which caused all kinds of commuting and logistical problems. Having lived in North Dakota and Michigan before I made it to balmy California, I could only chuckle at some of the comments I heard from people less experienced in the "joys" of snow than I.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/a75e3f5af7bcc8de24af7917276b333f3b5abe50/original/snow-at-night.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>We returned home from work late one night to find snow on our terrance.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/2e259e54d8a30cdb0327fca2de6f16e176129d13/original/snow-at-day.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>The following morning looked like this.</em></span></p>
<p><br><span style="color:null;"><em>For those of you who are in, or visiting Paris here is the schedule:</em><br><em>Feb. 14 Chez Papa Jazz Club Leslie & Gerard with bassist Patrice Solar.</em><br><em>Feb. 15 Chez Papa Jazz Club Leslie & Gerard duo.</em><br><em>Feb. 16-17 Chez Papa Jazz Club Leslie & Gerard with Peter Giron</em></span><br><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr"><span style="color:null;"><em>http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</em></span></a><br><span style="color:null;"><em>Feb. 22 Les Deux Magots Leslie & Gerard with bassist Clément Blumen.</em></span><br><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.lesdeuxmagots.fr/en/"><span style="color:null;"><em>http://www.lesdeuxmagots.fr/en/</em></span></a><br><span style="color:null;"><em>Feb. 23 Le Monteverdi Leslie & Gerard duo.</em></span><br><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.lemonteverdi.com"><span style="color:null;"><em>http://www.lemonteverdi.com</em></span></a><br><span style="color:null;"><em>Feb. 24 Le Piano Solo Leslie & Gerard with Charles Bennaroch & Nico Sabato.</em><br><em>12 Av du Président F. Roosevelt, Neuilly Plaisance 93360</em></span><br><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.piano-solo.fr"><span style="color:null;"><em>http://www.piano-solo.fr</em></span></a><br><br><em><span style="color:null;">Thank you to everyone who has already downloaded "Fragile", our new recording. It is available as a download on CD Baby at this link. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5"><span style="color:null;">https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5</span></a></em></p>
<p><em><span style="color:null;">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. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com"><span style="color:null;">http://www.surfcovejazz.com</span></a></em></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Thanks for staying in touch with us.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Until next time, Leslie et Gerard</em></span></p>
<p><em><span style="color:null;">Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <</span><a data-imported="1" href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com"><span style="color:null;">gerard@surfcovejazz.com</span></a><span style="color:null;">>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. </span><a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/blog"><span style="color:null;">http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</span></a></em></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis"><span style="color:null;"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</em></span></a></p>
<p><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio"><span style="color:null;"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</em></span></a></p>
<p><a data-imported="1" href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719"><span style="color:null;"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</em></span></a></p>
<p><a data-imported="1" href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736"><span style="color:null;"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</em></span></a></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137458
2017-12-24T01:00:00+01:00
2017-12-24T14:37:55+01:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Joyeux Noël de Paris". 24 Décembre 2017
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ad0916"><strong><em>Joyeux Noël de Paris ...</em></strong></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="color:#3a733e"><em>Chers Amis, </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#3a733e"><em> </em><em>Leslie and I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and send our best wishes for a New Year filled with all of the things that make you happy and fulfilled. We are very grateful and honored for your friendship, your support of our music and that you have remained interested in our lives even as we are separated by many miles. </em></span></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/bbe96b322bfd73de5fe52a9fe0a01d03f3ffb8bb/original/christmas01-2017.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></p>
<p><span style="color:#3a733e"><em>This time of year brings universal themes of love of family and friends, hope for peace, wishes of goodwill, and the joy of giving of ourselves, that are the most important part of the way Christmas is celebrated worldwide. Leslie and I have much to be thankful for, we are very blessed by family and many friends who have filled our lives with laughter, joy and love. We hope for all of you the most heartfelt wishes for a blessed Christmas and a New Year that brings health, happiness and much love. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ad0916">Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,</span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ad0916"><em>Joyeux Noël et une Bonne Année,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ad0916"><em>Feliz Navidad y un Feliz Año Nuevo,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ad0916"><em>Buon Natale e un Felice Anno Nuovo,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ad0916"> <em>Leslie and Gerard , </em></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="color:#ad0916"><em>Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <</em><a href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ad0916"><em>gerard@surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em>>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. </em><a href="/blog" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"><span style="color:#ad0916"><strong><em>http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</em></strong></span></a></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><em> </em></p>
<p><em> </em></p>
<p> </p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137457
2017-12-12T01:00:00+01:00
2021-08-07T04:56:51+02:00
"Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen" 12 Décembre 2017 Bonjour de Paris
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:null;"><strong><em>Bonjour de Paris ...</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Chers Amis,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Leslie and I are just sickened by the news we've been hearing about the fires in California. We pray that all of our California friends and your families are safe and comfortable with your situations with regard to these horrific fires. A few weeks back we had several friends in Northern California who were in serious danger and had to evacuate until the fire fighters got things under control. We thought that things would settle down after that experience but the current fires seem even worse. It is heartbreaking to see so much destruction of property and devastation of people's lives. I am always so amazed at the attitudes of people who have lost everything and are seemingly able to move forward almost immediately in rebuilding their lives. We hope that those who have to rebuild will find that the process will quickly lead to a return to normalcy and the comfort of having a place to call home.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><em>On a more cheery note... here are some photos from our recent travels.</em></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/ac0a7d5642fc750dab8355de93e4ec22310f0f34/original/anncey.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Photo from the concert in Anncey, France.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/10d785eaf226ff8b7ab0ffcd11afdfc844770ccb/original/anncey1.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Another shot from Anncey.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/391aa7ed991a12450a94b1da4e340693a1e9dacc/original/leslie-nice.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Leslie in Nice, France.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/6c5c387ab9e05b00cbe79cf08b8ac49f4a50e62b/original/negresco.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Hotel Negresco, Nice France.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>We were in Nice at the end of November. We used it as a home base and went to different areas around Nice each day. We were able to visit Antibes, Cannes, Monaco, Eze, Saint Paul de Vence and Juan les Pins. It was pretty easy to get around using the local bus transit system. I couldn't help but imagine what it would be like on those roads during the high season in July and August. Talk about carmageddon! We were looking at the area to see if it might work for us to live there long term. The weather is better there and the cost of living is less than Paris so we thought that we would check it out. Plus there is the small matter of easy access to the Mediterranean Sea. We really loved Nice and we found that it would be possible to live there without a car, but as soon as one would leave Nice having a car would be a must. At this point neither one of us is interested in buying another car, or interested in sitting in traffic, so we have put the thought of moving there out of our minds. Leslie found us a great AirBnB property one block from the sea. It was a modern apartment in the residential building connected to the Negresco Hotel. We arrived around 9:00 pm with instructions to walk around to the next block from the entrance to our building and look for a utility box. Yes you read that correctly, a utility box. Once we found the box I opened it and found exactly what you would expect to find in a utility box on a city street. Leslie however, found a small envelope tucked into a corner with the keys we needed. I felt a bit like Jim Phelps of the IMF force. It took a while to figure out which keys opened which doors but we soldiered on until we were inside of our apartment. By this time it was getting late on a Sunday night so we decided to eat dinner in the only restaurant in the hotel that was open. The restaurant was called "La Rotonde " which was appropriate since it was a circular room in the theme of a carousel that featured many carousel horses with a color scheme of pink, light blue, and yellow. After our eyes adjusted to the room, we actually had a very good meal with the very traditional French service normally found in all of the "Palaces" (high end hotels) found throughout France. So it was an unusual beginning to our visit to the Côte d'Azur, but c'est normal for us. The rest of our time there was a good break from our Paris routine that included celebrating Leslie's birthday, exploring new towns, and enjoying being near the sea.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/8c554391428da58f7ed5fbfe466fbde8d7005710/original/carousel.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDM3MiJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="372" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>La Rotonde Restaurant.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/f4e7d2594e4222bd4ebcb5c47f6330f9132655b1/original/saint-paul.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDY2MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="660" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>View from Saint Paul de Vence.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>We returned to Paris to find it snowing! The first snow we have seen in Paris since the winter of 2013. It was gone as soon as it arrived but it was also a bracing reminder of the difference between Paris and the south of France. Leslie loved it, even the wait for a cab at the train station didn't bother her. I was trying to see the beauty of the situation instead of concentrating on the sting of wet snow pelting my face.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>The Christmas season is in full bloom here. The city is lit up and there are many kiosks lining the streets in our Saint Germain des Prés neighborhood. We have put up a tree and have some shopping to do. I find that Christmas shopping is not the same ordeal here as it was in California. I guess because we can walk to do our shopping it is less of a hassle. Sometimes I actually like running errands with Leslie in our little corner of Paris.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/bbe96b322bfd73de5fe52a9fe0a01d03f3ffb8bb/original/christmas01-2017.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Leslie's tree Christmas 2017.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Leslie took a number of dates with pianist Philippe Duchemin so with the combination of that work, and our dates, she is on the second of a seven night run. I am into the weekly routine of teaching my classes at the IMEP College in Paris. Leslie and I came home from dinner on Sunday night to find a number of the students from the school were hosting a jam session at a bar directly across the street from our building. So we went in and listened to them for a while. Paris can be a small city!</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>We are looking forward to being with Peter and Nicole Giron in their home in Bordeaux for Christmas. Followed by a week of gigs in Paris starting on Dec. 27th the 31st. We start the New Year with a Jan. 4th date at Sunset Sunside Jazz Club.</em><br><br><em>So those of you who are in, or visiting Paris here is the line-up:</em><br><em> Dec. 27th Café Laurent Leslie & Gerard Duo. </em><br><em> http://www.hoteldaubusson.com/en/cafe-laurent.html</em><br><em> Dec. 28-29 Chez Papa Jazz Club Leslie & Gerard with Peter Giron</em><br><em> Dec. 30-31 Chez Papa Jazz Club </em><br><em> Leslie & Gerard with Peter & Mourad Benhammou </em><br><em> http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr</em><br><em> Jan. 4th Sunset Sunside Jazz Club </em><br><em> Leslie & Gerard with Peter & Mourad Benhammou </em><br><em> http://www.sunset-sunside.com</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Please don't forget that Laguna Beach Live is bringing us to California for a concert on April, 25th at Seven Degrees in Laguna Beach. It is a concert to raise funds for the music programs held at The Boys and Girls Club as well as other Laguna Beach locations. These programs are always free of charge for the children who attend them so we are thrilled to be a part of this cause. We really hope to see as many of you as possible for this worthwhile event. There will be food and drinks available at the venue. Tickets are available at https://www.lagunabeachlive.org/special-fundraiser-for-live-music-kids</em><br><br><em>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</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>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</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>If we don't have another opportunity Leslie and I would like to offer our sincere wishes that you all enjoy a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year shared with all of your loved ones. Let us hope that 2018 will bring a renewed sense of harmony, an acceptance of our differences and the will to seek some common ground so we can move forward with a shared purpose.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Joyeux Noel et bonne année, Leslie et Gerard</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>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/</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em> </em></span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137456
2017-11-15T01:00:00+01:00
2020-03-17T15:48:52+01:00
"Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen" 15 Novembre 2017 Bonjour de Paris
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:null;"><strong><em>Bonjour de Paris ...</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"> <em>Chers Amis,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"> <em>Winter has arrived in Paris. Once again we are adjusting to the cold. It’s a damp cold here, very overcast with cool, gray colors. At the moment it is not too bad because it’s early in the season and so we have yet to become tired of the winter weather. Also, seeing the city begin the transformation into the beauty of the Christmas season makes the weather almost quaint. Christmastime in Paris is really a magical time. It is truly the “city of lights”. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Today I got a chance to hang with Ron Meza getting caught up after not seeing him for a couple of years. Ron was instrumental in helping us get settled in when we arrived in Paris five years ago. For many years he has split his time between L.A. and Paris. It is always good to talk with a friend from California in order to stay informed but also as a touchstone for our lives here in Europe. After we said our goodbyes, I enjoyed the 30 minute walk home. As I crossed over the river Seine I looked to my right and saw the Eiffel Tower in the late afternoon gray winter sky. While taking in the beauty of that view I couldn’t help but think about how fortunate we are to live here. I couldn’t say why, but even though there is a long “to do” list at home, I didn’t feel any guilt for spending the afternoon talking with a friend and going for a walk.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"> <em>We are going to be in Nice, France for the last week of November. We decided to check out the area just in case we decide that we can move from Paris into a more mild Mediterranean climate. Many things would have to fall into place for that to happen, but the first step is to check out the area. We hope that it will be a much needed break from performing before the craziness of December where among twenty some concert dates there is a stretch of ten gigs spread over eleven days. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"> <em>We are spending Christmas in Bordeaux, France with our bassist Peter Giron and his family. On December 26th we return to Paris and on the 27th we start five nights culminating on New Year’s Eve at Chez Papa Jazz Club with Peter and Mourad Benhammou.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"> <em>We are very fortunate in that we have concerts booked into December of 2018. Next April, May and June are already surprisingly busy. Speaking of April, we are very happy to announce that the good folks at Laguna Beach Live are bringing us back to California for a concert on April, 25th at Seven Degrees in Laguna Beach. It is a concert to raise funds for the music programs held at The Boys and Girls Club as well as other Laguna Beach locations. These programs are always free of charge for the children who attend them so we are thrilled to be a part of this cause. We really hope to see as many of you as possible for this worthwhile event. There will be food and drinks available at the venue. Tickets will go on sale on Tuesday, November 20th at </em></span><a data-imported="1" href="https://www.lagunabeachlive.org/special-fundraiser-for-live-music-kids.%20%20"><span style="color:null;"><em>https://www.lagunabeachlive.org/special-fundraiser-for-live-music-kids. </em></span></a></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>We are starting out 2018 with a concert at Sunside/Sunset Jazz Club on January 4th with our Paris band including Peter Giron and Mourad Benhammou. Also we are part of a new jazz series at the famous Les Deux Magots cafe next week Thursday, November 23rd. This weekend we are at Chez Papa Jazz Club and next week we are at Le Speakeasy, Les Deux Magots and Monteverdi.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"> <em>"Fragile", our new recording, is available as a download on CD Baby at this link. </em></span><a data-imported="1" href="https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5"><span style="color:null;"><em>https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5</em></span></a><span style="color:null;"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Thank you to everyone who has already downloaded it. We hope that you are enjoying the listen. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/b64ccaa435334878899c953f977662da79012bdf/original/leslielewis-fragile.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDY2MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="660" width="660" /> </em></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="color:null;"> "Fragile" 2017 Surf Cove Jazz</span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>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. </em></span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com"><span style="color:null;"><em>http://www.surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Until next time,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Leslie and Gerard </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>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. </em></span><a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/blog"><span style="color:null;"><em>http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</em></span></a></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis"><span style="color:null;"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</em></span></a></p>
<p><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio"><span style="color:null;"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</em></span></a></p>
<p><a data-imported="1" href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719"><span style="color:null;"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</em></span></a></p>
<p><a data-imported="1" href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736"><span style="color:null;"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</em></span></a></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em> </em></span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137455
2017-10-02T02:00:00+02:00
2021-12-22T03:00:42+01:00
"Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen" 31 Septembre 2017 Bonjour de Paris
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:null;"><em><em><strong>Bonjour de Paris ...</strong></em></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Chers Amis,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>We are back in the swing of things after the summer season. I fear we are experiencing the last few days of sunshine and temperate weather before the fall rains begin. It looks like we will be enjoying overcast skies, temperatures in the mid sixties, and rain over the next nine or ten days. My crazy sleep patterns have returned after having had a relatively normal, at least for me, sleep cycle while in the U.S. this summer. It is amazing what a little sunlight can do! Don't get me wrong, Paris gets plenty of sun depending on the season, but having an apartment in the city often means having little direct sunlight due to the building heights blocking out the rays. In our case, the terrace gets sun which allows Leslie to garden, but not too much of that sun makes it's way inside. So I find that my crazy hours can become even more crazy in terms of when can get some sleep.</em></span></p>
<p><br><em><span style="color:null;">Over last weekend we did three very great nights at Chez Papa enjoying a great audience response. I don't know what it was about this weekend but there must have been around fourteen or fifteen people who had heard us at Chez Papa last year and were back again this year. Today, Sunday, Leslie had a concert with organist Rhoda Scott in Saint Maur Des Fosses, just outside of Paris. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.jazzenboucle.com/programme/"><span style="color:null;">http://www.jazzenboucle.com/programme/</span></a><span style="color:null;"> Right now she is packing to catch a train in the morning for an over-night in Dijon. She was invited to sing with a local band there tomorrow night. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.hotel-lacloche.fr"><span style="color:null;">http://www.hotel-lacloche.fr</span></a><span style="color:null;"> She will be back on Tuesday afternoon having done five nights in a row in three different locations.</span></em></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/f388871d94589ad639dd6d798005a638f05a92aa/original/img-0414.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ0MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="440" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;">Leslie & Gerard at Chez Papa Jazz Club, Paris.</span></p>
<p><em><span style="color:null;">As for me, I am preparing the material for my classes at the International Music Educators of Paris College of Music. </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.imep.pro./en/"><span style="color:null;">www.imep.pro./en/</span></a><span style="color:null;"> As well as a myriad of promotional duties to keep things booked into next year. We have hired some help with booking more concerts and festivals in France so that I can focus on getting some bookings for festival concerts in regions that we have not yet approached such as the U.K. and Germany.</span></em><br><br><span style="color:null;"><em>In early September we returned to Paris from La Baule and played a couple of concerts before leaving for four days in Barcelona. We chose Barcelona because we wanted a location that was new to us and most importantly, do something that had nothing to do with work. This being our first time there, we spent most of our time checking out the different neighborhoods and the city in general. We enjoyed the beach area, old town, Las Ramblas, etc. We found some great restaurants, and went to the Harlem Jazz Club that featured a decent blues band that night. The place was packed and somehow we found ourselves "sitting in". It was fun to play music but it was even better to leave the stage after two songs and not be responsible for anything beyond that. The next day we took the train to Sitges, a beach town about 30 minutes south of Barcelona. As we walked from the train station to the beach, around a 10 minute walk, we became very drawn to this town. It reminded us of Laguna Beach, that is if Laguna had a really strong Spanish architectural influence and buildings that date back to the Middle Ages. After fantasizing about living there, we decided that we couldn't actually pull that off, (at least not yet!) but we are seriously wanting to spend some time there every so often. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/7bb2c3434a61df027b05284136e87e1636b40850/original/la-baule-ocean.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /><br>Hotel Mercure, La Baule, FR.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/414aa941258cec286812d7f2d6563d005b046015/original/img-place-barcelona1.jpeg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDUwOCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="508" width="660" /></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;">Street in Barcelona</span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/b92dbe5b58c284156f2cd1dd4138f517bee8339a/original/img-sitges-beach1.jpeg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDUxNSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="515" width="660" /></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;">Beach in Sitges.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/892653d10dec4194f8813f0c39e62b8f4b96508f/original/img-street-sitges1.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDg4NCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="884" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Street in Sitges.</em></span></p>
<p><em><span style="color:null;">This Saturday we are working with Clément Blumen at Jazz Night at the Hôtel Le Cinq Codet in the 7th arrondissement near the Eiffel Tower. Friday we are at Monteverdi in Saint Germain des Prés. On October 18th we are at Cercle Suedois Rivoli Mercredi Jazz at 242 rue de Rivoli Paris 75001 </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://cercle-suedois.com/rivoli-mercredi-jazz/"><span style="color:null;">https://cercle-suedois.com/rivoli-mercredi-jazz/</span></a><span style="color:null;"> with Peter Giron and Mourad Benhammou, our Paris band.</span></em></p>
<p><em><span style="color:null;">"Fragile", our new recording, is available as a download on CD Baby at this link. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5"><span style="color:null;">https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5</span></a><span style="color:null;"> Thank you to everyone who has already downloaded it. We hope that you are enjoying the listen.</span></em></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/bedba23a4aafd38ddd95071530876fcbef6205f1/original/leslie-lewis-fragile-edited.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDY2MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="660" width="660" /> </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><em><span style="color:null;">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. </span><a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/blog"><span style="color:null;">http://www.surfcovejazz.com</span></a></em></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Until next time,</em><br><em>Leslie and Gerard </em><br><em> </em></span><br><em><span style="color:null;">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. </span><a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/blog"><span style="color:null;">http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</span></a></em><br><span style="color:null;"><em> </em></span><br><em><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis"><span style="color:null;">http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</span></a></em><br><em><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio"><span style="color:null;">http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</span></a></em><br><em><a data-imported="1" href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719"><span style="color:null;">http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</span></a></em><br><em><a data-imported="1" href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736"><span style="color:null;">http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</span></a></em></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em> </em></span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137454
2017-08-27T02:00:00+02:00
2022-03-01T04:23:25+01:00
"Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen" 28 Août 2017 Bonjour de Paris
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:null;"><em><strong>Bonjour de Paris ...</strong></em></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><br><span style="color:null;"><em>Chers Amis,</em></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><em><span style="color:null;">I began writing this newsletter while we were flying over the North Atlantic Ocean about halfway to Frankfurt, Germany during the second leg of our journey back to Paris. That flight was followed by a short "third leg" flight from Frankfurt to Paris. By the time we got home, we had travelled more than 17,000 miles this month. Between flights, rental cars, and Uber rides we visited, stayed in, or worked in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Santa Ana, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Palm Springs, Cleveland, Spokane, Coeur d'Alene, San Clemente, Venice and Temecula to name a few places. We spent time in airports in Paris, Frankfurt, Los Angeles, Chicago, Cleveland, Minneapolis, and Spokane. Some airports as many as four times. We slept in many different beds in many different rooms. I don't remember which flight we were on but I will never forget Leslie sleeping with her chin resting on her chest when she looked up at me sideways and said " Are we coming, or are we going?" After which her head fell back down and she was asleep before I could answer. We enjoyed some great meals with friends and family, and some friends who feel like family. We spent time with people we know from Europe who were in the states, got caught up with the lives of our family and very dear friends whom we don't see nearly enough, and sadly, we were not able to see some friends who we really wanted to connect with. While we were traveling I had some time to reflect on this past month; the music we made, the musicians we worked with, the audiences we performed for, and the time we spent in America. It is always good to come back. Our time spent in America is always a good touchstone for us to gain some perspective on our lives in Europe and also in general. We were very happy that the material from the new recording was well received by our audiences in the states. It has been well received in Europe but since it is quite a departure from our previous recordings, we weren't sure what kind of response we'd receive in the U.S. You can download this recording at </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5"><span style="color:null;">https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5</span></a><span style="color:null;"> Most of our concerts were sold out but we have to mention that the award for the most ingenious audience member goes to John Nootbar who upon learning our Laguna Beach concert was sold out purchased a hotel room over looking the outdoor space where we performed and watched the concert from the comfort of his private room!</span></em></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/aa94c86c8c0254b165bf3ff3f989a1e1a9c1ebec/original/empty-stage-philippe.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>One of Leslie's July concerts somewhere in France, can't remember where sorry!</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/d1c83b9f99151e0119d4f2fcd3638d394d07c1a3/original/gerard-la-baulle-jazz.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ0MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="440" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Gerard at the La Baule Jazz Festival, La Baule France.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/35d2ccc7700ab4e6b4b52524d323bd7e3725f68d/original/img-1986.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Photo from tour in France, July. Yes that is a peacock!</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/1562b4926224d4404cc7785fb6363f95f81e501c/original/stage-from-crowd.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>La Baule Jazz Festival.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/bedba23a4aafd38ddd95071530876fcbef6205f1/original/leslie-lewis-fragile-edited.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDY2MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="660" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Our new recording, now available as a download on CD Baby.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/6722b83b315fd9b4b2fbd34f29ef1c73698b01c0/original/laguna-beach-live-close-stage.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>The Laguna Beach Live concert was sold out!</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/3834df9bf52bd37a2d908003df15647db8f1fa2f/original/bop-stop-quartet.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>At "The Bop Stop" in Cleveland.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/9b80e0f604a945469d6dec2fdc841d5eb2dda273/original/20170817-194304.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>At "The Merc" in Temecula, CA.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/03ffc3456532f162b7ddc6c7a1f55482f618a3b8/original/leslie-mic.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Leslie at the Bayside in Newport Beach.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/22d81430a3538873879eea525550bf43d42d84c5/original/jazz-elite.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDM3MSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="371" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Leslie, Richard Hastings, Karla Ross, Gerard, and Chris Berry in Newport Beach.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/c54099381f3e07aa266a3a4980d4a4df0e00be5c/original/gerard-leslie-emilie-venice-crop.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDM5OSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="399" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Gerard, Leslie & Emilie Forbin, all the way from Paris to Venice, CA.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/8f8f1facfdebe7c49f962aa7bf00363e8baf035f/original/leslie-jack-lisa.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NiJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="496" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Leslie, Jack and Lisa, started as singers and became longtime friends.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/b39e0f638ee3a8a67b689d80e23edc3e4dc2f0f6/original/leslie-cheryl.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Leslie & Cheryl Silverstein in Newport Beach.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/1435a348c32474f437b7a6492d1ac5b7092665b6/original/leslie-gerard-marcy-pearl.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjQweDQ4MSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="481" width="640" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Leslie, Gerard, Marcy Vaj, and Pearl at "The Vaj Mahal" in Venice, CA.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/cd6d1370c8ed5d0b190803d956260d9077d184d9/original/img-1436.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NDkzeDY2MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="660" width="493" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Leslie & Mariya in Laguna Beach, CA.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/9cf7c282e9c50dcdc7807e20196a333327ee8be8/original/img-1441-crop.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDUyOCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="528" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>View of Laguna Beach, CA.</em></span></p>
<p><em><span style="color:null;">We are beginning to make a big push to be doing more concerts and fewer jazz club dates. Having a decent number of "likes" on our Facebook Band Page would be helpful in terms of dealing with concert promoters, so... if you are so inclined we would really appreciate it if you would stop here and "like" our page. </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://www.facebook.com/surfcovejazz/"><span style="color:null;">https://www.facebook.com/surfcovejazz/</span></a><span style="color:null;"> You will get some information that is not available in other places such as when tickets are available for our concerts, etc.</span></em></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>We have made the transition to living our lives in Europe. Our American money, credit cards from American banks and US cell phones get stored and our U.S. bank accounts go semi-dormant. Upon landing in Europe all of those things are replaced by European versions. Since we are not willing to give up the possibility of returning to live in America at some point, we have taken on two lives depending upon where we happen to be. More on this in up-coming newsletters.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>We arrived in Paris at 8:30 am Thursday, Aug. 24th making the trip around seventeen hours. On Friday we left from Gare Montparnasse at 8:30 am for the three hour ride on the TGV to La Baule. It is sort of a bookend because in July we did three days at the La Baule Jazz Festival and left for America the day after we returned to Paris. This time around we left for La Baule the day after we returned to Paris from California. We have been invited to spend some time at the summer home of our friend Lois. It is one of our favorite things to do, especially in the summer because we get to be at the beach, BBQ, read, have good conversations, drink some wine and take bets on what is going to happen next in Washington.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>The first time we were invited to Lois' home (four years ago) I slipped and fell down her stairs breaking two ribs, scrapping up my side, and causing a huge hematoma on my hip. Last summer on the first night that we spent here a man broke into her house whom I had to chase out, so this year we laughed while we tried to guess what we might face...what we didn't know was that Leslie came home from the states with an infection in her lungs. So after two trips to and an over night stay in the emergency room she is now on the mend. Considering where things were yesterday, we happily spent a beautiful afternoon at the beach today far from the hospital and with Leslie (and me) breathing much easier. We plan on being at the beach for the rest of the time we have here and soak up as much time relaxing before returning to Paris.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em>Leslie and I need to take a minute to thank everyone who made this past five weeks so great. The musicians who made such great music with us, Peter Giron our bassist who traveled from Paris to perform with us, Jerry Kalaf who made every concert we did including a very travel intensive Cleveland trip, Joey Sellers and Luis Mascaro with us at Laguna Beach, Tim Emmons in Temecula and Jack Schantz in Cleveland. A big thank you to Ron Kobayashi and everyone who came out for the for the Newport Beach date, including Darryl Walker, Richard Hastings, Chris Berry,and Karla Ross. We couldn't be more grateful to all of our friends who came out to hear us. Some of you several times. We are very blessed to have you in our lives. To Rusty Gillette and Jack Prather your instruments made the Laguna Beach gig possible. To Reg Rodgers, the man who helped me to become a pianist, your being at our concert in Cleveland was an unbelievably joyful thing for me. To Mike and Carol Penn, there are no words to describe your generosity. To my family, Mike and Margaret, thank you for a much needed break in your beautiful home. We love you guys.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><em> </em></span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137453
2017-07-24T02:00:00+02:00
2020-03-17T15:50:32+01:00
"Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen" 24 Juillet 2017 Bonjour de Paris
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:null;"><em><strong>Bonjour de Paris ...</strong></em></span></p>
<p><br><span style="color:null;">Chers Amis,</span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;">This week we will be on the road at the La Baule Jazz Festival. This is the last big push in what has been a really busy month where much of it has been spent on the road. We are both very excited to be spending some time in California, Washington and Ohio next month. We are very grateful for this opportunity to be able to see, reconnect and catch-up with everyone. Plus we get to make music with some very good friends not to mention having Peter Giron, our Paris based bassist with us for part of this trip.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/508c9defa5f9822d7e3794606064076aa079151b/original/photo-peter-giron-by-big-max-leo-copy.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDk5NCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="994" width="660" />Peter Giron, our bassist in Paris.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;">A few images from this month's travels.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/e3b751397c6e0f3414a57818ee042256cfe3cc9d/original/img-1971-cropped.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/9b4b4e60e6f97a2f2cd29834a1cd810f927f8d90/original/img-1976-cropped.jpeg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDU4NyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="587" width="660" /></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/35d2ccc7700ab4e6b4b52524d323bd7e3725f68d/original/img-1986.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/6b14fb3c16d9e444fe9e5030803de97a74908581/original/img-1992.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/fcac1689b8e53214e45d619cb7b90b709811b113/original/img-1994.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/c281335a8468d30e3c5eb27ff4ac5af44a60b2ce/original/img-2005.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;">We had an unexpected addition to our July itinerary in that I spent a few days in the hospital literally in between gigs. Everything is fine now and I am heading toward a complete recovery. The time spent away from work has put us behind in terms of getting our new recording prepared for release. We managed to get the mixing and mastering done (thank you Jerry) and also to get the artwork done. Now it is simply a matter of how long it takes to get everything processed and with any luck we will at least have download cards of the new recording available at our concerts in August for anyone who is interested.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/bedba23a4aafd38ddd95071530876fcbef6205f1/original/leslie-lewis-fragile-edited.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDY2MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="660" width="660" />Leslie's new recording done in Paris.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;">On Bastille Day we had a great concert at Sunside Jazz Club in Paris. This was not at all a "for sure thing" given the way things went that day. The day started with Leslie traveling to work in La Mans while I was waking up in a hospital bed waiting to get discharged. After being discharged I made the 5 minute walk from the hospital to the train station in the Boissy-Saint Antoine suburb of Paris. During that time I became very tired making me aware of how little gas I had in the tank. After returning to our apartment in Paris I spent much of that afternoon asleep before going to the club for soundcheck around 8:00 pm. Leslie, on the other hand, sang a concert in Le Mans and then dashed off to catch a train to the Paris suburb of Massey. Once there she had less than an hour to get to the gig. She went to purchase her ticket to get a commuter train into Paris only to find a very long line of people buying their tickets to get into town for Bastille Day celebrations. By the time she arrived at the club, we had already begun the concert with some instrumental jazz. The manager of the club took one look at her and walked over to give her a big reassuring hug. As she walked to the bandstand I could see that she was really flustered, somehow between that first glance and the time she said hello to the audience (only a few seconds) she completely composed herself and proceeded to sing her ass off for three sets to a full house ending with encores that made the gig go fifteen minutes overtime. From my perspective that was an amazing thing to witness.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/be764282f944cb512074587437ccbc204d8f0190/original/18058112-10211526286266324-1099715951373945901-n.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" />Sunside Jazz Club</span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;">Because we experience improbable happenings quite often, I have stopped being surprised by these coincidences that seem totally improbable. As often happens, I had received an email from Michael, a friend from California who used to come to our gigs in L.A. He was asking about our Paris concert schedule, but unfortunately we didn't have anything booked during the time they would be in town. A few weeks go by and I had completely put that situation out of my mind. Meanwhile we received a late booking at The Speakeasy. It was our only night there this month. So who walks into the club, our friends Michael, Sheila and Roy who just happen to be staying at a nearby hotel and decided to check the place out! Another coincidence that night was that we met a couple who were celebrating a birthday. Their names were Leslie and Gerard.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;">Speaking of last minute gigs, Leslie has accepted an invitation to work with Ron Kobayashi at Bayside Restaurant in Newport Beach on August 11th. The gig will be followed by a jam session so please take the opportunity to drop by and say hello. I plan to be there to listen to them and perhaps play during the jam session as well.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;">We are making a big push to get people to our Aug. 3rd concert at Cleveland's "Bop Stop" jazz club. Please help us to get the word out by telling anyone you know in the Cleveland area. Tickets are available at </span><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.themusicsettlement.org/calendar/2017/08/03/leslie-lewis-quartet-with-special-guest-jack-schantz-bop-stop"><span style="color:null;">http://www.themusicsettlement.org/calendar/2017/08/03/leslie-lewis-quartet-with-special-guest-jack-schantz-bop-stop</span></a></p>
<p><span style="color:null;">There are only a few seats available for our "Jazz At The Merc" concert in Temecula on August 17th. Tickets are available at </span><a data-imported="1" href="https://tickets.temeculatheater.org/eventperformances.asp?evt=244"><span style="color:null;">https://tickets.temeculatheater.org/eventperformances.asp?evt=244</span></a><span style="color:null;">.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:null;">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. </span><a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/blog"><span style="color:null;">http://www.surfcovejazz.com</span></a></p>
<p><span style="color:null;">Until next time,<br>Leslie and Gerard <br> <br>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. </span><a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/blog"><span style="color:null;">http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</span></a><br><span style="color:null;"> </span><br><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis"><span style="color:null;">http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</span></a><br><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio"><span style="color:null;">http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</span></a><br><a data-imported="1" href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719"><span style="color:null;">http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</span></a><br><a data-imported="1" href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736"><span style="color:null;">http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</span></a></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137452
2017-06-28T02:00:00+02:00
2017-10-08T18:32:43+02:00
"Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen" 29 Juin 2017 Bonjour de Paris
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><strong>Bonjour de Paris ...</strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Chers Amis,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Things are a blur! I looked at the previous entry I wrote from May and read about our Hommage à Ella Fitzgerald concert at Sunside Jazz Club on April, 25th. Yesterday we were asked to do an encore performance of the repertoire from that concert at Sunside on July 14th. (Yes that is Bastille Day!) Leslie is singing on a late afternoon concert in Le Mans that afternoon, her train gets back to Paris at 8:30 pm. We start our first set at 9:30 pm. What could go wrong!</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Yesterday we spent nine hours in the studio making our first recording since we moved to Europe. We actually recorded nine tracks in about six hours, a number of them were first takes. The studio was very good. I had the choice of a Steinway or Fazioli piano for the session. The first trio record I made in L.A. in 1998 was on a Fazioli so I was drawn to that instrument, but the Steinway had a gorgeous sound and played really well so I ultimately chose it. The engineer was also very good. I was always impressed with the guys that engineered our sessions in L.A. They never did anything to slow down the work, and they anticipated what we wanted to do next and were prepared for it. The engineer we worked with here in Paris was of that same caliber. This was a great source of worry for me and one of the reasons why I hesitated to record since we left California. I was so grateful that the stars aligned and we were able to get an open date at that studio that worked with the schedules of four musicians who are regularly in and out of town. It took many phone calls to get it done, but we did it. http://studio-de-meudon.com/en/</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/4a714ecbf65e3826b89f9c70caebee4960f942b9/original/img-leslie.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDg4NCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="884" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie trying out the Steinway in the studio.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/7443439429828114b3eb2a7fd7345042e43c0e87/original/img-mourad.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDExMDciXQ%3D%3D.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="1107" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Mourad listens to a playback of a take.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/7bbc67857a601781843df572eb71459e18ecd8f2/original/img-peter.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjAweDgwMyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="803" width="600" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Peter clearly toward the end of a nine hour session.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/a07215a8bcca37b0e126dc63819babf99889ce95/original/img-clement-meudon.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDg4NCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="884" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Clément engineered the session and kept things moving.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>So during the time that we were recording Leslie was also trying to get her travel schedule worked out so that we could accept that July 14th date at the Sunside Jazz club. How is that for multi-tasking? We were able to book the same guys that were on the recording session for that Sunside date as well. http://www.sunset-sunside.com</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Since Bastille Day is, shall we say, very festive, in Paris, it will be interesting getting home after that gig. We can walk home if we have to, but after the day that Leslie will have had, doing two concerts in two different towns, I suspect she won't be thrilled about that prospect.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Regarding the new recording, we have some decisions to make in choosing which tracks to use, the artwork, etc. We won't actually manufacture any CD's till the fall because there is just too much to do in order to make that happen. But we do plan to mix and master the tracks in L.A. and have them available on download cards for our concerts in the U.S. this August. For this record we went in a different direction from what we have done in the past. I am not sure why, but I suspect it has to do with the changes in our lives since we moved to Europe. Or perhaps it is simply the natural progression of looking for new music to explore having had our fill of the music that we have been performing for many years. Of course I am curious to get your responses after you have a chance to listen! So feel free to contact me with any thoughts you may have.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>At the end of June we were in London to visit a friend of ours. We spent a day running around to the usual sites two of which included the London Bridge and Borough Market. That was just a few days before the attacks that occurred in those locations. Leslie reminded me that she was in the Charlie Hebdo neighborhood the day before that attack, we were on the Champs-Élysées the night before a knife attack on a policeman that happened there, and she was near Notre Dame the day a policeman shot and killed a man who had attacked another officer with a knife. I am thinking that one of us should buy a lottery ticket or just to be safe, no one that we know should actually spend any time with us.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Our Aug. 2nd "Laguna Beach Live" concert is sold out. We are very grateful to you all for making that happen for us. </em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We hope to set up some opportunities to hang with friends, and not be working! In the past we have had some luck meeting at the bar in the Hotel Laguna. So I'll let you know if and when we can make that happen.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Please tell anyone you know in Cleveland that we will be working at The Bop Stop on August 3rd. Tickets are available at http://www.themusicsettlement.org/calendar/2017/08/03/leslie-lewis-quartet-with-special-guest-jack-schantz-bop-stop</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Tickets for the "Jazz At The Merc" concert in Temecula on August 17th are available at https://tickets.temeculatheater.org/eventperformances.asp?evt=244.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Please check our website for our July dates. We have the usual jazz club gigs in and around Paris including Chez Papa Jazz Club as well as Le Speakeasy and Monteverdi. While you are on our website please sign up for our weekly email blast to learn where you can hear us.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time,</em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and Gerard </em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>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/</em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137451
2017-05-21T02:00:00+02:00
2021-09-22T14:27:26+02:00
"Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen" 22 Mai 2017 Bonjour de Paris
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>Bonjour de Paris ...</em></strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><br><span style="color:#ffffff">Chers Amis,</span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff">This past month has been very, very busy. Our Hommage à Ella Fitzgerald in a concert at Sunside Jazz Club in Paris was great fun and the fact that it happened on her 100th birthday was a nice coincidence. That night we had a great audience and a packed house and so we have happily continued our streak of successful concerts at that club.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/cd53ab86d9b91f3bdbfea2ad71f6056ef4d3a99b/original/17990729-10211526287186347-463972182057031797-n.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff">Leslie and Peter Giron at Sunside Jazz Club "Hommage à Ella Fitzgerald" concert.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff">I knew there would be some stories from our trip to Africa, but I had no idea how many stories that trip would bear. Previously we had worked in Morocco, but that is no where near what West Africa is like. I should start by saying that everything we were told would happen didn't happen in any way close to what was described, except one thing! Normally when we work in countries other than the U.S. or France we need to get a work permit from the Embassy or Consulate of that country well before the concert date. In this case the producer provided us with a document that we were to give to Border Control at the airport along with our passports. Yes you read that correctly, we were instructed to leave our passports with Border Control at the airport in Conakry! We were told our passports would be returned to our hotel the next day after the work permits had been added to them. Leaving our passports with Border Control was the only thing that happened as we were told to expect. We were told someone would meet us at the airport and escort us through Border Control. No one was there! We were told that there would a hotel shuttle at the airport to pick us up, no shuttle! So here we are with no passports standing on a street corner in stifling heat looking at traffic that was 10 times worse than anything I ever experienced in California. A guy who wore a vest that said taxi whose "taxi" was a forty year old Mercedes, no taxi markings, no meter, that had several windows broken out offered to drive us to the hotel for 3,000,000 Guinéan francs, which was about 30 euros. We then happened to meet five other musicians from Nice, France who were there to perform at the Jazz à Conakry Festival as well. They actually did have someone there to meet them who, after determining that the hotel shuttle would take too long to arrive due to the traffic, ultimately put all seven of us, including luggage, two guitars, a bass guitar, a keyboard and cymbals into two cars, one of which was the Mercedes with no windows! The ride to the hotel was much like Mister Toad's Wild Ride at Disneyland. It was obvious that the engine was burning oil and I was just hoping that we'd make it to the hotel before it failed. There are no lanes and only a few traffic lights and it was necessary brake for herds of goats fighting for space among the traffic. The chickens apparently didn't feel the need to "cross the road" if you'll pardon the pun.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff">Once we arrived at the hotel everything changed. It was a wonderful, modern property on the beach with a very nice restaurant and, despite the overwhelming Muslim influence in Guinea, it was possible to get a drink. The only thing that made me happier was that the hotel had A.C! After a nice dinner with the other musicians and the concert producer, Leslie and I were both able to get a good night's sleep.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/4b356915b466f800b1a1baf88b383029c1943515/original/hotel-noom.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff">Hotel Noom Conakry, Guinea.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff">The next day we woke up in time for lunch and learned that our passports had not been delivered to the hotel and no one knew why. The other musicians had not received theirs as well. Once again we were told not to worry, we still had another day before we would need them to travel back to France.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff">We were booked as a duo when we were first contacted for this concert. A few months later we were contacted by the producer and asked if we would agree to have a flutist join us. We agreed to that figuring we could make it work. The afternoon of the concert our trip to the auditorium for the sound check was much more normal due the fact that we had two drivers with new cars who were hired to take us where we needed to be. When we got to the auditorium there was no flutist there but several of the guys from the other band we had shared a ride to the hotel with asked if they could join us. This is more problematic but we decided to take a chance and accept their offer to perform with us. So we all began to set up and were getting used to the sound in the hall. There was a Yamaha Clavinova (digital piano) for me to play so that was good. I noticed the stool for the drummer didn't work so he was given a chair to use which was not so good! As we began to rehearse the first tune someone turned the AC on and all the power went out! We were in total darkness! That was not so good. After a while the power was restored and we were able to put together a set for our concert. It was looking like we would be okay, the guys were pros and were able to handle the things that we needed them to. We went back to the hotel for a shower and a nap before the evening's concert.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/85dae390b5b1b9f2399a491543a2a3d456f19f38/original/bullshit-1.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff">Sound check Centre Culturel Franco Guinéen.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/d40bb157a202436ca428e08bdd8eabe70132ebe1/original/piano.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff">Yamaha Clavinova Centre Culturel Franco Guinéen.</span></p>
<p><br><span style="color:#ffffff">When we returned to the hotel we asked about our passports, still nothing. The guys from the other band didn't have their passports either but their concert wasn't until the third night of the festival. We were the opening night and needed to leave the next day in order to be back in France for work.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff">A few hours later we are all meeting in the hotel lobby and leaving for the auditorium. We were given different call times but only by about 15 minutes so it was not too bad. We have drivers, cars with windows, AC, all is good.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff">We get to the auditorium, we meet the French Ambassador to Guinea, we meet the director of the auditorium, he tells us that we are having dinner in the onsite restaurant after the concert and he wants to know what we would like for dinner. We are being treated very, very well. The hall is nice and cool since they have had the AC on all day, but the other areas in the building don't have AC including the musicians room. I was told to make sure to bring CD's to sell which I did. There was a table which was well placed in a strategic area for sales, but there was no one to sell the CD's.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff">This jazz festival was produced "on spec" and therefore there was some question as to what kind of attendance there would be. As people began to filter in it was looking good and the end result was that about three quarters of the house was filled. The band from Conakry was fun and they did an energetic opening set but it was definitely not jazz. During our set the guys from the other band took things up a notch from that afternoon which allowed Leslie and I to relax and do our thing. We had a very good audience response which was not at all a sure thing since jazz is not commonly heard in Guinea.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff">Afterward we all enjoyed dinner during which the skies opened up and it rained very hard. I always like that clean smell that happens after a hard rain. It was still raining a little when we piled into our cars for the trip back to the hotel. On the way we were stopped at a police check point, (think DWI check points in CA). They asked the driver to get out and told him he was being "fined" because he had too many people in the car! Basically it was a shake down. Back at the hotel still no passports but news that they would be at the hotel by 5:00 pm the next day. Great news except we need to leave for the airport at 4:00 pm. The producer tells us that he will handle it and if need be he will get the French Ambassador involved and on and on! We go to sleep, it is not very restful, and the next morning we ask to have the room for the day since things are still up in the air. No problem we can have a day rate of 100,000 Guinéan francs or 10 euros, which they later waved. After a furious set of phone calls, an unsettled lunch, we receive a phone call in our room from the producer ... "Good news, everything is going to be fine". Click! What the hell does that mean? We are stunned! A call to the front desk reveals that the passports are in the hotel but they are not ready yet! Again... What the hell does that mean?</span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/02f4989438892a3dac1af36b6259c93b0363ed38/original/hotelroom.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff">Hotel Room Hotel Noom.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff">A woman mysteriously appears from behind the front desk with a pile of paperwork and our passports. We receive them shortly before we need to leave and the hotel provides us a shuttle to the airport. On the way to the airport Air France texts me that our flight will be delayed by two hours. Great! Leslie has to be at Gare Montparnasse in Paris to catch a 10:23 am train to Dax, (southwest France near Spain) for a concert that night with Philippe Duchemin's trio. We were already cutting things a little close by arriving at Charles de Gaulle airport at 6:00 am. Now we have to make it with an 8:00 am arrival. The plane does arrive at 8:00 am and by the time we get through customs and on the street it is almost 9:00 am! We get a taxi and he somehow gets us to Montparnasse three minutes before Leslie's train is called. Leslie and I say a quick good bye and I take a short bus ride home. </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff">By the time I get unpacked and take a shower it is around noon. I decide to put my head on the pillow and when I woke up it was 6:00 pm! Luckily for me I didn't have to work. Leslie has to stay in road warrior mode in order to be able to perform that night. She later tells me that she had a fitful sleep on the train and actually kicked the woman sitting across from her. Perhaps because they were in the first class car, this woman was not in the mood to accept Leslie's profuse apology.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff">Leslie does the concert, it goes well. I, of course, take the CD's we brought to Conakry and didn't sell home with me so she has nothing to sell at her concert that night! (Ever wonder why I don't have a real job? That is one reason why!) Thankfully she has a great place to stay that night.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/90a211585dae1b3fac92096df462a1a5ee39f3a4/original/leslie-w-horses.jpeg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NDgweDY0MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="640" width="480" /></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff">Leslie makes some friends on the way to her gig Saturday night!</span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff">Sunday afternoon I meet her at the train, we get home and she is now able to relax for the first time in a few days. We have something to eat and both fall asleep. I woke up a while ago to finish this post, Leslie is still asleep. The food I bought yesterday so that we could enjoy a nice dinner at home tonight will sit in the fridge until tomorrow because it is now 11:00 pm. That is my story and I'm sticking to it.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff">This weekend we are at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris <a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub-paris.fr."><span style="color:#ffffff">www.papajazzclub-paris.fr.</span></a> Thankfully it is not too busy this week.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff">Sunday we are going to London to see Karla Ross, an L.A. friend who is traveling in Europe. We always look forward to being in London, it is one of our favorite cities. For me it is right up there with New York.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff">Tickets for the "Laguna Beach Live" concert on August 2nd are available at this link <a data-imported="1" href="http://www.lagunabeachlive.org/concerts/jazz-wednesdays"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://www.lagunabeachlive.org/concerts/jazz-wednesdays</span></a>. On August 3rd we are leaving for Cleveland to play a concert at The Bop Stop followed by a short tour in that area. If you know of any jazz fans in Cleveland please let them know about our concert there. Tickets for the "Jazz At The Merc" concert in Temecula on August 17th should be available at <a data-imported="1" href="https://tickets.temeculatheater.org/eventperformances.asp?evt=244"><span style="color:#ffffff">https://tickets.temeculatheater.org/eventperformances.asp?evt=244.</span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff">Please check our website for our remaining May dates and our June dates. We have the usual jazz club gigs in and around Paris including Chez Papa Jazz Club as well as Le Speakeasy and Monteverdi. While you are on our website please sign up for our weekly email blast to learn where you can hear us.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff">Until next time,</span><br><span style="color:#ffffff">Leslie and Gerard </span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span><br><span style="color:#ffffff">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. <a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/blog"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</span></a></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span><br><span style="color:#ffffff">http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</span><br><span style="color:#ffffff">http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</span><br><span style="color:#ffffff">http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</span><br><span style="color:#ffffff">http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</span></p>
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Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137450
2017-04-24T02:00:00+02:00
2022-03-01T04:23:59+01:00
"Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen" 24 Avril 2017 Bonjour de Paris
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>Bonjour de Paris ...</em></strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Chers Amis,</em></span><br><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>In the last newsletter I wrote about the few days of spring weather that we were enjoying Paris. What I was afraid of came to pass and today we are back to jackets and scarves. Now I am predicting that we will once again go directly into summer with no spring transition. Can someone please tell me why they wrote all of those songs about "Springtime in Paris"?</em></span></p>
<p><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>This Tuesday we are performing an Hommage à Ella Fitzgerald in a concert at Sunside Jazz Club in Paris. That day also marks the 100th anniversary of her birth. We finished preparing the music for the concert at 4:00 am this morning. We are working with Peter Giron and Mourad Benhammou. If you are in Paris, check it out here <a data-imported="1" href="http://www.sunset-sunside.com/2017/4/artiste/1852/4501/"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://www.sunset-sunside.com/2017/4/artiste/1852/4501/</span></a></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/25e6990a02060763aba8f08d3931089c87f368e1/original/img-2844-2.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDMxMiJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="312" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie, Gerard, Nicola Sabato & Mourad Benhammou at Sunset Jazz Club, Paris.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We have had a number of friends come through Paris of late. Our friend Phyllis Toney who is touring with Sting, was in town for three days. We had an opportunity to enjoy a great sushi dinner together, but the even better opportunity we enjoyed was the chance to hangout back stage before one of the concerts. Unfortunately we were working that night so we could not attend the concert but we did get to listen to the soundcheck. I was surprised, but very happy, that the soundcheck consisted of around nine tunes, so we heard a mini-concert. Afterwards while we were saying goodbye to Phyllis, Sting dropped by to say a few words to us. For those of you who are David Letterman fans you'll know what I mean when I say this was our latest "brush with greatness"!</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Later in May we are going to London to meet with Karla Ross, another L.A. friend who is traveling in Europe. In a previous life she used to book us to perform at the Pelican Hill Resort in Newport Coast. We always look forward to being in London, it is one of our favorite cities. For me it is right up there with New York.</em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>As of today the summer concert schedule is not on the "Laguna Beach Live" website. Unfortunately I don't know when the tickets for our August 2nd Wednesday night jazz concert will go on sale. Once the tickets are available you can purchase them at this link<a data-imported="1" href="%20http://www.lagunabeachlive.org/concerts/jazz-wednesdays"><span style="color:#ffffff"> http://www.lagunabeachlive.org/concerts/jazz-wednesdays</span></a>. On August 3rd we are leaving for Cleveland to play a concert at The Bop Stop followed by a short tour in that area. If you know of any jazz fans in Cleveland please let them know about our concert there. If you can't make the concert in Laguna Beach, we will be back in California for a concert at "Jazz At The Merc" in Temecula on August 17th. Peter Giron, our Paris based bassist, will be with us for most of our concerts this summer, so we are very excited about that. Peter is a great addition to the band both musically and as a friend. We have way too much fun on the hang at our gigs. We are happy to announce that Jerry Kalaf will be playing drums for these dates.</em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Next month we will be in West Africa to play a jazz festival in Conakry, Guinea. We are both looking forward to that experience. I am sure there will be some stories for next month's blog entry.</em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Please check our website for our May dates. We have the usual jazz club gigs in and around Paris including Chez Papa Jazz Club as well as Le Speakeasy and Monteverdi. While you are on our website please sign up for our weekly email blast to learn where you can hear us.</em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time,</em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and Gerard </em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>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. <a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/blog"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</span></a></em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</em></span></a></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</em></span></a></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><a data-imported="1" href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</em></span></a></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><a data-imported="1" href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</em></span></a></span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137449
2017-04-01T02:00:00+02:00
2017-10-08T18:35:40+02:00
"Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen" 31 Mars 2017 Bonjour de Paris
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<span style="color:#ffffff"> <strong>Bonjour de Paris</strong></span>
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<span style="color:#ffffff">Chers Amis,</span><br><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff">It feels like spring in Paris but I hesitate to convince myself that winter is over. It is never good to shift into "spring mode" until one is very confident that winter is gone for good. This was never an issue for me when I was a resident of California. I do miss that very much.</span>
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<br><span style="color:#ffffff">I continue to enjoy teaching at the International Music Educators of Paris College of Music. I have been doing some substitute teaching for some of the other professors and find myself thinking how lucky I am to get paid to do this because if I wasn't there listening to and talking about this music I'd be doing it at home without the salary! </span>
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<br><span style="color:#ffffff">Leslie has been doing some concerts with Philippe Duchemin's trio. They were working in Le Mans last Saturday which meant that I worked with a different singer at our Monteverdi gig. Since I turn into a bumbling mess when she is gone I completely lost track of time once I got home from work (it is about a 60 second walk from the gig to our apartment) and stayed up till around 9:00 am Sunday morning reading and listening to music. I think it was around noon when she returned home from Le Mans and after catching up on our respective gigs, we both slept most of the afternoon. In May and July she has a few more dates booked with Philippe so who knows what I'll end up doing then.</span>
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<span style="color:#ffffff">We are booked to perform at a jazz festival in Conakry, Guinea West Africa in May. We are required to get vaccinated for yellow fever in order to go there. It will be our first time in Conakry and our second performance in Africa. If nothing else it will be an interesting trip! In July we are in La Baule for three days to do the La Baule Jazz Festival. La Baule is on the Atlantic coast and is one of our favorite summer hangs so we are excited to do those dates.</span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff">I am happy to say that right after the La Baule dates we are flying to Los Angeles. We are booked at the "Laguna Beach Live" Wednesday night jazz concert series on August 2nd. Once they have the summer schedule on the website you will be able to find tickets here http://www.lagunabeachlive.org/concerts/jazz-wednesdays In an odd scheduling quirk we are performing the next day (Aug. 3rd) at The Bop Stop in Cleveland and will be in that area for a while before returning to L.A. later in August. If you know of any jazz fans in Cleveland please let them know about our concert there. In case you can't make the Laguna Beach gig we are at "Jazz At The Merc" in Temecula on August 17th. In hopes that we will have some downtime to spend at the beach and catching up with friends, we decided to only do those two performances in California.</span>
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<span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/f388871d94589ad639dd6d798005a638f05a92aa/original/img-0414.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ0MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="440" width="660" /></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff">Leslie & Gerard at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris.</span>
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<br><span style="color:#ffffff">On April 25th we are doing a concert at Sunside Jazz Club in Paris that will be an "Hommage à Ella Fitzgerald". We will be working with Peter Giron, bass and Mourad Benhammou, drums. We have already heard from some friends who will be in Paris for that date, so if you are in Paris that week please put this date on your calendar. Our concerts at Sunside are always great fun and usually we sell out so please take that into consideration. http://www.sunset-sunside.com/2017/4/artiste/1852/4501/</span>
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<span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/508c9defa5f9822d7e3794606064076aa079151b/original/photo-peter-giron-by-big-max-leo-copy.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDk5NCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="994" width="660" /></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff">Peter Giron contrebasse.</span>
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<address><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/3face70847ebdf45f45d773939a83994fc5b61ce/original/mourad-benhammou.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></span></address>
<address><span style="color:#ffffff">Mourad Benhammou Batterie.</span></address>
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<span style="color:#ffffff">Please check our website for our April dates. We have the usual jazz club gigs in and around Paris including Chez Papa Jazz Club as well as Le Speakeasy and Monteverdi. While you are on our website please sign up for our weekly email blast to learn where you can hear us.</span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff">Until next time,</span><br><span style="color:#ffffff">Leslie and Gerard </span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span><br><span style="color:#ffffff">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/</span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span><br><span style="color:#ffffff">http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</span><br><span style="color:#ffffff">http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</span><br><span style="color:#ffffff">http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</span><br><span style="color:#ffffff">http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</span>
</address>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137448
2017-02-28T01:00:00+01:00
2017-10-08T18:36:06+02:00
"Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen" 28 Février 2017 Bonjour de Paris
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>Bonjour de Paris ...</em></strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em></em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Chers Amis,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and I returned to Paris this morning after four days and two concerts in New York. Our employer surprised us with business class tickets for this trip. We fly enough that we have occasionally been upgraded to business class and it always makes the flight much less of an ordeal, but it also makes the next time we fly coach even more of a drag. It wasn't all smooth sailing though. When it came time to check in for the return flight, the Air France website wouldn't allow me to use internet check-in. So I knew we'd need to plan on extra time to check-in at the airport. Which was good because when we arrived at JFK we learned that the person who booked our flights had booked the return flight for March 26th instead of February 26th. Oops! Because we were there early, we were able to get on an earlier flight with only a minimal fee. Well minimal as compared to all of the other really expensive fees that airlines charge these days.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>The first concert was on Thursday and was a little bit of a challenge. We had been busy right up until the time we left for the airport to fly to New York so we hadn't been sleeping very much. I was so looking forward to sleeping during much of the flight to New York but for a number of reasons, though the aforementioned business class ticket came with a seat that became a bed, that didn't happen. So we landed at JFK at noon, and needed to be on our way to our concert in New Jersey by 3:45 pm. In between noon and 3:45 pm the following needed to be accomplished; clearing customs, taking a taxi from JFK to the hotel in midtown, checking in, finding an A.T.&T. store to restore our U.S. cellular service and getting our clothes, music and CD's packed for that night's concert at Trumpets Jazz Club in Montclair, New Jersey. Mission accomplished and after taking the E train to Penn Station and NJ Transit to Montclair, we were about a two block walk away from the gig. So far so good. We arrived at the club and prepared for sound check, a quick run through of some of the music for the concert and hopefully a little nap backstage. Unfortunately the bass player was on a train that was delayed to the point where he barely made it to the gig on time. So no sound check with the whole band or rehearsal. This isn't really optimal but it also isn't the something that needs to doom a performance. It is all in the way that people adjust and in response pay close attention to what is going on during the performance. After Leslie got her mic sounding the way she liked, she went to dress and to prepare for the concert so she didn't meet the bass player until she walked on stage! Again, oddly enough, this isn't really a big deal. Due to budgets, jazz musicians often work under these conditions. But once we started I felt there was a lack of energy coming from the band. Leslie did her best under the circumstances, and I'd be willing to bet that most people didn't notice the lack of energy. But I am also sure that some did, but more importantly, we did! Leslie was very well received, but still, it wasn't the performance we wanted to give that night. There were just too many obstacles to overcome. We had some nice moments but not the level we are accustomed to reaching and sustaining in our concerts. This is the first time in a very long time that I recall this happening. Leslie was very disappointed because she worked so hard to get an audience for that night. The club owner told us we'd be fortunate to get twenty people to come to hear an unknown out of town artist. After promoting this concert for several weeks, she drew eighty people! So you can understand that she was feeling let down that night. We did get a very good crowd response, but like I said, we knew the level we wanted to be at, and we weren't there.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/f21064974a71ffe42ac64a107023d81863a94270/original/img-4494-small.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Our concert date at Trumpets Jazz Club, Montclair, NJ.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Friday we slept until noon and met my nephew and his girlfriend for lunch. After which Leslie went to see a friend and the rest of us went in search of a place to do our traditional New York activity... playing pool. We ended up in a place that I immediately loved because it was around 3:00 pm Friday afternoon and every stool in the place was taken. It was so dark that it might as well have been midnight. There was one pool table that had around five guys playing with one women! So you can imagine what she looked like. I pretty much knew that we weren't getting anywhere near that pool table. As I looked around I noticed a clock on the wall that had no arms. I guess if you need to know what time it is, you don't need to be in that place! We waited for my cousin (a very talented NYC artist) to arrive and left in search of another pool table. There were a surprising amount of places to play but we chose a nearby Marriott Hotel with one table next to the bar. As you might imagine the Marriott crowd didn't include any pool sharks so we had the table all to ourselves for few hours until it was time to leave for dinner.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/3530d0f02abad0aea15020eae06e44a8cc838503/original/img-4576.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDg4MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="880" width="660" /></em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> Spring weather in New York in February!</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We had a crowd of fifteen for dinner at Da Marino, a very, very old school Italian restaurant on 49th street not far from Times Square. Leslie and I first went there ten years ago. That night she sat in and the manager offered her a gig there. Our dinner party was having a blast and were only mildly annoyed when actor Chris Noth, a regular customer, decided to sing a few tunes. The singing wasn't very good but it did add to the party atmosphere that they want to create in the restaurant. This isn't the place you go when you want a quiet intimate dinner for two! </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/c1b1633cc5f1cf63ae088fffe12e11332245d297/original/img-4578.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Our dinner party at Da Marino Restaurant, NYC.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Saturday was our second concert and the main reason we were in New York. We were hired to play a private after dinner concert for a very nice couple we met at one of our performances at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. The concert was held on the second and third levels at La Grenouille, a beautiful French restaurant in midtown. They rented a piano and a P.A. system for our concert. The concert went very well and we hope it will lead to some more opportunities for work in the U.S.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/818372857fbeee94458d515ee4e7dc71e95bfe88/original/img1250.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /> </em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>La Grenouille restaurant site of our Saturday night concert.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/2b26ea18cb234445754e602252d6e0f3d9a3ca64/original/img1252.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Performance space at La Grenouille restaurant.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/a7c7bf07b6a29ac41512f987190283da70e586e4/original/img1266.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDg4NCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="884" width="660" />Leslie before our Saturday night concert.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Sunday we had a relaxing afternoon before we left for the airport and flew back to Paris.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>The day before we left for New York I began teaching the first of a sixteen week jazz history class at the International Music Educators of Paris College of Music. I was a very happy to be back in the classroom discussing this music that I have loved for the last four decades.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We are now focused on being in California in August. We are looking into booking some dates while we are in town. If you know of any new places that have begun booking jazz since we left, please let us know. As things become more clear we will keep you informed on the status of that trip.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>On April 25th we are doing a concert at Sunside Jazz Club in Paris that will be an "Hommage à Ella Fitzgerald". We will be working with Peter Giron, bass and Mourad Benhammou, drums. We have already heard from some friends who will be in Paris for that date, so if you are in Paris that week please put this date on your calendar. Our concerts at Sunside are always great fun and usually we sell out so please take that into consideration.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Please check our website for our March dates. We have the usual jazz club gigs in and around Paris including Chez Papa Jazz Club as well as Café Laurent. Leslie is performing with the Philippe Duchemin Trio in Saint-Symphoren on March 25th. While you are on our website please sign up for our weekly email blast to learn where you can hear us.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time,</em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and Gerard </em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>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/</em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137447
2017-01-23T01:00:00+01:00
2017-10-08T18:36:37+02:00
"Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen" 23 Janvier 2017 Bonjour de Paris
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>Bonjour de Paris ...</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em></em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Chers Amis,</em></span></p>
<p><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>This year is off to a roaring start. We are booking into August and Leslie has been asked to do some concerts with a French band so she will be traveling a bit on her own in the spring and summer. I have finally gotten around to looking for some dates for a jazz trio that I am forming in Paris. I don't have much time to devote to this and my trio mates are very busy with careers of their own so it will be difficult to make this work more than a few times a year, but I really want to have this as one part of my musical life.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>The first week of January I did some teaching at the former American School of Music, now known as the International Music Educators of Paris College of Music. I do miss teaching at Saddleback College. I enjoy working with musicians as they are beginning to forge the path they will walk in their careers.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>In December Leslie was with jazz organist Rhoda Scott for a concert in Budapest, Hungary. She very much liked the people and how beautiful the city was decorated for Christmas. The concert was in a Sports Arena that is used for concerts that can't be accommodated in the city's other venues. In this case there were around 8,000 people in attendance to hear Rhoda's (and Leslie's) concert. It was a great opportunity for her to visit a new city.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/96d38d9e2e22873fb0122f7935856ea61a811154/original/street.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Street in Budapest.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/0b620dafaa3aa103121f5ea149eef0ec08757186/original/christmas.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Christmas in Budapest.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/b4ff0b3c25fc72b4ef206fbdab8ad7be079b704e/original/cdg.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDg4MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="880" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie, Rhoda & Thomas at Charles de Gaulle Airport on the way to Budapest.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/b690a6fbe4957a2549ae3aba1e7ac83a47c1ebcc/original/soundcheck.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Sound check at the venue in Budapest.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/ec8af80b8560da4acef029e79ff78e50ff80bf97/original/leslie-rhoda-sound-check.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and Rhoda in Budapest.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Speaking of visiting cities, we are going to be in New York next month to do a private concert on the upper west side. We always love being in New York and we always enjoy the opportunity to spend time with our NYC friends and family.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Here is an update on the progress of our new CD. Producing a CD in a new country is taking a little more time in terms of preparation so we are still in the early stages so it will be awhile before we have a release date yet.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Joey and Susan Sellers were in Paris for the New Year. Joey did three concerts with us while he and Susan visited the Paris sights during the day. In California Joey and I developed a habit of hanging for a drink or two after the concerts we did at Saddleback College. We fell into that pattern with no effort what-so-ever after the first concert in Paris. I think I got home around 2:30 am that night. I was impressed that Joey made it that late since they had flown the red eye from California and he hadn't yet adjusted to the time change. So the next night the hang lasted until 3:30 am, this was with Joey and Susan running around Paris during the day and then expending a tremendous amount of energy during the concert and still not having made up the sleep from the night before. Day three was more sightseeing for Joey and Susan before the gig and that night was New Year's Eve. We played from 10:00 pm to 2:30 am and then had a "band/restaurant staff" hang which included champagne, oysters, cheese, bread, chicken and dessert. Leslie joined us for this one, I think we got home around 6:30 am. Day four we didn't have to work so we had a chance to sit down for a normal dinner and have a normal conversation after Joey and Susan spent the day running around Paris. I suspect they had some very well deserved rest once they got home to California. The concerts were a blast. Leslie was on fire and Joey matched her level of energy and then some. Due to budget concerns we did something a little unusual in that we worked without a bassist. We were so surprised to be able to get Mourad Benhammou, our favorite drummer in Paris, (he is often on the road) for two of the three nights. So we did the first concert with our duo and Joey and then added Mourad for the next two nights. It was so much fun and we really didn't miss the bass very much (sorry Domenic). Mourad is a very inventive musician who knows our music very well and Joey played like we had never left California. It was a great way to start the new year.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/e863ee993e66675d9f5e0341b317243429f72997/original/leslie.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDgyOCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="828" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie at Chez Papa Jazz Club on News Years Eve.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/c5d62d02cb377a1f6ed14faeb7db1399fbaa9f58/original/gerard.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDYxNyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="617" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Gerard at Chez Papa Jazz Club on New Years Eve.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/dd06a9e45205cc0cbde4990cb7042e103b2308ac/original/joey.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDY2MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="660" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Joey at Chez Papa Jazz Club on New Years Eve.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/14cd6a6c967a67e10cb1596c525ff806a635706d/original/mourad.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDY5MSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="691" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Mourad at Chez Papa Jazz Club on New Years Eve.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We would love to get to California this year. At the moment July has too many dates booked to make that work. Traditionally we are quite busy in late August and early September so that leaves early August or later in September for a trip to California. We will keep you informed on the status of that trip.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>On April 25th we are doing a concert at Sunside Jazz Club in Paris that will be an "Hommage à Ella Fitzgerald". Leslie is beginning to prepare some thoughts on what she wants to present before we get to work on some arrangements. If you are in Paris that week, please put this date on your calendar. We will be working with Peter Giron, bass and Mourad Benhammou, drums. Our concerts at Sunside are always great fun and usually we sell out so please take that into consideration.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/c0e80e00ed0a92b88248f83f5c06181fc6a7dff1/original/sunside-jnp.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDg4MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="880" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie at Sunside Jazz Club.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/eb5786c7a0f46a7457b571bd1e53adcf0bcd5730/original/38.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ2MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="463" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>The Café Laurent Jazz Room.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Please check our website for our February dates. We have the usual jazz club gigs in and around Paris including five nights at Chez Papa Jazz Club starting on Valentine's Day as well as a concert at Café Laurent which is fast becoming a favorite place of ours due to the beautiful, intimate room (there are no bad seats) and the Steinway grand piano. While you are there, sign up for our weekly email blast to learn where you can hear us.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time,</em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and Gerard </em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>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/</em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137446
2016-12-24T01:00:00+01:00
2016-12-24T21:04:06+01:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Joyeux Noël de Paris". 24 Décembre 2016
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/7f3075f144fd663f7beee48a3e385a165edb18b9/original/img-1213.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDg4NCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="884" width="660" /></em></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="color:#7f0413"><strong><em>Bonjour à tous, </em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#094819"> <em>Leslie and I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Tonight we played for Christmas Eve at Le Speakeasy and once again we were reminded how blessed we are to be able to share our lives making music together. We try to always cherish these experiences. We hope your holiday celebrations bring you the same feelings of joy and gratitude as you enjoy time spent with your families and loved friends. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#094819"></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#094819"> <em>We have great memories of past times we’ve shared with you. We hold you all dear in our hearts and are very grateful to you for many years of laughter and love.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#094819"></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#094819"><em>May you all have a Merry Christmas and may we all carry the spirit of Christmas into 2017 so that all of us will know a little more kindness and peace in the New Year.</em></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="color:#094819"><em>Joyeux Noël,</em></span></p>
<p><strong><span style="color:#7f0413"><em>Leslie et Gerard</em></span></strong></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137445
2016-11-30T01:00:00+01:00
2017-10-08T19:39:18+02:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Bonjour de Paris" 30 Novembre 2016
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><strong>Bonjour de Paris ...</strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Chers Amis,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>It is hard to believe that we are into our fifth winter season in Paris. We are told that it could be colder than normal. So far nothing out of the ordinary but as past experience has taught us, we have a very long way to go before it will feel like spring is here. As for now, we can distract ourselves by taking in the beauty of Christmastime in the city of lights.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/24f35b2ea93cecaeae9fe7ad4ac3fb691164ed9f/original/img-1626.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Champs-Elysées decorated for Christmas.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Thanksgiving came and went quickly this year. Leslie and I managed to enjoy a dinner at home together on Wednesday evening. On Thursday we began three nights at Chez Papa Jazz Club and so went our fifth Thanksgiving Holiday in Paris. I miss the way we celebrated the holiday when we lived in California. As I am sure is the case with most of your celebrations, ours was always about family, friends and spending some time together without any pressures from work, etc. There were of course the guilty pleasures of excess eating, excess watching of TV, and not caring because those things were all a part of the holiday. (You might have guessed that I have never been a willing participant of Black Friday Christmas shopping.)</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Last December Leslie did three nights with jazz organist Rhoda Scott at Jazz Club Etoile in Paris. That engagement resulted in a “Live” CD with the tracks being chosen from material recorded during those three nights. That CD was released in Europe last June. Yesterday, Leslie was invited to join Rhoda for a concert in Budapest, Hungary next month. They will be doing some music from the CD as well as some Christmas and gospel music.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/a22f5a85a813824de39e82f4aead8c7cb24f99c1/original/leslie-r-s-2.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie with Rhoda Scott and Eugénie at Jazz Club Etoile in Paris.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/b82591502a3597ae372f0fa438362fe4e8400cb3/original/rhoda-scott-friends-on-the-road-again.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDU4NyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="587" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Rhoda Scott's new recording. Leslie is on three tracks.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>As far as our musical adventures are concerned, we are booking dates into next August. After being in Paris for all of November and December, it looks like we will be hitting the road again next year. Although we both love to tour, I have to admit it has been nice to leave the suitcases in the closet and be sedentary for a while.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Finally we feel like we have things in place in order to seriously begin working on our next recording. Much of the music has already been chosen and we have some good ideas for a studio where we can comfortably do the tracking sessions. One of the biggest concerns is choosing the right mix of musicians to get the best results. We don’t have a set European band like we had in California, so it’s a little more difficult to be sure which players will gel with one another.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We are working at Le Speakeasy on Christmas Eve, but we have Christmas Day free and we have plans to celebrate with some friends. Tomorrow we are going in search of our Christmas Tree. We are at a loss as to where exactly to find one in our neighborhood, but we have to find someplace close because we will be carrying it home on foot. So the plan is to walk around till we find someplace where we can purchase it. Ho Ho Ho!</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/b5b77fdee693d64d6073954d6f4e02186788d94e/original/img-1180.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDg4NCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="884" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Christmas lights on our little street...Rue Princesse (at 2:45 am).</em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Starting on Dec. 27th, we are doing five nights at Chez Papa Jazz Club culminating with a big concert on Dec. 31st. One of many great things about working at this club is that we can walk there from our home in about 5 minutes. Which, on New Year’s Eve, is very nice since taxis are almost non-existent in Paris that night and the Metro/Bus system is a bit dodgy in the wee hours after people have been drinking for most of the night. But the most exciting thing is that we are hoping to have an “all California” band that week. As of now, we have confirmed that Joey Sellers will be here to work with us on Dec. 29-30-31. We are still waiting for another confirmation that we hope is forthcoming, making that week an all California band.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/3d80d9c0907c2eeec6dc3b141919880324c1f18d/original/joeysellers1.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDkxMCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="910" width="660" /></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Joey Sellers, will be in Paris to perform with us over the New Years Holiday.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We are currently discussing the possibility of a California trip perhaps next summer but most likely in the fall since our summer is beginning to get booked up.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Please check our website for our December dates. We have the usual jazz club gigs in and around Paris. While you are there, sign up for our weekly email blast to learn where you can hear us.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time,</em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and Gerard </em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>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/</em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137444
2016-10-30T02:00:00+02:00
2022-03-01T04:24:33+01:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Bonjour de Paris" 30 Octobre 2016
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><strong>Bonjour de Paris ...</strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Chers Amis,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>It is now well into Fall weather here in Paris. Jackets, sweaters and scarves are replacing summer clothes and pretty soon I'll experience my favorite Sunday morning of the season; the "fall back" time change. I almost like the "idea" of getting the extra hour even more so than the actual hour.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie is now well into her yearly "boys of October" obsession. Her beloved Yankees are nowhere to be found, her adopted Dodgers are also done for the year so she is on the "Cubs" bandwagon. I thought that the years she spent in Cleveland might have influenced her to root for the Indians but apparently she prefers the Cubs. The games start at 2:00 am (CET) Central European Time so it takes a really good game for her to hang through nine innings. So far games 1 and 3 haven't been dramatic enough for her to stay awake for the whole game. We shall see with game 4 tonight!</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We are looking for a new apartment. When I say "we" I mean Leslie is doing all the work and I go along once she finds something worth looking at. We are looking to add some more space, get more sunlight and perhaps upgrade the kitchen and bath. We live in a really desirable area of Paris and that allows us to walk to most of our monthly gigs so we really need and want to stay in this area. So this criteria means that we are looking for something that is very hard to find and even harder to get once you find it. We don't need to move so we have time on our side. At this point I imagine that this search could go on for awhile.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We were very happy to see our friend Lynn Daly while she was in Paris earlier this month. Lynn is the artistic director for the L.A. based Jazz Tap Ensemble. J.T.E. has toured worldwide and has performed in France many times. We were able to have dinner before one of our gigs at Chez Papa Jazz Club and we had a very nice hang over two nights catching up with news of our mutual friends.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>On October 17th we began a five night run at the Thalasso Jazz Festival in Dinard, France. We shared the stage with a Jazz Manouche (gypsy jazz) band. We alternated with them nightly doing either one or two sets so that meant doing seven concerts in five nights. The audiences were very receptive and often times spilled out into the lobby where the producers had set up TV monitors to broadcast the concert for the overflow crowd. Leslie's artistry, as usual, captivated the audiences and the performance of the band with Jean-Pierre Rebillard and Sylvain Glevarec really showed the benefits of playing five nights in a row. This particular group of musicians reached some musical high points beyond anything we've done in the past.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/7afca1369e1a7bdb7818875a9f17a30c02599d8c/original/img-1097.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Pre-concert set up at the Thalasso Jazz festival.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/50eaa04dfdaa80e4ba7a43155585df5a39911767/original/img-1107.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>View of the audience for the Thalasso Jazz Festival.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>This festival is held at the Novotel Thalasso Hôtel. In France, the word Thalasso means spa and this particular hotel had what is called the "Institute". We were invited, no make that encouraged, to use the Institute on a daily basis. We were looking forward to this because, as you might imagine, it is not the norm to have access to a spa while working on the road. I was expecting to listen to quiet sound tracks of waves crashing on seaside rocks accompanied by some vaguely Asian sounding string instruments while getting relaxing massages and doing deep breathing exercises with slices of cucumbers over my eyes! What we didn't know was this institute has very specific types of treatments. The hotels location on the Atlantic ocean made it possible to use sea water in the spa treatments. In fact we would later learn first hand that the vast majority of treatments were hydro-therapy.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/a5d9ec1a935432dfb9d1d017c4c2982bb4851141/original/img-0001-jpg.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>View from our hotel room at Novotel Thalasso Hotel in Dinard, France.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We arrived in Dinard after a three and one half hour train trip from Paris. We were looking forward to a nap before the evening concert but during the hotel check-in we were told it was very important to quickly change into our robes and go to "The Institute". That sounded ominous to me because when I think of going to an institute it usually means you aren't getting out anytime soon. But we did as instructed and after a brief introduction to the institute we gave them a short health history and we were walking down the hallway toward our first "treatments". Leslie would start off innocently enough with a massage after which she felt ill and went to our room cancelling the rest of her afternoon schedule. The attendants were mostly female so fortunately I had my treatments wearing a swimming suit. I was grateful for that because I would later learn that Leslie did most of her treatments without her swimsuit. We would soon discover how awkward this could be when we would see many of these people in the evenings at our concerts. My afternoon started in a whirlpool bath that was perfectly contoured so one could lay back and relax. Relaxing was exactly what I was doing after the attendant tossed some water treatment type substance in the bath and turned the lights down as she left the room. I was just starting to enjoy the moment when the water jets under my arms kicked in and sent my arms flailing around. That was followed by the water jets under my legs moving my legs up thus causing my head to almost go underwater. The next jets to activate were under my lower back and buttocks giving me a sensation that is difficult to explain in any accurate detail in polite company. Later I went to a pool that featured underwater exercise bikes. I never knew it was possible to be in a pool and still sweat! After a few days we learned how to manage the time spent at the institute doing only the treatments that we pre-approved to be non-threatening. We did enjoy using the pool and jacuzzi along with a few of the other less rigorous treatments. The rest of the time we found some beautiful trails along the shore to walk during our afternoon free time. The walks were important because we were treated to unbelievably tasty, as well as healthy, three course meals at lunch and dinner. During the course of the week, we didn't get up in time for breakfast until our last morning before we left for Paris. It too was delicious and made me wish I had been able to get out of bed early enough to have enjoyed a few more days with a real breakfast.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/d69deb9124f04d9f97be1bdf821df02b28f2d14b/original/dinard-2-jpg.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDIzNiJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="236" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Dinard, France</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We are currently discussing the possibility of a California trip perhaps next summer or fall.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Please check our website for our November dates. We have the usual jazz club gigs in and around Paris. While you are there sign up for our weekly email blast to learn where you can hear us.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time,</em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and Gerard </em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>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/</em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</em></span></p>
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Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137443
2016-09-23T02:00:00+02:00
2017-10-08T19:40:23+02:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Bonjour de Paris" 23 Septembre 2016
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>Bonjour de Paris ...</em></strong></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Chers Amis,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and I spent the first two and a half weeks of August in La Baule trying to decompress from a very busy winter and spring. It was the longest duration of time we have taken off of work in a number of years. Although I did find myself at the piano, (playing the piano as opposed to practicing it) we tried very hard to not do anything related to work during that time. We returned to Paris to do the four gigs we had booked in August but the phone started ringing and we did twelve dates by the end of the month. It continued into September and got so crazy that on the 6th we received a 3:30 am text asking us to work that night, which happened to be our wedding anniversary! So I was not surprised to realize that I let August slip away without writing a newsletter. We had spent June and July working in Paris. Since we weren't on the road we had some extra time available to work on some musical projects we have begun. That being said, we decided to put those projects on hold and focus only on performing and teaching. Leslie had a better understanding of the situation than I did. She knew how little we had in reserve and how much we needed to be away from work. I became aware that we were running on fumes the day after we finished our last job. That was July 31st and the day I felt like I exhaled for the first time in a long time.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>On August 1st we began seventeen days of vacation at the summer home of our friend Lois in La Baule, France. That the vacation didn't start off well is an understatement! Our first night was great. Lois, Leslie and I enjoyed a great dinner, had some laughs and good conversation. We turned in for the night with Leslie and I downstairs and Lois on the main level. I was catching up on some news while Leslie was beginning to fall asleep when I heard some screaming, which I first thought was coming from outside. I asked Leslie where she thought the screaming was coming from and she replied that it was coming from inside the house. I ran upstairs to find that a man had broken into the house and Lois was screaming for us when she discovered him. He seemed surprised when he saw me and I was able to chase him out of the house while Leslie called the police. We spent the next few hours with the police going over what had happened that night. I was sure I wouldn't sleep after that ordeal and that turned out to be OK because the police sent a forensic team at 5:45 am and I was the only one awake to open the door for them. We spent the next two days in the police department giving statements and looking at photo line ups. The police had previously arrested this guy so his photo was in their books. Lois and I independently identified him and the police arrested him the next day. So much for a quiet start to our vacation! </em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>After that things subsequently calmed downed considerably and we had the beach type of vacation we had planned on. We spent much of our time at the beach across from Lois' home until on one of our afternoon drives Leslie discovered "Le Côte Sauvage" (the wild coast). This is an area along the Atlantic coast of France that is kind of difficult to reach due to the walk from the street to the water. Once you are there the reason for the effort to get there becomes very clear. The views are stunning and in the August summer heat the cold Atlantic ocean is very refreshing... after you accept that due to the water temperature you are going to lose all feeling in your body. We were floating around the rock formations and enjoying watching the daredevil rock divers who were jumping from 30 to 40 feet up. Beyond the time we spent at the beach, Leslie and I went on some great walks and I had several enjoyable opportunities to BBQ on a proper grill as opposed to the one I use in Paris that is more of a glorified Farberware grill. </em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We have been here long enough that we are starting to see people that we had previously met who return to hear us when they are in town. (I am talking to you Leon & Jess.) Also, there is a whole group of friends (Bobby & Sue, Lino & Catherine, Clifford & Lydia) who make yearly visits to Paris that seemly live here. We had so many people visit us this summer that I cannot possibly mention you all, and there is also the very real possibility that I will forget someone and embarrass myself. That being said, I must mention how much fun it was that Allan Molnar and his wife Robin dropped by Paris on their way back to NYC after Allan taught at a percussion symposium in Italy. Allan and I have been friends since our college days. Over the years we have been able to see each other when one of us happened to be working in the other's city. It was fun to share some of our favorite things about Paris with them. Even though Allan is a drummer/vibraphonist, one night on his way back to their hotel he sat in with a street band playing bass! Four years living in Paris and Leslie and I have never sat in with a street band (and most likely we never will)! Nate Tschetter, one of my students from maybe twenty years ago, and his lovely wife, Mica were in town for a few days. I am so proud of Nate, he is a wonderful pianist and has a killer gig with Yamaha Musicial Instruments in Buena Park, CA and Mica can sing! We had a great hang at our gig at Chez Papa Jazz Club, where they sat in and played a sang up a storm. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/73908bfdb189b7050d20aa2aa384476adddc8949/original/nate-gerard-chez-papa-1-o.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDg4MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="880" width="660" /></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Nate and me in Paris.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/4535eff6df48b0729a56b455024190e2df52ecd9/original/img-72041-crop.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ0MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="440" width="660" /></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Allan and I at our Paris apt.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/9df0a73efdece3a6f96d2be88b569bfd19d51835/original/img-7735-copy.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDk4NyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="987" width="660" /></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Performing at Cafe Laurent in Paris.</em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Last week our friend Luther Hughes was here with his family. Luther is a bassist extraordinaire who many of you in California will remember from our gigs. He is also a wonderful teacher whom I saw in action over the years we worked together at Saddleback College.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/a4ee35771c31c2cdbe22562d16fd3fe863c98c7c/original/luther-hughes-and-family.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Luther Hughes and his family enjoying the Paris cafe lifestyle.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Paris is beginning to show signs of fall and we are back in the swing of things. Thoughts of winter are beginning to creep into the back of my mind. I am always amazed at how fast time goes. We are working a new room called "Le Beverly". It is in the 11th arrondissement and has a nice Yamaha grand piano and a good sound system. The club features different styles of music each night and after hours it features a DJ who works till 3 or 4 am. Also the Hilton Hotel job in Saint Lazare is going to be starting again this fall so please watch for up-coming dates there. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Next month Leslie and I will be working with Jean-Pierre Rebillard and Sylvain Glevarec in Dinard (near Saint Malo) on the coast of Brittany at the Novotel Thalassa Hotel and Spa from the 17th through the 21st of October. Even though these dates have been booked for months, it seems like it was just yesterday that we got the call about the gig. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We are currently booking dates into next July and discussing the possibility of a California trip perhaps next summer or fall.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Please check our website for our other Sept. and October dates, we have the usual jazz club gigs in and around Paris. While you are there sign up for our weekly email blast to learn where you can hear us.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and Gerard </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>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/</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137442
2016-07-09T02:00:00+02:00
2022-03-01T04:25:02+01:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Bonjour de Paris" 9 Juillet 2016
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><strong>Bonjour de Paris ...</strong></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Chers Amis,</em></span></p>
<p><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Success... we have our new residency permits (Carte de Séjour). So now we have until April 2019 before these cards expire and we need to ask for new ones. As an added bonus I have finally gotten my Carte Vitale (health insurance I.D. card) unblocked. It would take way too long to explain how it got blocked in the first place so don't bother asking. I have been working on getting that accomplished for over a year. It is now much easier for me to get health care and prescriptions than before. I was always coved under the health insurance system here, I just had to deal with extra paperwork. Now that is no longer an issue. So, after four years, we now have our French tax status figured out so we aren't filing incorrect forms at tax time, we both have working health care cards, and we don't have to worry about our work status until April 2019. On top of that, I can carry on a rudimentary conversation in French, as long as everyone speaks very slowly and we only talk at a third grade level! So after finally getting everything situated and working as it should, the way my life usually works, this is about the time we would go back to the U.S.</em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We had a great concert at the end of May at the Pavilions Jazz Festival in Les Pavilions-sous-Bois just outside of Paris. We were one of two groups performing for the closing concert of a three night festival. That capped off a very busy five months for us. We worked with Jean-Pierre Rebillard contrebasse, and Sylvain Glevarec batterie, who were both in good form that night. We have not left Paris to work since May, and our summer gigs are all in Paris. Normally I'd be anxious to be out "there" working, but it feels good to be home doing our Paris duo gigs. Things are slower this summer for us and normally I'd be anxious about that as well but the free time has been good for us. Leslie has barely had time to garden and we are getting caught up with seeing our Parisian friends who have been waiting for our schedules to mesh.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/011da8c4e386e844531f074a27429ee645293749/original/img-1027.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></span><br> </p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>After sound check at Pavillons Jazz Festival.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/9433baf72c0a6e3d2a76634184331ff8c10bbab0/original/pavilions-jazz-fest-stage1-jean-rene-audry-crop.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDMwOSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="309" width="660" /></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Pavillons Jazz Festival w/ Jean-Pierre and Sylvain.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/d66b78b661e60db1205074c95cdd1bd12d21ef7a/original/pavilions-jazz-festival-stage2jean-rene-audry.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ0MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="440" width="660" /></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Back stage view Pavillons Jazz Festival.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>I am very proud to announce that Leslie is on the new Rhoda Scott CD called "On The Road Again". It is on the Ahead label here in France. I will let you know when it becomes available in the U.S. It is a live recording done over the course of three nights at the Jazz Club Etoile in Paris in December 2015. It features Rhoda organ/bass pedals, Nicolas Peslier guitar, Philippe Chagne saxophone, Carl Schlosser saxophone/flute, Julie Saury drums (nights 1-2) and Lucien Dobat drums (night 3). Leslie is featured on three tracks out of a total of ten tracks.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/b82591502a3597ae372f0fa438362fe4e8400cb3/original/rhoda-scott-friends-on-the-road-again.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDU4NyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="587" width="660" /></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>The new Rhoda Scott CD w/ Leslie.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We will be in La Baule at the summer home of our friend Lois for eighteen days in August. We haven't had that many days off in a row since we first moved here in 2012. I am wondering about the challenge of not doing any music for that long. In past vacations, after a few days I have had a problem with being away from working on music. Lois does have a digital piano so I suspect I'll make my way to it at some point. Leslie not so much. She is completely cool with the whole vacation thing. Especially if it includes a beach! When it is time to get back to work in Paris she will want to stay longer. I don't blame her, summertime in La Baule really is a slice of paradise. Sunny days on the beach with a few dips in the ocean, and bike rides along the coast. The nights are bbq dinners, good wine and conversation. It is really a perfect way to relax. There are always people coming and going during the month so there are new people to meet and new conversations to be had.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/9b150abd10b5d4f92ceb8b5bd6c3db6b8ebe5d56/original/img-1012-copy.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>The beach in La Baule, France.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>From the complaint department: Paris never seems to have a spring anymore. The weather goes from semi-winter to summer in just a few days. May and June were mild to chilly with a lot of rain and a few really nice days sprinkled here and there. So far even July has been very mild. I shouldn't complain because the next thing will likely be oppressive heat! I must admit that I do miss the reliability of the weather in southern California.</em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>This October Leslie and I will be working with Jean-Pierre and Sylvain in Dinard (near Saint Malo) on the coast of Brittany at the Novotel Thalassa Hotel and Spa from the 17th through the 21st. That will be a very cool opportunity to play jazz in a spectacular ocean-side setting. Just in case we can entice any of you to make the trip.</em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Check our website for our other July dates, we have the usual jazz club gigs in and around Paris. While you are there sign up for our weekly email blast to learn where you can hear us.</em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time,</em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and Gerard </em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>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/</em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</em></span><br> </p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137441
2016-05-25T02:00:00+02:00
2017-10-08T19:41:29+02:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Bonjour de Paris" 25 Mai 2016
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>Bonjour de Paris ...</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em></em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Chers Amis,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>After four trips to the Préfecture de Police, creating four copies of our indentifying documents and having received four temporary work permits, we recently were told we will get our actual hard copy work permits after June 22nd! We began this process in December of 2014. We submitted our dossiers in February, 2015. We received the first of four temporary work permits in August, 2015. And now after almost a year of temporary permits our cards are almost created. They will expire in August 2018. And so it goes...</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/a175384cb290811588bef142a50fe3621882f96f/original/dreamstime-m-5441992-cut-in-half-banner.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDU4MSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="581" width="660" /></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>One of my favorite Paris photos.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>After all the travel we did last month, we are happy to have been in Paris for all of May. This Sunday we are excited to be performing at the Pavillions Jazz Festival in Les Pavillions-sous-Bois. Les Pavillions-sous-Bois is just outside of Paris, so we will be able to return to our home that night by way of commuter train.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/a113dd6c0b512f409d33d2c54f3bbae8dc91da83/original/louisianne-belle.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ1NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="455" width="660" /></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em><em>During a gig on the Louisianne Belle.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/e4884ddb8780e277585c2d7263f40f60c740f845/original/thierry-godefroy-et-leslie-cotton-club1.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ0MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="440" width="660" /></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie & Thierry Godefroy perform in the "Cotton Club" show.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We have been fortunate to have had a number of friends visit Paris this month. I didn't ask for permission to publish their names in this newsletter so I won't name them. But we always love seeing you when you do visit Paris. This summer we have some very good friends coming for vacation/work and well as some family. I always like to hang in Paris with people I associate with other places I've lived. It can be a bit surreal.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/b7e0c9feecc1636a5983bfb7790f813f89c9f4f0/original/leslie-mariya-fan.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDg4MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="880" width="660" /></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> Leslie with our friend Mariya at Chez Papa Jazz Club, Paris.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>This summer looks like it will be somewhat quiet. We will be working in Paris in July and we will again be relaxing at the beach in La Baule for a few weeks in August. Frankly I am looking forward to some sunny beach days. The gloom of Paris is still lurking this spring and the few sunny days we've had haven't had the effect of bringing me out of winter mode. </em></span></p>
<p><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie has done her usual magic in our garden terrace and it is a really nice place to spend an afternoon or evening but, due to work and bad weather, we haven't had the opportunity to use it other than grilling a few dinners in the rain.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/98dd0dd9cf86b77b6966663d8f1302dac614a0e7/original/jardin-de-leslie-2015.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDUyMyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="523" width="660" /></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> Jardin du Leslie...</em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We have some cool things brewing for October and December. Once we have confirmations I will let you know about them just in case you can join us somewhere in the world.</em></span></p>
<p><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Check our website for our other June dates, we have the usual jazz club gigs in and around Paris. While you are there sign up for our weekly email blast to learn where you can hear us.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time,</em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and Gerard </em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>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. <a href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://www.surfcovejazz.com</span></a>/blog/</em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</span></a></em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</span></a></em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</span></a></em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</span></a></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137440
2016-04-26T02:00:00+02:00
2017-10-08T19:44:07+02:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Bonjour de Paris" 27 Avril 2016
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<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><strong>Bonjour de Paris ...</strong></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Chers Amis,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em><em style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;">April has been another very busy month. We were fortunate to do a number of concerts with a quartet this month which is a nice change of pace for us but it comes with some added pressure. It is my job to keep the bassist and drummer aware of what is going to happen next while we are playing. With improvised music there is no way to write everything out so we need to use musical and visual cues to indicate what is about to happen. Time constraints don’t allow for much, if any, rehearsal time so once the music has been programmed, I need to think things through pretty carefully in order to direct things from the piano. The upside is we love the opportunity to hear how individual bassists and drummers are going to handle our repertoire. Their musical ideas often times take the music to places we never go in our duo concerts. So this makes up for the extra effort involved in making these concerts work.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/c131b2181b78be6ae608be4ec0bc7897ecddab14/original/city-jazzy-band-cropped.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDMyNyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="327" width="660" /></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> Our concert in Saintes, France. Leslie, Gerard with Nicola Sabato & Mourad Benhammou.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/3e6dffa141435916d0b4f26b97eb69097024a4dc/original/2973149-1044447042294064-6149542914074919428-o.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ1NiJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="456" width="660" />Leslie with Nico Sabato & Mourad Benhammou Saintes, France.<br></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/db64a05d81fd12fce76bf8986aa2a9ddfcf42987/original/2973365-1044443058961129-7355821078413697746-o.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDY1OSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="659" width="660" />Leslie, Gerard, Nico & Mourad getting ready to travel back to Paris.<br></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> After a few quartet concerts it is nice to get back to the intimacy of our duo. We have gotten very comfortable in that setting and things flow pretty easily for us so there isn’t much to talk about, we just sit down and play. That has become a treasured thing for me, because it is the result of spending many hours in performance. It is a level of comfort that has been earned over the course of ten years of performing, rehearsing, arranging, recording and touring. Oh yeah, there is also the day in day out marriage thing that is somehow reflected in the mix. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>So this month we traveled to Saintes, Auxerre, Grenoble and Chamrousse. None of them is really far from Paris but never-the-less they required over night stays which in turn resulted in some crazy travel schedules like spending a Saturday night in Auxerre, returning to Paris by car early Sunday morning and getting dropped off at Gare de Lyon to catch an 11:00 am train to Grenoble followed by a trip by car into the mountains (4,500 ft) to do Sunday night in a beautiful ski resort called Chamrousse. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/b4c5afa766c08e9d528d255898e4a49ef8f25841/original/img-944.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" />Cantinallegra Jazz Club, Auxerre, France.<br></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/ccde1cfea187d6b165f0f55c6f14c1a8823dc7ef/original/img-936.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" />Leslie, Mourad, Nicola setting up on stage, Cantinallegra, Auxerre, FR.<br></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/033a78df9e75704e9819bb69b58063ba02301766/original/img-946.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" />Pre-show Cantinallegra Jazz Club, Auxerre, FR.<br></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/ec8a1745045269152f7e2b184bfef5131b150882/original/img-950.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" />Morning in Auxerre, France.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> Chamrousse is in an incredible setting in the Belledonne Mountain Range. It was the location of the 1968 Winter Olympics. As you can imagine, it is a small community that becomes a much larger community during the ski season. We performed a private concert for the closing night of the ski season. After the concert we had a great time eating dinner with the mayor of Chamrousse and a few local residents. Sometime during the dinner it began to snow that really heavy, wet, type of snowflakes. It was April, 17th!</em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Chamrousse, France, a very beautiful community.<br></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>It was snowing our last night in Chamrousse, Fr!<br></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>On the train back to Paris from Saintes, again on a Sunday morning, Leslie and I were traveling with Nicola and Mourad, our bassist and drummer. The seats faced each other so we were able to talk across the aisle. As the train was leaving a conductor walked past our seats and overheard the word “disco” from our conversation. He responded by doing a dance which brought about laughter from all. Later in the trip this same conductor passed by as Leslie was taking a photo of Nico and Mourad with an iPad. His angry response was so over the top that we all assumed he was joking. As he was demanding that Leslie stop taking photos she responded in a joking manner that she wouldn’t stop and indeed tried to take his picture to which he responded by covering his face with his hat. This caused him to get even more red in the face as his blood pressure was rising. Around this time I suspected that he was not joking but Leslie just couldn't see why he would be so upset and so she continued with what she thought was just playing around. He then said he would stop the train and call the police if she didn’t put the iPad away at which point we tried to explain we thought he was joking but he would have none of it. After another angry exchange he walked away and we didn’t see him again until he returned to ask for our tickets. Beyond his request for the tickets not a word was exchanged. Later in the trip another conductor remarked that he was, shall we say, not quite predictable in his responses to certain things he encounters.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/1e966d0a1171af551080fed112115906130d56f4/original/img-915.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" />Mourad and Nico on the train back to Paris, the conductor was about to strike!<br></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Last year I met a music producer from L.A. who dropped by Chez Papa Jazz Club to hear Leslie and me. As we talked we found that we knew number of L.A. people in common. He mentioned that he was working for Resonance Records and had been in Germany working on a project. I knew of Resonance Records because they have issued a number of interesting recordings of previously unknown tapes including one of the Bill Evans Trio recorded in 1968 at the “Top Of The Gate” in New York. So last week I see where Resonance Records is issuing another Bill Evans Trio recording also from 1968 that was discovered in a studio in Germany. Guess who produced this recording!</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>On May, 29 we go to Les Pavillons-sous-Bois, FR for an appearance at</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>“The Pavillons Jazz Festival”. <a href="http://espace-des-arts.fr/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=32&Itemid=288" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://espace-des-arts.fr/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=32&Itemid=288</span></a></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Check our website for our other May dates, we have the usual jazz club gigs in and around Paris. While you are there sign up for our weekly email blast to learn where you can hear us.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and Gerard </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <<a href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">gerard@surfcovejazz.com</span></a>>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. <a href="/blog" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong>http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</strong></span></a></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</span></a></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736%20%20%20%20%20%20" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</span></a></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</span></a></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</span></a></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137439
2016-03-30T02:00:00+02:00
2017-10-08T19:44:46+02:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Bonjour de Paris" 30 Mars 2016
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>Bonjour de Paris ...</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Chers Amis,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We are back in Paris after enjoying four wonderful days in Rome. The travel part of the trip was not bad. Thank you Easy Jet! But when it is a viable option, I still prefer to travel by train. Once we arrived in Rome we successfully used the train to get into town and from there we hopped on a tram to get to our hotel. Rome is pretty easy to navigate by public transit. But you take a chance when you ride with the “public”. I consider myself pretty aware of pick pockets and almost never bring a wallet when I go out opting to bring a credit card, carte de vitale, and some cash all carried in my front pocket. On one occasion Leslie’s purse was heavier than usual so I happened to be carrying it. While we were riding the tram an immigrant woman who was breastfeeding a baby stood next to me and put one arm against the wall so she almost boxed me in. At first I thought she did this because the car had filled up with people and everyone had moved closer to one another. But when the car emptied a bit and she didn’t move away I got suspicious and stepped away from her to get some personal space. At that point we arrived at our stop and I noticed that the zipper of the purse had been opened. After a quick check to make sure nothing has been taken, we got off of the tram and I told Leslie what had happened. At first I was angry at myself for letting the situation get as far as it had, but it wasn’t too much later that my blood started to boil at the thought of what this woman had tried to do to us. Fortunately it was nothing more than a close call.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/11475bb3fd71ce213fd409656be27610e2b82211/original/img-0806-jpg.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>In the Piazza Venezia.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/4297ce86ead1f40cf8ecad55a8f9c3e15bb6f879/original/img-0813-jpg.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Trevi Fountain, two views.</em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>On a completely different note, I don’t know why I found this surprising considering it is the home of the Vatican and we arrived on Palm Sunday, but we saw more nuns in four days in Rome than I saw in four years of high school and my high school was called Saint Mary’s Catholic High School! </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/1a57fbd47f32edf59d8842d381d82a65d618919e/original/img-0823.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We spent a lot of time walking in different neighborhoods searching for beautiful side streets.</em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>There were plenty of street musicians in Rome. But as in Paris, most of them are playing American music. We always seem to hear a rendition of “Summertime” wherever we go. This time with not one, but with three accordionists accompanied by guitar and bass. We also heard a cellist playing the “Theme from the Godfather” followed by the “Theme from the Titanic.” Accordions are big in Rome and you see actual Italians playing them. In Paris the only people who play accordions are Romanian.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/45240cdeb4c1569ff15fc779ec9fae73115c1d86/original/img-0832.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie at lunch at the Hotel Raphael, near the Pantheon.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/1223508235b07331997a830dde617f26164c7088/original/img-0849.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>At the River Tiber.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>The food was glorious! Not one bad meal! On our last night there we ate at a restaurant that was owned by a very nice couple. The husband ran the dinning room and his wife was the chef. They had a very interesting menu which is what attracted us to want to eat there in the first place. We later learned they also own a farm where they make their own olive oil and limoncello. Our Roman epicurean experience was so good that when we returned to Paris and I went to the market to buy food for dinner I wandered around staring at food trying to think of something I could make that wouldn't be a disappointment. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/e0a8b1fab1c2e7b5bc9c0f67a2d19f17fbf9ebd2/original/img-0852.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie outside a wonderful deli that was recommended by our friend Sara Monacelli.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/b92a7700c9e8ee5793ee96796e4e2a2b2c1b4c2a/original/img-0864.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> Thanks to everyone who sent suggestions for our Rome visit. We managed to make it to most of what we wanted to see.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Next week on April, 8 we are performing the “Billie Holiday” concert we prepared last year in Saintes, FR. <a href="http://cityjazzy.fr/concert-jazz-mourad-benhammou-invite-leslie-lewis-gerard-hagen-pour-le-centenaire-de-lady-day/" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://cityjazzy.fr/concert-jazz-mourad-benhammou-invite-leslie-lewis-gerard-hagen-pour-le-centenaire-de-lady-day/</span></a></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>The following week on April, 16 we are at Catinallegra in Auxerre, FR. <a href="http://www.cantinallegra.com/bar-a-vin-restaurant-auxerre-concert-jazz-club-r18.html" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://www.cantinallegra.com/bar-a-vin-restaurant-auxerre-concert-jazz-club-r18.html</span></a></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We are joined on both concerts with Nicola Sabato, contrebasse and Mourad Benhammou on drums. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>On May, 29 we go to Les Pavillons-sous-Bois, FR for an appearance at “The Pavillons Jazz Festival”. <a href="%20http://espace-des-arts.fr/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=32&Itemid=288" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"> http://espace-des-arts.fr/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=32&Itemid=288</span></a></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Check our website for our other April dates, we have the usual jazz club gigs in and around Paris. While you are there sign up for our weekly email blast to learn where you can hear us.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and Gerard </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <<a href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">gerard@surfcovejazz.com</span></a>>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. <a href="/blog" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</span></a></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</span></a></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736%20%20%20%20%20%20" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</span></a></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</span></a></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</span></a></em></span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137438
2016-01-29T01:00:00+01:00
2017-10-08T19:46:50+02:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Bonjour de Paris" 29 Février 2016
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><strong>Bonjour de Paris ...</strong></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Chers Amis,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>This has been a very interesting start to the year. As always, I am surprised at how quickly the time is going. We spent a week or so fighting colds which unfortunately struck at a time when we had seven concerts booked over a six day period. Three of those concerts were outside of Paris so there was travel time as well. Every minute that we weren’t working was spent in bed in order to be ready to perform. Fortunately we had six days off at the end of the month which especially helped Leslie to be able to rest her voice and we are both back in decent shape. There was one memorable moment that I want to mention. It was memorable in content but apparently not in context because I can’t remember which gig we were on when it happened. The moment in question happened when four gentlemen who were seated with dates, perhaps wives, got up and started dancing together </em><em>while the four women stayed seated having a conversation.</em> <em style="color: #003366;">Living in Paris for the past three years has prepared me to rarely be surprised by anything, but in this instance I took notice simply because they were not the least bit self conscious. They felt like dancing and apparently their wives/girlfriends didn’t, but that didn't stop them from having some fun. Not a bad lesson to learn!</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Yesterday we returned to Paris from working at the Pizza Express Jazz Club in London. We have been doing a lot of promoting of that date over the past few months. Every time we met Londoners on our gigs in Paris, we would hand them flyers and mention the date. We also got in touch with the few people we know in London, and asked them to tell their friends, etc. The result was that we had over fifty ticket sales and vast majority of them were people that had heard us before. There were even a few folks who travelled from Paris to be at the concert. So we are slowly building a European audience one or two people at a time, just like we did in California. Finally there is something we did in the states that works the same over here! The Pizza Express is a very nice room to play. The club has a very nice Steinway grand piano with a decent sound system and even better, an engineer who knew how acoustic music should sound. We had a great band as we hired two local musicians who took everything we threw at them and handled our wide ranging repertoire with only a few minor hiccups that we managed to make seem like they were meant to be. After the concert Keri Chryst, an expat, singer/friend from Paris, joined us for an “after hours” bite to eat. Being in London this meant, of course, pub food! Which in turn meant eating something that is going to invite a heart attack! So all in all it was a win-win night. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/d2b21bee5c5438e1dfdb95eb40033afbe2528828/original/img-0774.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em style="color: #003366;">Leslie & Gerard after the gig in London.</em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/e5882840498bb0f44d5adf4e08afbaaedb316705/original/pizza-express-leslie-gerard.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDM3MSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="371" width="660" /></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em style="color: #003366;">Leslie & Gerard along with Miles Danso bass, & Rod Youngs drums, at Pizza Express Jazz Club, London. Photo by Sima Fulford</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We have a trip to Rome coming up later this month which we are both very excited about. It will be our first time there and we will have free time, so any suggestions from you are welcome. This spring we are doing some road work around France with the “Billie Holiday” concert we prepared last year as well as an appearance at “The Pavillons Jazz Festival”. <a href="%20http://espace-des-arts.fr/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=32&Itemid=288" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"> http://espace-des-arts.fr/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=32&Itemid=288</span></a></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> In October we are doing a week with a quartet at a resort hotel in Dinard, in the Saint Malo area on the coast of Brittany. So there is much to look forward to and much to be grateful for. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>As for March, we have the usual jazz club gigs in and around Paris so please check our website or sign up for our weekly email blast to learn where you can hear us.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><a href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com%20" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><span style="color:#003366"><em><span style="color:#003366"><span style="color:#003366"><strong>http://www.surfcovejazz.com</strong></span></span></em> </span></em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and Gerard </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <<a href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">gerard@surfcovejazz.com</span></a>>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. <a href="/blog" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong>http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</strong></span></a></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</span></a></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</span></a></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</span></a></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736%20%20%20%20%20%20" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</span></a></em></span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137437
2016-01-07T01:00:00+01:00
2021-08-02T12:28:17+02:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Bonjour de Paris" 7 Janvier 2016
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>Bonne Année ...</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Chers Amis,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and feel as excited about the possibilities for new experiences in 2016 as we do. For us this year is off to a fast start! But before we get to that I want to let you know that after we returned from L.A., Leslie had a great three night run at the Jazz Club Etoile in Paris with jazz organ great, Rhoda Scott. Last year in December Leslie worked with Rhoda at the same club. The club is in the Hotel Meredien so one of the perks of the gig is that Leslie was given a hotel room during the three night run. We took advantage of that for a little mini-vacation two weeks before Christmas. Since we were away from home, 20 minutes away, but still away from home, we used the time to do some things we normally don’t do, like Christmas shopping and relaxing a bit during the day. Leslie and Rhoda’s band were killing it during their evening performances and I was a very proud, somewhat relaxed, husband. Jerry Kalaf was able to join us in Paris to welcome in 2016 with some great music. Louis Durra traveled from Berlin to join us for an “L.A. expat” hang for a few days. Leslie, Jerry and I were joined by bassist Peter Giron for three nights at Chez Papa Jazz Club concluding on New Year’s Eve. Those gigs were followed by a sold out concert at Sunside-Sunset Jazz Club on January 2nd. New Year’s Eve was a blast. We had a play list that included everything from jazz to R&B and 70’s dance music. We finished our last set at around 2:15 am. The club put on dance music after we finished and the revelers kept on with the party. It was around 4:00 am when we were offered plates of cheese, bread, oysters and chocolates. I think we got home around 5:30 am. The concert at Sunside-Sunset was a reprise of the “Billie Holiday” concert we did there last spring. It was the same band as the previous concerts at Chez Papa Jazz Club. I was really grateful that Jerry was here and could perform that show with us. Beyond that, the time we weren’t working was all about eating and walking after eating. We found a great Mexican place called “Fajitas”. Eating Mexican food for dinner was a common thing we all did for many years in California, but it was a little disorienting doing the same thing with the same people in Paris.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/178b10487633129f6c496549282cce3793e256ce/original/1919480-10153353436133634-3104969015703208047-n.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDg4MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="880" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie outside Sunside-Sunset Jazz Club, Paris.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/0dd072c798a255766f608022cae206d69f706b9e/original/600377-10206848305859847-6578197333908422914-n.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie, Gerard, Peter Giron on stage at Sunside-Sunset Jazz Club, Paris.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/17c234bd14fb76f482144a9825ad9fe7d08cb968/original/10299956-10206848308659917-6165167529661774629-n.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDg4MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="880" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Jerry Kalaf & Peter Giron, Sunside-Sunset Jazz Club.</em></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/4da21bb0c9778c4bf902c51886dfd8af4c308746/original/936570-10206848307219881-25057585542886216-n.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDg4MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="880" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie sings Billie Holiday.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/60572b544973a9fa9ea37e69fbc71703c95cc7ad/original/10603472-10206848304139804-5356856165490871380-n.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDg4MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="880" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie enjoys the packed house, we had a great audience.</em></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/95824c90214a4b98d0fa98a01570af540da58fe7/original/12466166-10207149409471630-3948720981870643047-o.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDY2MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="660" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Another view of the Sunside stage.</em></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Speaking of eating, we did not work on Christmas this year so we had friends over for dinner. I made stuffing to go along with rotisserie chicken and sautéed vegetables. I usually look at recipes and then improvise with whatever ingredients sound good to me. This was my first time making stuffing and it required way more improvising than I had expected. Fortunately we had the right things in our very, very small pantry and it turned out with a really nice crispy crust but otherwise was very moist. We put that one in the “win” column. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>This month we have a number of “Cotton Club” shows in and around Paris. We have the usual jazz club gigs so this is a busy, and therefore good start to 2016. February is filling up with bookings including a trip to London to work at the SoHo Jazz Club. This spring and summer we will hitting the road again to play some jazz festivals. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em style="color: #003366;">Please remember to mention to any London based, jazz-loving friends about our concert at SoHo Jazz Club /Pizza Express on Dean St. in London on February 28th. Word of mouth is a very valuable promotional tool for us so… we would very much appreciate it if you could pass along this information if you know any jazz fans in London. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and Gerard </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff">Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <<a data-imported="1" href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com"><span style="color:#ffffff">gerard@surfcovejazz.com</span></a>>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. <a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/blog"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong>http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</strong></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><a data-imported="1" href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736%20%20%20%20%20%20"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><a data-imported="1" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137436
2015-12-11T01:00:00+01:00
2019-12-05T19:13:57+01:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Bonjour de Paris" 11 December 2015
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>Bonjour de Paris ...</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Chers Amis,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We have been back in Paris for a few days and have taken the necessary time to reorient ourselves to this environment. I can happily announce that the return trip was uneventful except for an unfortunate decision I made at Charles de Gaulle Airport which brought us to the attention of the police. In my defense, we usually are able to travel with only “carry on” luggage. But this time, because we returned with more things than we brought with us, we checked two bags. Once we cleared Customs, I somehow got us out of the secure area without retrieving our checked luggage. It was the way we got back into the secure area that caused some alarm with the authorities. We were stopped, identified, and our carry on luggage was searched. We offered an apology which the police responded to with the French phrase “pas de soucis” which translates into “no worries”. Following that encounter we were once again “at large”. This being Paris, it was raining pretty hard so the trip back to our apartment with more luggage than usual was très compliqué. Beyond that things were pretty uneventful.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We had a great week in California and want to thank everyone who took the time to get together with us. Our evening with friends in the bar at the Hotel Laguna was a blast. We loved being able to get caught up with your lives and were so happy that it felt like we had only been gone for a short time as we were able to pick up again very easily. We are so fortunate to have so many wonderful friends. Speaking of wonderful friends, Ron Kobayashi was so gracious in the way he welcomed us to his Friday night jam session at Bayside restaurant in Newport Beach. Once again we must thank all the friends who came out to play music and say hello. We were so happy and humbled to see you and hear the joy in the music that was made that night. We must send a very special “thank you” to Mike and Carol Penn for once again making us so comfortable at “Chez Penn”, our California home. We also must send a warm “thank you” to John Tu and David Liu for bringing us back to California and handling many of the logistics for our stay. Leslie’s performance with John Tu’s California Dreamin’ Band was a highlight for me. That band is full of first call L.A. musicians and singers many of whom are friends of ours. That performance was followed by our Sunday evening house concert at the home of Ron Dye with our L.A. band including Domenic Genova, Jerry Kalaf and Joey Sellers. Ron and Natasha Dye could not have been more welcoming to us and our audience. Their home is a beautiful place to give a concert and we had a very enjoyable evening with them. Leslie and I where happy to perform some of the new music we have developed in our European performances for a California audience. We can’t wait to get back to CA and do it all again. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/0a78737c02fb290d1101d45fc0992e6521ec23ee/original/img0710.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> <em>J.T. and California Dreamin’ Band Sound Check- Century City Plaza Hotel. Los Angeles, CA. </em></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/797496d8f6bb14bd68214af6191e92aecaa0b11b/original/img-0607.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NTcweDM3OSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="379" width="570" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Paris after the 13 Novembre attacks.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We returned back to our apartment late Tuesday afternoon, got settled in and had some dinner. At that point we became aware of just how tired we were as evidenced by my sleeping for eleven hours that night. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We are back to our performance and teaching schedules in Paris. It is fun to play here again. The reality is that it is fun to play almost anywhere, but I do admit that for me, the lifestyle in Paris is hard to beat. On the other hand… a week enjoying Southern California weather was pretty damn nice and Leslie is more and more being drawn to be near an ocean. Maybe I need to brush up on my Spanish!</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> Looking ahead we are in Paris for the rest of the month and into early 2016. Jerry Kalaf will be here to work with us for the last week of December. For those of you who live in Paris we are working the last week of the year (Dec. 29th-31st.), including New Years Eve at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Saint Germain des Près. Peter Giron will be playing bass. A new performance was just added for January 2nd at Sunside-Sunset Jazz Club in Paris. Leslie was asked to reprise her “Hommage à Billie Holiday" concert which we did there last April. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Our schedules often change quickly but at this point our next road trip will be to work at the SoHo Jazz Club /Pizza Express on Dean St. in London on February 28th. Word of mouth is a very valuable promotional tool for us so… we would very much appreciate it if you could pass along this information if you know any jazz fans in London. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and Gerard </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff">Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <<a href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">gerard@surfcovejazz.com</span></a>>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. <a href="/blog" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong>http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</strong></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137435
2015-11-01T01:00:00+01:00
2019-12-05T19:14:31+01:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Bonjour de Paris" 1 November 2015
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>Bonjour de Paris ...</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em style="color: #003366;">Chers Amis,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em style="color: #003366;">We have received many, many inquiries about tickets for our December 6th concert in San Juan Capistrano. The concert is in the beautiful home of our very good friend Ron Dye, It is an exceptional setting for a concert. We will start at 7:00pm on Sunday evening. Wine and beer will be provided. Please be aware that dinner is NOT being served. We are really excited to announce that Leslie and I will be accompanied by Domenic Genova and Jerry Kalaf, who were my California trio mates for seventeen years. Here is the information in order to get tickets for the event. Tickets are $26 and are only available by purchasing them in advance using my Paypal account. Please contact me at </em><a href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>gerard@surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em style="color: #003366;"> to tell me the number of tickets you would like. I will email you an invoice and you can choose your preferred method of payment through Paypal. Once I receive a confirmation of your payment I will email the details you will need to attend the concert. It has been over two years since we last performed in California and we have a lot of new material which we are excited to perform there. We are very excited to see you all so please don’t wait too long to purchase tickets as we expect this concert will sell-out. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em style="color: #003366;">It is now well into fall weather here in Paris. It is time to dig out our warmer clothes and try to prepare for another winter. Fortunately this city is really magical during the holidays and it is easy to get in the Christmas spirit when surrounded by all of the beautiful decorations. So we can look forward to the holidays before we get to the long, gray slog that is January through April.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/24f35b2ea93cecaeae9fe7ad4ac3fb691164ed9f/original/img-1626.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em style="color: #003366; font-size: 2em;">AVENUE DES CHAMPS-ÉLYSÉES at Christmas.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em style="color: #003366;">For those of you who live in Paris we are working the last week of the year (Dec. 29th-Jan. 2nd), including New Years Eve at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Saint Germain des Près. Peter Giron will be playing bass and as it turns out, Jerry Kalaf will be here and will join us on drums! (The club will be dark on Jan. 1st.)</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em style="color: #003366;">A few weeks ago Leslie took me to Amsterdam for a short birthday get-a-way. It was our first time there. We had a spectacular visit and found it to be a very charming city. We happened to find several very happening restaurants and spent the rest of our time exploring the different neighborhoods around our hotel. Somehow we managed to miss the more adventurous areas in the city that may have been more appealing if I were thirty years younger! </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/0b47c4e6a53b54c7ffabb4e97ae0b99d2f08773c/original/img0570.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Gerard in Amsterdam.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em style="color: #003366;">Please don’t forget about our February 28th date in London at SoHo Jazz Club /Pizza Express on Dean St. in Soho. Word of mouth is a very valuable promotional tool for us so… we would very much appreciate it if you could pass along this information if you know any jazz fans in London. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em style="color: #003366;">Until next time,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em style="color: #003366;"></em><em style="color: #003366;">Leslie and Gerard </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em style="color: #003366;">Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <</em><a href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>gerard@surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em style="color: #003366;">>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. </em><a href="/blog" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</em></strong></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em style="color: #003366; text-decoration: underline;">http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137434
2015-10-02T02:00:00+02:00
2019-12-05T19:15:39+01:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Bonjour de Paris" October 2, 2015
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> <strong> Bonjour de Paris ...</strong></em></span><br><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Chers Amis,</em></span><br><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We are happy to announce that we will be in L.A. from Nov. 30th to Dec. 7th. We are planning to perform a house concert at the San Juan Capistrano home of our good friend Ron Dye on Sunday evening (Dec. 6th). We love doing house concerts because the performance conditions are very conducive for an intimate connection with the audience. Ron has an exquisite Steinway “A” grand piano and a large enough home to accommodate a good sized audience so it will be a wonderful musical experience. As an added incentive for you to attend we are are going to perform much of the music we are planning to record for our next CD. So if you want to hear the music before we record it be sure to be there. We are really excited to be back in CA and to be able to see everyone again.</em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>A few weeks ago we did the Jazz En Touraine festival in Montlouis-sur-Loire, FR. With Dee Dee Bridgewater as one of the festival headliners, Jazz En Touraine is one of the more high profile festivals we’ve done. Our concert was on a Sunday afternoon which meant we had to leave Paris by 10:00 am to make it in time for the sound check. The night before we got home around 2:00 am after having done a “Cotton Club” show in a venue outside of Paris which was at the end of one the suburban train lines. On Sunday morning at 9:45 am we met the bass player at the appointed rendezvous spot and waited for the drummer who was to pick us up to drive to the concert. By 10:30 am we were still waiting for him and he was not answering his cell phone. After a frantic call to the festival director, Leslie and I decided to get to a train station and grab a train to the concert. The bass player stayed to see if he could located the drummer. Leslie and I arrived at the festival stage 20 minutes before our concert was to begin and told them we would be doing the concert as a duo. Ten minutes later the other two arrived by car and we did the fastest load-in and set up I have ever seen. We weren’t able to do a real sound check so we just did the best we could to get the sound balanced on the stage as we played. It was a beautiful afternoon for an outdoor concert. Once we got started I was able to relax a bit, take a few deep breaths, and enjoy the moment. We were one of four or five bands to play that day so we only needed to play one long set. I was very grateful for that since we had such a time just getting to the concert I was pretty spent even before we took the stage. Leslie always seems to rise to these occasions and this time was no different. She somehow found the energy to give them a great concert and at the end of the set, the audience responded by forming a line to have her sign our CDs.</em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/267bc71c5f8796dde8e28643f8211310b3334eab/original/img-0530.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></span><br><br></p>
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<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Cotton Club concert set up, Serris, France.</em></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em style="color: #003366;">Concert stage at Jazz En Touraine, Montlouis Sur-Loire, France.</em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/da204ff3950fc31d54c3d475b55d0a2a805c9c77/original/img-0542-jpg.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Festival grounds Jazz En Touraine, Montlouis Sur-Loire, France.</em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>The band that played after us was lead by our ex-pat, Chicago blues playin’ friend, Boney Fields. His band played great and kept the crowd going until they finished their set. We were given a very nice bottle of champagne by the stage manager which we enjoyed with our dinner while sitting at a picnic table as we listened to Boney’s set. When we got back to Paris late that night I was still pretty wired after the excitement of the day. By the time I had relaxed enough to finally fall asleep the sun was starting to rise, it was around 4:00 pm on Monday afternoon when I woke up.</em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>If you have plans to be in Paris over the holidays we are doing the last week of the year (Dec. 29th-Jan. 2nd), including New Years Eve at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Saint Germain des Près. Peter Giron will be playing bass and we hope to have a surprise guest join us on drums! (The club will be dark on Jan. 1st.)</em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/f0cb7de1c898107e595b1f791336667a85477a9d/original/gerard-piano-chez-papa.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ0MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="440" width="660" /></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: left;"><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Gerard and Leslie at Chez Papa Jazz Club, Paris.</em></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>View of the audience at Chez Papa. Our friends Mariya, Sarah, Jules and Sara having a laugh during our set.</em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>One final nice piece of news, we just booked a date in London for February 28th at Pizza Express, a great jazz club on Dean St. in Soho. Word of mouth is a very valuable promotional tool for us so… we would very much appreciate if you could pass along this information if you know any jazz fans in London. </em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time,</em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and Gerard </em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> 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/</em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</em></span><br><br></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137433
2015-09-16T02:00:00+02:00
2021-08-07T04:56:07+02:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Bonjour de Paris" 17 September 2015
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>Bonjour de Paris ...</em></strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Chers Amis,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We are back in Paris after spending the last four days in New York. </em><em>I always love being in New York and have to guard against the fantasy that is arriving with someone paying for us to be there and having transportation and hotels on the upper west side taken care of for us, as opposed to the reality of actually living there. I often see the same thing happen to people who visit Paris and get the bug to live here. Truthfully, for me, living in Paris is more about the opportunities to work in Europe. It is simply a happy coincidence that we can work from here. Leslie would say that for her it’s more about Paris! By the way, her feelings about Paris are what got us here! But back to New York. We were very happy to have opportunities to spend time with family and friends during our stay. We added a day to our trip which gave us more opportunities to hang with them. My nephew, Sam from California recently moved to N.Y. with a new position at Apple. I was so happy to see how well he is doing there. You can imagine how much fun a young guy with a good job living in N.Y. can have. We ended up in a bar drinking gin and playing pool, which I guess isn’t the typical uncle nephew activity unless perhaps your uncle is a jazz pianist! Leslie’s brother Ralph recently became engaged, so we were able to meet his fiancée Veronica. And of course we got the catch up with Diana, Leslie’s childhood friend and her family Ann, Hy, Tony and Carl who are all employed on Broadway. Allan, my former college roommate and current NYC resident was able to play drums with us for our gig so there were many highlights during those four days.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>The gig we were there to play is both very easy to describe but really almost impossible to do justice to. The simple description is that we played a concert during a wedding reception on Long Island. The long story is that a while back, a couple was walking by a Paris jazz club where we were working. They heard the music and came in to check it out. They ended up spending the rest of the evening listening to us and one of them even sat in and sang with us. Some time later we received an email from them inquiring if they could hire us to come to NYC to perform for their wedding reception. But it wasn’t to be background music. They wanted us to do a concert as a part of the celebration. So after some schedule massaging, we agreed to do the gig. They had the wedding/reception on their property in Bellport, Long Island (about 1/2 block from the ocean). Aside from their beautiful home, their property also had a school house which they had renovated. The wedding took place in a garden next to the pool. The cocktail hour was in another garden that aside from many other amenities, had an outdoor pizza oven. The property was exquisite. Attention was paid to every detail. There was something beautiful to see everywhere you looked. We played in the “library” of the school. We had a Steinway grand piano and a two man sound crew from SIR in NY doing sound for us. There was a lower level in the library where there were quite a few tables for guests, so the sound crew put wireless speakers to handle the music for them. We did mostly instrumental music during the meal part of the reception. When we did the concert part, the stairs leading to the lower level quickly filled with listeners looking for a closer spot to hear Leslie. It was a very nice moment and a highlight of the celebration.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We have made the Europe-U.S. trip so many times that I have come to dread the return trip. Coming home is always longer than going to a new adventure. This time we received an upgrade to what British Airways calls “Premium Class” which is basically Business Class for other carriers. After that experience it will be hard to go backwards! I told Leslie that maybe we should get this upgrade for our return trip from L.A. in December. Her response, “Yeah let’s go for both ways”! </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/27c16aa1d9d181550bf5a6c6568455eb798b7bce/original/excelsior-suite.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong style="color: #003366;"><em>Our Hotel room at the Excelsior Hotel, a great location on the upper west side.</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/c93c35df75c5ce8c3f45626bdab894e1c515d39c/original/img-1840.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></strong></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>Garden at house in Bellport, Long Island.</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/020604d894bb05c4a53579591cf403abdd8f0b15/original/img-0460.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></strong></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><strong><em>Library in the school house.</em></strong></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>Our stage for the night.</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/147af11f54b2ca7854ee62a9475bfe40cbed2651/original/leslie-gown-standing.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></strong></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>Leslie after the concert.</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/def758834de108b399cb05371364d8ccc9482989/original/allan-gerard-after-gig-clear-2.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><strong><em>Allan and Gerard after the concert.</em></strong></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>Diana and Leslie enjoying dinner.</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/36411d8b3c7390de38ec484561cce3f78e04dc39/original/leslie-ann-hy.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDM3MSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="371" width="660" /></em></strong></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>Leslie, Ann and Hy.</em></strong></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>Ralph and Veronica, the happy couple.</em></strong></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>Nice shot of the George Washington Bridge with special lighting for 9/11 memorial. (Photo by Diana Belkowsky)</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>This week on Friday we are at Monte Verdi in Saint Germain des Pres. Saturday we are in Serris, FR for a “Cotton Club” show and on Sunday we are at the Jazz En Touraine festival in Montlouis-sur-Loire, FR. <a data-imported="1" href="http://www.jazzentouraine.com"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://www.jazzentouraine.com</span></a> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Our trip to Dakar, Senegal has been postponed to February. Which leads me to believe it may be permanently postponed! We have not yet had time to get the dates in L.A. scheduled for Dec. We will let you know as soon as we get more bookings. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and Gerard </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <</em><a data-imported="1" href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>gerard@surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em>>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. </em><a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/blog"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</em></strong></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</span></a></em> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><a data-imported="1" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><a data-imported="1" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137432
2015-08-30T02:00:00+02:00
2019-12-05T19:12:47+01:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Bonjour de Paris" 30 August 2015
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>Bonjour de Paris ...</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em style="color: #003366;">Chers Amis,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em style="color: #003366;">We are back in Paris after spending the last sixteen days working at L'Hermitage and the Hotel Royal </em><em style="color: #003366;">in La Baule on the west coast of France. It was a nice opportunity to mix work and play. Truthfully it was more play and less work. Leslie and I spent afternoons on the beach. The nights we weren’t working we stayed with our friend Lois at her summer home. Lois had other friends coming and going during the time we were there so there was an interesting combination of new people to get to know and friends we knew from Paris and London. On our off nights we would BBQ and stay up late talking. Leslie wanted to rent bikes, which we did. The bikes brought a new set of challenges. It had been many years since I had ridden. I know that most people easily ride after staying off a bike for a long time. I thought this would be the same for me. The first clue that I might have a problem was when I fell down just walking along the street one afternoon even before we had rented the bikes! The result was that I banged up my knee. The next day I managed to wipe out while riding the bike and landed on the same knee. After that things got much better and we enjoyed riding along the coast, or just pedaling to buy groceries. I am still nursing my knee back to some form of health. All in all it was a very nice way to spend a few weeks. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/f2888c96684715111d5ad9c437026c4d052ea40a/original/hotel-hermitage-la-baule-1.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQyOSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="429" width="660" /></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em style="color: #003366;">L'Hermitage Hotel, La Baule</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/515962df10ccc718cd6d7aaff3b773839a23c4c0/original/hotel-royal-la-baule.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDM5NiJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="396" width="660" /></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em>The Hotel Royal, La Baule</em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Our home away from home for much of July and August.</em> </span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie waiting for the train back to Paris. One of many trips this summer.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We have hit the ground running since returning to Paris. The weather has been pretty dreary with overcast skies and rain. But other than disrupting a few afternoon walks we haven’t been affected too much.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>The memories of the sunny skies in La Baule seem to have stayed with us to keep our spirits up. We have just finished a six night run in our first week back. Next week we are doing five nights and the following week we travel to N.Y.C. for four days. We are really looking forward to working with Allan Molnar, my former college roommate and current NYC resident. We were able to add a free day so we can see some family and friends. My nephew has worked his way up in the world of “Apple” and is currently working for them in Manhattan, so we will have a chance to see him in his new environment (he is a life-long California guy). Plus a dinner with Anne, Hy, Diana, Tony et.al., our New Jersey “family”, will round out what should be a nice few days.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>When we get back to Paris we begin rehearsals for a “Cotton Club” show in Serris, FR (just outside of Paris) on Sept. 19th followed by a concert on Sept. 20 at the Jazz En Touraine festival in Montlouis-sur-Loire, FR. http://www.jazzentouraine.com </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>The end of Sept. should be quite a bit more quiet with some days off and no traveling for work.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We have more travel in the works for October and November but more on that later. The important news for our CA friends is that we will be in L.A. in early December. Things are still not settled as far as performance dates but as soon as we have confirmed dates we will let you know. But we are coming! </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and Gerard </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <</em><a href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>gerard@surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em>>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. </em><a href="/blog" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</em></strong></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137431
2015-07-26T02:00:00+02:00
2019-12-05T18:59:03+01:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Bonjour de Paris" 26 July 2015
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>Bonjour de Paris ...</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Chers Amis,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>I have very good news to report. Yesterday Leslie and I joined our immigration attorney at the Prefecture de Police in Paris and we received a document from them that is a temporary Carte de Séjour. This means that we have been given another three years of legal work status in France! A Carte de Séjour in its’ permanent form is much like a driver’s license, so once they have made ours, we will need to make another trip to the office of the Prefecture de Police to receive them. In the meantime we both have a temporary version which allows us to continue working. We had twenty-one days before our current cards expire, so needless to say we had a few sleepless nights while this situation got sorted out.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>In the last newsletter I included a link to a video on Youtube which is a video montage of the Sunny-Live Jazz Festival concert. The link had a flaw so if you are still interested try this <a href="http://youtu.be/AYRlqvWtjkw" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://youtu.be/AYRlqvWtjkw</span></a></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/645f543b73ad7069bd8ca4a7941e831c236bcd32/original/img-2844-2.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDg4MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="880" width="660" /></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff">Sunny-Live Jazz Festival-Sunset Jazz Club, Paris</span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/2f53afc1e2546f00dbd639ca033591a9cb5e4395/original/img-2796-2.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDg4MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="880" width="660" /></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Sunny-Live Jazz Festival-Sunset Jazz Club, Paris</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>On July fourth we did a jazz festival concert in Gréasque, FR. </em><a href="http://jazzsolmineur.jimdo.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://jazzsolmineur.jimdo.com</em></span></a><em> It was during a time when France experienced a very unusual streak of very, very warm weather. The day started with the power going out in our apt. as we were getting ready to leave. Oppressive heat, no fans, no lights in the bathroom, no way to make a little breakfast, you get the idea. Got to the train station and the drummer had given us the wrong train number, mass confusion ensued partly because of the large number of summertime travelers in the station, etc. Once we got on the correct train we were about thirty minutes into the trip when the air conditioner for our car broke. Once again oppressive heat for the rest of the trip, but only for our car. The rest of the train was booked to capacity so there was no way to change seats to be in a cooler environment. Every so often I would go into another car and seethe as I watched people bundle up because of the A/C. After about three hours on the train we finally get to Gréasque. The car that was used to pick us up at the train station has no A/C! After thirty years of driving in California I didn’t know that was even possible! From then on things started to pick up.</em><em> T</em><em>he people at the festival couldn’t have been more friendly and helpful. The hotel suite, yes I said suite, was very beautiful not to mention comfortable and the performance venue was beautiful. It was an outdoor concert in a beautiful setting near a church. Thankfully the temperature had cooled down by evening. There was a Steinway grand piano for me to play and had a very good sound system with an even better sound engineer. The show went great and the audience brought us back for an encore. Leslie called “Summertime”. We have performed that tune so many times over the years that we can pretty much go anywhere with it as far as musical style and interpretation is concerned. Leslie had brought us to a beautiful ending that was simply solo voice with no instrumental accompaniment. During a very quiet and delicate moment in the ending, the church bells began to ring. The funny thing was that the pitches were in the key we were in so they harmonized with Leslie’s voice. We ended the night with champagne and dessert provided by the festival producer. But the best part was that our friends Mike and Carol Penn from Orange County happened to be vacationing nearby and drove to Gréasque to attend the concert. We would later have a very nice hang with them in Paris as well. I have to say that those opportunities to see friends from the states in France are some of our happiest moments.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/ba72141504fae17e6d8c4e878e76fd7a59c60823/original/img-1409.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><em>Sound check for Festival de Jazz in Gréasque, FR</em></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/e85ad357ef57391e51c120995356a0420546d47b/original/img-1420.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Hotel suite<em> in Gréasque, FR.</em></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We have been making weekly trips to La Baule, for gigs at L’Hermitage and the Hotel Royal. We will be in La Baule for a few weeks in August and will have an opportunity to spend our days off at the summer home of a friend from Paris. We are both very ready for some afternoons spent at the beach.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>A few weeks ago we were approached by a woman about performing for a jazz festival in Paris. She owned an art gallery not far from our apartment where we met with her to discuss the performance. As we sat down a very cute dog came into the room to see who was visiting and our host said “This is my dog, Bill Evans”. In my estimation that statement established her commitment to jazz and why she would be helping to produce a jazz festival. Unfortunately we were already booked during the time of the festival so maybe next year.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and Gerard </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <</em><a href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>gerard@surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em>>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. </em><a href="/blog" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</em></strong></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><span style="color:#003366"><span style="color:#003366"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</em></span></span></strong></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><span style="color:#003366"><span style="color:#003366"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</em></span></span></strong></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><span style="color:#003366"><span style="color:#003366"><em>https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</em></span></span></strong></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><span style="color:#003366"><em>https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</em></span></strong></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong> </strong></span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137430
2015-06-23T02:00:00+02:00
2019-12-05T19:11:03+01:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Bonjour de Paris" 23 June 2015
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>Bonjour de Paris ...</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Chers Amis,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Summertime has arrived in Paris! It has been very nice these past few weeks. There have been a number of friends visiting Paris of late so our social calendar has been busier than normal. We are lucky to be very busy working, and it isn’t always easy to find time to see people, but we are always grateful we took the time to do so. It is important to get away from music every so often and seeing friends is a very good way to make that happen. To that end, there are more friends on their way to France and we are happily looking forward to getting caught up with their lives.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em>As I mentioned in the last blog, I often have very strange sleeping patterns. ( It is 3:25am as I write this.) We recently started seeing a new doctor and my sleeping problem was discussed. There were several orders for tests and appointments with specialists that are sometimes common when one starts seeing a new doctor. As we went to the follow up appointments I wasn’t always sure of the nature of the appointment. If you think reading a doctor’s handwriting in English is hard, try doing it in French! So I was a little surprised to find that one appointment was at a sleep clinic. I was given a device to use over- night that would monitor my breathing, heart rate, etc. I was to return it the next day. Ironically I found wearing the device so annoying that it kept me awake all night! The next day I had to get the device back to the clinic before noon. It was a two hour roundtrip by bus. We spent the afternoon in preparation for the Sunny Live Jazz Festival concert we had that night at Sunset Jazz Club in Paris, so I had to do the concert on almost no sleep. Despite the lack of sleep, it was a fun and well received concert. Leslie always finds a way to energize the stage. There is a video montage if you are interested. </em><a href="https://youtu.be/AYRlqvWtjkw" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>https://youtu.be/AYRlqvWtjkw</em></span></a></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/645f543b73ad7069bd8ca4a7941e831c236bcd32/original/img-2844-2.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDg4MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="880" width="660" /></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>At the Sunset Jazz Club, Paris FR.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>A few weeks ago we did a “Cotton Club” show on the Louisiana Belle, a paddle wheel boat that cruised up and down the Seine. It was a warm evening and Leslie and I were looking forward to being on the water. As it turned out none of the windows on this boat could be opened and consequently it was very warm. The back stage area was the warmest spot of all and there was no other place to be during the concert. To make matters worse there were two doors on either side of the backstage area that opened to the outside. As tempting as it was, they could not be opened because the paddle wheel was on the other side of the doors and the water that was churned up would have allowed water to get near some extension cords and lights so that wasn’t a good option. Despite the heat we did get to enjoy a bit of time on the deck after the show. We do have some road trips in Sept. and October with the “Cotton Club” group. I’ll get another opportunity to go to Lyon, this time I hope to try the food! </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>This week we are going to Cholet, France for work followed by a July 4th trip to Greasque for an appearance at the “Jazz en Sol Mineur Festival”. That is followed by weekly trips to La Baule, for some gigs at L’Hermitage and the Hotel Royal.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/a113dd6c0b512f409d33d2c54f3bbae8dc91da83/original/louisianne-belle.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ1NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="455" width="660" /> </span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>View from Louisianne Belle.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We had a great time in Le Lavendou in May. We had a beachfront hotel room and we found it to be very relaxing. Le Lavendou is close enough to Saint-Tropez for us to easily make a day trip there. I don’t know why, but I was expecting it to be way more showy in a “Rodeo Drive-ish” way. It was pretty much the opposite. There are, of course, all the boutique and designer shops. But the vibe is very relaxed and not overtly ostentatious. I suspect summertime there looks a bit different, but we would happily go back during the off-season. We found the old fishing village to be very charming!</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/11f3d16c4ec6a11cf9d13f3e1d265c1af21082f6/original/img-1778beach-jpg.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /> </span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>View from the beach at La Lavendou.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/515b85ea3228fb70e48d1059d18dc26f02318482/original/img-saint-tropez.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDg4NCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="884" width="660" /></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Apartment building in Saint-Tropez, FR.</em> <br></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/70b94f4ddc8f99c7a07998d24d599b130bea5551/original/img-saint-tropez2.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDg4NCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="884" width="660" /></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Village square in Saint-Tropez, FR.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><em>Unfortunately we are not going to be in California this summer. We were really looking forward to seeing everyone. On the plus side in August we are going to spend two weeks in La Baule. We are working at L’Hermitage and the Hotel Royal during the weekends. During the week we will stay at a friend’s summer house which happens to be located two blocks from the beach. This is our way of manufacturing a little vacation.</em></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/1a0214dec25ed25d13e9ff8f64fb68bf3e069120/original/img-0059-jpg.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>View of the Atlantic Ocean from Hotel Royal, La Baule Fr. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and I have booked our tickets to be in New York in September. We will be able to perform with a local bassist and drummer, who both happen to be friends, which we are excited about. Plus we are very happy to be able to see some family and friends while we are in town.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>I know I promised some photos of Leslie’s terrace garden. I have not had the time to take them yet. Keep an eye out for some photos on our Facebook page.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and Gerard </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <</em><a href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>gerard@surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em>>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. </em><a href="/blog" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</em></strong></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em><a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em>https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137427
2015-04-17T02:00:00+02:00
2019-12-05T19:08:48+01:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Bonjour de Paris" 18 April 2015
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>Bonjour de Paris ...</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Chers Amis,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Finally we’ve had a few nice days to enjoy springtime in Paris. Still a lot of clouds with some rain but every so often we get the sun. Now Leslie and I need to get ourselves out of the apartment with some time left in the day to enjoy it! Since we are teaching less that we did in California our work schedule has allowed us to become even more night people than before. Sometimes I can see the beginnings of dawn when I am just starting to fall asleep. We do talk about getting back on a more normal schedule, and I think that is a healthier way to live, but so far it is just talk!</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Earlier this month we did a concert at Sunside-Sunset Jazz Club. Leslie was asked to perform an hommage au Billie Holiday. She went about choosing material that she was drawn to sing. She and I created some arrangements and spent quite a bit of time promoting the date. We also got Bruno Rousselet and Mourad Benhammou, two of our favorite musicians, on the gig. The result was a night we never anticipated in our wildest dreams. We were very nervous about having a good audience especially since our performance was on Easter Sunday. We arrived early for a sound check and left to grab some dinner at a sushi restaurant. When we returned to start the concert we were greeted with a standing room only crowd! On top of that, Leslie was in rare form and the band was right with her. The crowd stayed until the end of our last set which ended just after midnight. We were very happy to be brought back for an encore. For some time now Leslie and I had avoided working at Sunside-Sunset due to the ticket prices which are anywhere from 20 to 30 euros per night. We figured that people would never pay those prices for tickets when they can hear us at so many other clubs in Paris. The reason we took the booking was because they contacted us and offered us the date. It’s no exaggeration that we were very thrilled by the way things turned out. We are going to be back at Sunside-Sunset on June 9th doing a concert of new material that we have been working on over the last few months.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/1e8c984faaf23688f2a02ecf161195a49f8b4e95/original/fullsizerender-6.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Photo from the Sunside-Sunset Jazz Club concert. Photo by Mariya Nachiva</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/70881d2232f6577317a8343869caccefcf286387/original/img-0542.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Another photo of the Sunside-Sunset Jazz Club concert. <em>Photo by Mariya Nachiva</em></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Early in May we are going to spend some time relaxing in the south of France. Leslie made it her mission to research the area and suggest places for us to visit. So we are going to be at the beach for almost a week of down time. We are both really looking forward to that.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>The summer looks like it will be busy. It is possible we will be back in California in August. I will let you know as soon as we have a confirmation on that trip. Beyond that we should be back in La Baule, France performing at L’Hermitage and the Hotel Royal sometime in July and August followed by a few weeks in Croatia where I’ll be teaching at a jazz camp and Leslie will be… at the beach!</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and I are going to be in New York in September. Out of the blue we received and offer from two gentlemen who heard us at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Paris. They invited us to perform for their wedding reception on Long Island, N.Y. It is probably the longest distance we’ve ever traveled to do what’s known as a “casual” in the music business. Never-the-less we are happy to know that someone is willing to go to those lengths to have us perform for them. Particularly a place like New York that is filled with remarkable performers.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Looking ahead we have bookings into May, 2016. July 4th we will be at a jazz festival in Marseille, France and November we are going to perform in Dakar, Senegal.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>This week we made a quick trip to London to visit with my sister and her husband who were there for a vacation. It was one of those overnight trips that was filled with food, fun and a lot of music. We arrived in London by way of the Eurostar train and walked into our hotel late that morning. At that time of the morning our room was not available so we stored our luggage and left with the thought that we would return later in the afternoon to check in. Well we actually didn’t check in until 3:30 am. A quick run down of the day includes lunch at the Ritz Carlton, a nice walk around Trafalgar Square, Soho and the theatre district, a meeting at jazz club where we booked a date to perform in London in February, 2016, an unbelievable dinner at J. Sheekey restaurant near Covent Garden followed by attending the production of “Beautiful: The Carol King Musical”. The tickets for that show were a surprise gift from my sister and brother-in-law. It was a wonderful show with some very creative vocal arrangements. I hadn’t heard that music for many years and it was good to be reminded of how much quality music was produced during that time.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>After the show we made our way to the late show at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club. The late show featured some young up-coming U.K. jazz musicians and was followed by a jam session. At this point it was around 1:30 am, but we somehow found the energy to get ourselves involved in the jam and hence we didn’t arrive back at our hotel until 3:30 am! After a few hours of sleep we returned to Paris and marveled at how much we packed into the previous 24 hours. London is such a great city. It has it’s own creative energy, not unlike New York, but there is also a gracious attitude that is rare for such a bustling city. We are looking forward to going back in February. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Next month I should have some photos of Leslie’s garden on our terrace. She is just now starting to get it together after the long absence of sunny weather that is winter and spring in Paris.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and Gerard </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <</em><a href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>gerard@surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em>>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. </em><a href="/blog" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</em></strong></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</span></a></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</span></a></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137425
2015-03-07T01:00:00+01:00
2019-12-05T19:08:08+01:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Bonjour de Paris" 8 March 2015
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>Bonjour de Paris ...</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em style="color: #003366;">Chers Amis,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We have had a great past few weeks. So busy that everything seems a blur. We did a mini-tour with Jerry Kalaf (the drummer in my L.A. trio for seventeen years) and Bruno Rousselet one of our favorite bassists in Paris. We played six concerts. Two in Paris and four in the Auvergne region of France as part of the Sancy Snow Jazz Festival.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/9ac8a6259110acf98becb8dc13131b5440f92c3d/original/cercle-suedios-concert.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDg4NCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="884" width="660" /> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie talks to friends after our first concert with Jerry in Paris.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/956c2c2a62bd8957609ba177aee6252dff333a63/original/jerry-bruno-train-to-sancy.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em style="color: #003366;">Jerry and Bruno on the train to the Sancy Snow Jazz Festival, Auvergne region, France.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/2985126787ab8de8d5850ff3635bedbc152940ac/original/meat-and-cheese-sancy.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>After concert dinner of meat and potatoes, which was later covered in steaming Saint Nectaire cheese! Oh yeah we did!</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>It was great fun to work together again and we had a wonderful hang when not working. Louis Durra a pianist friend from L.A. who now resides in Berlin came to Paris for a few days so naturally we had to compare our European experiences and reminisce with our L.A. stories. Those of you who know Jerry know that he is an avid jogger as well as walker. Over the years we spent many breaks during our gigs walking around the neighborhoods where we were working. There have been, on occasion, some monumental walks. Two that come to mind happened when we were working in San Francisco and London. But the last Sunday Jerry was in Paris was way over the top to the point where Louis named the walk “The Kalaf Death March”. For those of you who know Paris, we started in Saint Germain des Prés and walked to Montmartre and up the hill to Sacré-Cœur. We walked down the hill behind Sacré-Cœur and from there we proceeded to Place de la Bastille. The few times we asked for directions we were given directions to the closest metro station. We couldn’t get anyone to understand we planned on walking rather than using transportation. Leslie and Sarah, our artist friend from Ohio, were much more sensible. They took transportation to meet us a pre-determined locations. The up side was that we really had built up an appetite for dinner (not that having an appetite has ever been a problem for me), and we had a great time talking during the walk. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/8589018e39f7e3b4e0ab20709e2a415aa8f81ae3/original/gerard-jerry-louis-montmartre-feb-2015.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDkxMyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="913" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em style="color: #003366;">Gerard, Jerry and Louis at Sacré-Cœur, on the "death march".</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>The Sancy Snow Festival is a week long series of concerts in many venues in the Auvergne region of France. The towns and villages are also popular with skiers during this time of year. We saw a number of musician friends from Paris who were working with other bands at the festival and met some folks we didn’t know. The audiences were very receptive and we got to speak with many of them after the show. It snowed the night before we left so the next day there was a gorgeous dusting of snow on the tree branches. Growing up in North Dakota cured me of wanting anything to do with snow, but this was really a beautiful scene and we got to experience it on our way out of town!</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/b2a990c2b564a37320826c93dfdabd3d1c1bac33/original/img-0263.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDY2MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="660" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Sancy Snow Jazz Festival.</em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/94dcc3471ea795b02d5d1b09f5bef35e119e7cd2/original/img-0269.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDY2MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="660" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leaving the Sancy Snow Jazz Festival!</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>That event was followed by a great opportunity to have lunch with Lynn, Frank, Judy and Wes our friends from O.C. Lynn and Judy have been very successful with a series of concerts both in California and New York. They have plans for Paris and we are very excited about that.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and I took two days off for a trip to Chartres to get ourselves out of Paris to try and relax a bit. It was a wonderful idea except that we should have made it three or maybe four days! We did manage to spend about an afternoon without mentioning work. We also realized, once again, that we need to have a better balance between work and play. This is a challenge when your work is something you love to do.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/81d6c7d22d0ca16136e95e6b67f94a04dd927be5/original/chartres-eure.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NTgweDQzNSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="435" width="580" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Chartes, France. Très belle!!</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Next week we are in Dijon for three nights but the rest of March we are home in Paris doing gigs that are, for the most part, within walking distance of our apartment.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie received a phone call from Sunside/Sunset Jazz Club. They offered her a date at the club as part of a “Hommage à Billie HOLIDAY” concert series. The really cool part of this story is that </em><strong><em>they called her</em></strong><em>. This might seem insignificant to some but… the people who book these clubs receive a daily average of 30-40 phone calls and even more emails and texts from musicians looking for work. They don’t generally call musicians to offer them dates. So this was a welcome change and one more reason for me to be proud of my wife. We will be there on April, 5th with bassist Bruno Rousselet and drummer Mourad Benhammou. Leslie and I are starting to work on the material for that concert. We are really excited about the possibilities for some great music that night. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/4078057acccb00060e98b5f00f80fd940ab02ce6/original/sunsidesunsetlogo.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NzZ4MTMyIl0%3D.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="132" width="76" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Please stay in touch we always love to hear from you.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and Gerard </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <</em><a href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>gerard@surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em>>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. </em><a href="/blog" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</em></strong></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</span></a></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137420
2015-02-01T01:00:00+01:00
2019-12-05T19:05:49+01:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Bonjour de Paris" 31 January 2015
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>Bonjour de Paris ...</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Chers Amis,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>It is hard to believe we are only one month into 2015! It seems like it was so long ago that we celebrated Christmas and the New Year. So much has happened here, really all around the world, that the normal passage of time seems to have taken on a new dimension. First let me thank all of you who reached out to check on us during the time of the “Charlie Hebdo” murders. We tried as best we could to communicate to everyone that we were okay. Leslie was in that area the day before the murders took place, but fortunately she was safe at home with me the day it happened. I had to go out that night and it was clear that people were on edge as they made their way through the city. The next night we were on a gig and by then people were ready to loosen up and have some fun. I think it was a way to show that people weren’t going to let terrorists, really just flat out murderers, change the city. Things returned to normal almost immediately. I did go on a neighborhood search for the first “Charlie Hebdo” publication when it arrived Wednesday of the following week. It took me until Friday morning to get one and then I had to go out at 4:30 am to be sure there would be some magazines to purchase. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We spent many, many hours during January preparing our dossiers to present to the Prefecture in order to have our residency renewed. It was a very demanding task that necessitated our going back over pretty much everything we’ve done since arriving and finding ways to document it. We used concert posters, concert programs, photos, pay slips, contracts, advertising, reviews, letters from producers and promoters, bank statements, and tax returns. There were still other documents that were required so you can imagine the task of putting all of them together. I am happy to say that it is finished and our attorney is now putting all of it together to be submitted. It will take another five or so months before we hear anything from them. So the trick for me is to not think about it too much since it is now out of my hands. Still I see some sleepless nights ahead! </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>So all of you who wondered what it looked like to light a bar on fire, or wondered if I was crazy when I wrote about this, here is what it looks like. The bar at Speakeasy (on fire)!</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/0b0e3b607fcd8a70ae282285888d1c1fa8a363f2/original/img-0142-jpg.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ0MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="440" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We have been on a roll work wise since last summer. Since we returned to France from our U.S. trip in early October we have been averaging more than 4 performance dates a week. When you include the practice time spent learning new material, rehearsals, writing arrangements, doing promo work and the time spent traveling to road gigs, not to mention the time we spend teaching, it has been very busy. This is exactly what we were doing in California but somehow here it is more draining physically. I think because of the traveling.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><em>Espace Dispan de Floran- our concert venue in L’Haÿ-les-Roses, France.</em></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/7e217e3a88ecf16621ae61ee9050b312ac53dcd4/original/img-0156.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDg4NCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="884" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><em>Sound check at Espace Dispan de Floran- our "Cotton Club" concert.</em><br></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/c6d19a5c06c32ea8ce701c52f0d24bb0a2bf8df7/original/img-0148.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie before the "Cotton Club" concert Espace Dispan de Floran, L’Haÿ-les-Roses, France.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/e505a6ca255a0e14846538537dcefbd24538c49f/original/img-0182-crop.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDk0NCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="944" width="660" /></em></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We have up-coming concerts in Dijon, Saint Germain en Laye, Saint-Quentin, Le Mont-Dore, and this July we go to Marseille. On top of that we were approached about going to Africa this spring and I was asked to teach at a summer jazz program in Croatia in August. I am hoping Leslie will be able to join me and we can maybe work a vacation into the trip. So as you can imagine we are feeling very fortunate to have all of these opportunities come our way.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie had a funny thing happen on New Year’s Eve. She was working at Hotel Georges V with an eleven piece band that featured her and a male lead singer. The band leader decided to write an arrangement for the countdown to midnight. The way it went was the band would shout “10”, and the band would play a flourish followed by “9” and another flourish and so on and so on. You can see the problem here. The instrumental flourishes were about 30 seconds each so by the time they played the arrangement and got to “zero” it was already 12:05 am! On another happy note she was also able to work with jazz great Rhoda Scott at Jazz Club Etoile in Paris. Rhoda has had a wonderful career as a jazz organist here in Europe. It was great fun to hear them together.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><em> New Year's Eve at Hotel Georgia V.</em></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/08da1c1b01edfec44c7c32491c57d3081319b39f/original/img-1677.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie with Rhoda Scott at Jazz Club Etoile, Paris.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/0ce9a81549bc1390984558aec570e8a187f9eb33/original/leslie-r-s-1.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We are looking forward to having Jerry Kalaf join us in France for a week later in February. We have some other friends who will be in town at the end of the month so we are happily waiting for two nice hangs here in Paris.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and Gerard </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <</em><a href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>gerard@surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em>>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. </em><a href="/blog" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</em></strong></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137417
2014-12-19T01:00:00+01:00
2014-12-19T10:24:34+01:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Joyeux Noël de Paris". 18 Décembre 2014
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ad092a"><strong><em>Joyeux Noël de Paris ...</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#3b5340"><em>Chers Amis,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#3b5340"><em>We hope you are all doing very well and carving out some time to enjoy the holiday season. We have happily received some Christmas/Holiday/year-end catch up letters from some of you and we thank you for sending them. We always enjoy learning what is going on in your lives. It is always good to stay as connected as possible. Often when we see friends here in Paris, it’s as if no time has passed at all and things pick up right where we left them. Leslie and I hope you know how grateful we are for your interest in our adventures here in Europe. These updates have served as a sort of touchstone for us to track our progress and assess our state of mind as we build new lives here. The fact that we can share them with you, and most importantly receive your responses, is a real blessing for us. Our wish for you is to have a very Merry Christmas, a joyful Hannukah and a Happy New Year filled with laughter, friendship and much love.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#3b5340"><em>Although we worked on Thanksgiving day, we did have a traditional Thanksgiving meal with friends on the following Sunday. It was the first Thanksgiving meal we’ve had in three years. We were a group of expats with a few Parisians who wanted the experience.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#3b5340"><em>Leslie decorated our little home here in Paris for Christmas. Still no tree, but it at least feels like Christmas. We have tried to do more things to celebrate Christmas this year including going to a duo-piano classical music concert and getting out to different parts of the city to see the decorations. Paris is a beautiful city during the Christmas season.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#3b5340"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/673eec05da73dd71518527d9d23b7f6170945b17/original/img-0130.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#3b5340"><em> Leslie's Christmas decorations.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#3b5340"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/c76635c30938b66a5ea78a58d95345c457e70695/original/img-0133.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#3b5340"> <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/930976823593ebad5956492b99e5168158c0340a/original/img-0135.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#3b5340"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/24f35b2ea93cecaeae9fe7ad4ac3fb691164ed9f/original/img-1626.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#3b5340"><em>The Champs-Elysées, Christmas Dec. 2014. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#3b5340"><em>Since last summer Leslie has been working at “The Lido” in Paris. It is sort of a Las Vegas version of the Moulin Rouge. Leslie sang dance music with a seven piece band for a pre-show dinner set. The Lido has closed in order to remodel the set and to revamped the show. It will reopen in the late spring. We were invited to attend the closing night party. We knew the party had started when the bartenders (about eight of them) shook bottles of very expensive champagne and blasted the crowd with a champagne shower. This was repeated at least three times in the first half hour. I had two thoughts. 1.) “Please don’t let me get soaked” and 2.) “What a waste of very good champagne”. Although it was kind of fun to watch the showers when they happened, I wasn’t surprised when they ran out of champagne very early into the party. A very unfortunate side effect of the bartender’s zeal. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#3b5340"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/282ec1effbf197d87d058386d9b958b10bcbc042/original/img-1621.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#3b5340"><em> The Lido closing night party.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#3b5340"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/cf495b4e3a437038a281e21677ecb588373614ca/original/img-1615.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#3b5340"><em>Leslie and fellow vocalists at The Lido closing night party.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#3b5340"><em>In November we did a concert at “Le Piano Solo”. I have written about this venue before. It is a piano repair shop that hosts monthly concerts. The piano was situated so that I could see the audience much more clearly than usual. I was shocked to see the looks on many of their faces. Many had the look of “I could be here or I could be having a root canal”. I was sure that we would only have half the house left when we returned from our break. But everyone stayed and kept the anguished looks on their faces as we started the second set. I formed a new-found admiration for what it must be like for Leslie as she tries to make eye contact with her audiences. Now here is the kicker, at the end of the set we received standing ovations and we were brought back for three encores. The longer we are here, the less I know about my work.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#3b5340"><em>Our schedules have continued to be very busy. Since October we are doing on average twenty performances a month. We usually travel outside of Paris once if not twice a month. Last week Leslie was in Lausanne, Switzerland and two weeks before that we were in Bordeaux. Tonight we begin a string of nine jobs in the next ten days including gigs on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Leslie is working two nights (Dec. 26-27) at the Jazz Club Etoile with Rhoda Scott. Rhoda is an incredible jazz organist. She plays bass pedals with her feet which very few of the new generation organists do. She has had a very successful career here in Europe so this is a great opportunity for Leslie. I am working at Le Caveau de la Huchette with Jeff Hoffman’s band on Dec. 25 -26 so I will catch her second night at the Jazz Club Etoile. “The Caveau” is the longest running active jazz club in Paris dating back the the end of the second world war.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#3b5340"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/4c3b18c65f473ece8f8d108545fc61cdd6a35375/original/img-1644.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#3b5340"><em> The dancers at Leslie's Lausanne, Switzerland concert.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#3b5340"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/7a06a421420d6b8aa4ce744cb58ab66d60bf0269/original/img-1634.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#3b5340"><em><em>Setting up for our concert in Arpajon, France. </em></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#3b5340"><em>We have joined an association called “Arts Embassy International”. This is a little bit like incorporating yourself in the U.S. It will allow us to produce concerts and masterclasses and is the vehicle we use to pay the taxes and social charges due on the income we earn. It is another step toward getting our residency renewed this summer. Nothing is easy here. It has taken us over two years just to learn the basics of the system. Arts Embassy International was founded by Keri Chryst, another expat who has sustained a career as a jazz singer/teacher here in France for over a decade. We are in the process of preparing the dossier to present to the local Prefecture in order to get residency for a few more years. We have to document everything we have done in our professional lives since we arrived in France including income. Doesn’t that sound like fun! I prepared a mini dossier for our December meeting with our immigration attorney and upon her review, it seems our situation is not as dire as we previously believed. Still there is no guarantee that we will be able to stay after next summer. So we try to live as fully as possible just in case our days here are numbered.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#3b5340"><em>We have a mini-tour booked in February with opening and closing concerts in Paris and in-between we travel to do the Sancy Snow Jazz Festival in Le Mont-Dore. </em><a href="http://www.sancy-snowjazz.com/fr,1,1700.html%20" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#3b5340"><em>http://www.sancy-snowjazz.com/fr,1,1700.html</em></span></a><em><a href="http://www.sancy-snowjazz.com/fr,1,1700.html%20" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#3b5340"> </span></a> The exciting news here is that our very good friend Jerry Kalaf, longtime drummer with my L.A. trio, is going to do the tour with us. We are doing six concerts in four days but there should be a day or two of downtime in Paris so we can hang. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#3b5340"><em>For those of you who live in France, this week we are at Chez Papa in Paris on Thursday 8:30pm, Friday and Saturday at 9:00 pm. <a href="https://plus.google.com/+ChezPapaJazzClub/about" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#3b5340">https://plus.google.com/+ChezPapaJazzClub/about</span></a> On Sunday and Monday we are at Le Speakeasy also in Paris at 8:00 pm. </em><a href="http://www.lespeakeasy.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#3b5340"><em>http://www.lespeakeasy.com</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#3b5340"><em>Please check </em><a href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com%20" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#3b5340"><em>www.surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em> for details.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#3b5340"><em>Merry Christmas,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#3b5340"><em>Leslie and Gerard </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#3b5340"> <em>Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <</em><a href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#3b5340"><em>gerard@surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em>>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. </em><a href="/blog" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"><span style="color:#3b5340"><strong><em>http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</em></strong></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#3b5340"><a href="%20http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#3b5340"><em> </em><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#3b5340"><a href="%20http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#3b5340"></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#3b5340"><a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#3b5340"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#3b5340"><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#3b5340"><em>https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#3b5340"><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#3b5340"><em>https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#3b5340"> </span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137413
2014-11-06T01:00:00+01:00
2020-01-21T05:24:59+01:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Bonjour de Paris" 6 Novembre 2014
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>Bonjour de Paris ...</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;">Chers Amis,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Since returning to Paris from our trip to New York and Seattle we have done twenty performances in twenty-six days. This is why I didn’t write in October. Our trip to the U.S. was a nice opportunity for us to be able to spend time with friends and family but the trip also included six flights and cross country visits from New York to Seattle and so it wasn’t very relaxing. We always seem to work the night before we have a flight and this time was no different. We had a concert in Paris the night before we left for the U.S. and therefore didn’t sleep until the plane was in flight. Part of the reason for the trip was to attend the wedding of some of Leslie’s childhood friends. Once we arrived we went directly from the airport to a rehearsal dinner at a restaurant in New Jersey called Patsy’s. I happen to love the whole Jersey culture so this was a blast for me. As an added bonus the last home game for Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter was on TV so we got to see that complete with the banter of the locals.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/e169b29002c8abcf5d90285c6b133ac11b07549a/original/file.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="495" width="660" /></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>Leslie and her friend Diana at Patsy's in New Jersey.</em> </strong><br></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>This family (Leslie’s friends) has been working on Broadway (acting/singing, sound design, composing, etc.) for many years. Consequently they had a Broadway themed wedding complete with a playbill (with advertising, bios for the bride/groom, officiant, family members). The ceremony featured dialog from “Romeo and Juliet” as well as “The Merchant of Venice”, some great music, and a family painting.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> After the ceremony there was an unbelievable cocktail hour with hors-d’oeuvres, (roast beef, lamb, charcuterie, lobster, shrimp, sushi) and of course an open bar. That was followed by a performance of broadway singers including Andrea McArdle who originated the role of “Annie” on Broadway, Terri Klausner who starred in A Chorus Line, Sophisticated Ladies, Evita, and Mark McVey who starred in Les Miserables in both N.Y. and London. Seth Rudestsky who has been a music directer for Pattie Lupone and Betty Buckley to name just a few, accompanied them as well acting as master of ceremonies for the show. Although we are without Broadway credits, Leslie and I performed as well. Hearing (and being a part of) the performance was a blast, but I really enjoyed hearing the crazy stories o</em><em style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;">f Broadway mishaps and the way the they handled them.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/75cf659cea11520ba15be3f3bfeacb188b93d19c/original/leslie-diana-andrea-teri.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ0MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="440" width="660" /></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>Leslie with Diana, Andrea and Teri.</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>After the performance a four course dinner was served and an unbelievably great dance band “The Bronx Wanderers” </em><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEPu3LK3DlM" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEPu3LK3DlM</em></span></a><em> played. Leslie and I did something we’ve never done… dance all night. When it came time to cut the cake we were all escorted to the dessert room, I’m not kidding. Upon entering there were small boxes available so that guests could bring treats home. Once again it was amazing, cakes, pies, tiramisu, ice cream, gelato, chocolate covered strawberries, even cotton candy. Someone asked “where the pony rides were”.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/06a54b9843879c9dc609c4c9008956201ffff7e9/original/anne-hys-flowers.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjQweDk2MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="960" width="640" /></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>Dinner table before the first of four courses.</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/9a19689ccd1f6309a19747e93d5398de939ab002/original/anne-hy-dance.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ0MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="440" width="660" /></em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>The happy couple, Anne and Hy.</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>As always New York was great! We had a nice N.Y.C. hang with Allan Molnar my good friend and former college roommate. While in New Jersey we had a chance to spend some time with Leslie's brother and aunt. I got to see some of the neighborhood where Leslie grew up and go to some of the places she hung out as a child. On the other coast, we visited my family in Seattle. Since Seattle is now our U.S. address, we were able to tie up some loose ends there and ship some of our things that we have missed having in our lives to France.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/a38310f08a0f7cb418493f5af88ba33743b27053/original/img-pike.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>No visit to Seattle is complete without seafood from the market.</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/ad985814a431902aae3314307ad887a487e76bdc/original/img-1593.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>My brother, me, my sister, nephew and </em><em>sister-in-law.</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Now for something completely different, we received some pretty startling news a few months ago that we will learn more about in December. We are in the beginning stage of applying to renew our residence (work) permits. The news from our attorney is that while it was very difficult for us to qualify for the three year permits we originally received, it is even more difficult to get them renewed!!! This is exactly the opposite of what I expected. So we once again are in a state of limbo until we get some sense of where we stand. We are trying to figure out a “Plan B” in case we have to leave the country next fall. As you can imagine we are more than a little nervous about having spent the past two years working very, very hard to get established here and just as things are really falling into place we may have to start all over somewhere else! This is why my meditation skills need to be developed to a much deeper level. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>I don’t want to end on a sour note so I will share a conversation Leslie had on one of her recent gigs. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em style="color: #003366; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;">Leslie: "Is my French accent okay? "</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Clement: "No!"</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie: "How can I make it better."</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Clement: "You don't sound angry enough.”</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>For those of you who live in France, this week we are at Monte Verdi in Paris on Friday and Saturday at 8:00 pm. </em><a href="http://www.lemonteverdi.com/en/welcome" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.lemonteverdi.com/en/welcome</em></span></a><em> On Thursday Leslie works with Clément Blumen and Richard Razafindrakoto at Bistrot de Paris at 8:00 pm. http://www.lebistrotdepariscolombes.com Please check </em><a href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>www.surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em> for details.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We hope all is well for you and your families and please keep in touch. It is really good to hear from you.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and Gerard </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <</em><a href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>gerard@surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em>>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. </em><a href="/blog" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</em></strong></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em><a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137412
2014-09-09T02:00:00+02:00
2020-10-15T18:27:08+02:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Bonjour de Paris" 9 September 2014
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>Bonjour de Paris ...</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em style="color: #003366; font-size: medium;">Chers Amis, </em></span></p>
<p><em> </em><em style="color: #003366; font-size: medium;">As my students at Saddleback College would have said,“the trip to</em><span style="color:#ffffff"><em style="color: #003366; font-size: medium;"> Morocco was epic”. The night before we left I was working with Jules Day, a singer we knew from L.A. who is also now in Paris. Leslie dropped by with some friends for the last set and losing track of time, we talked until around 2:00 am. When we got back to the apartment we had two hours to get packed and showered to be ready for the taxi that was picking us up at 4:00 am to leave for the airport. Of course our 6:30 am flight was delayed for over an hour, but beyond that the flight was mercifully uneventful. As we landed, Leslie and I both remarked that the landscape reminded us of Palm Springs, however the architecture is, of course, completely different. As expected what we were able to see of Marrakech was the area along the drive from the airport to the performance venue. That area of the city was best explained as blighted with a few spots where attention was paid to plants and gardens. This is the first time I’ve seen camels, donkeys and a goat on the drive into town from an airport. It is also the first time I’ve seen cars sharing the road with guys pulling carts. Or as Jerry Kalaf would say, “the 405 in a few years”.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Camels on the road to the venue.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/fbb38e6ed09bf48b50e61869b12f530c42569a40/original/file.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Sharing the road with handcarts.</em> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/fbb38e6ed09bf48b50e61869b12f530c42569a40/original/file.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> The performance venue was called Ksar Char-Bagh and described as a Moorish palace. All I can say is I am glad to have photos because I couldn’t describe this place using words. Upon entering the grounds we were greeted by a falcon sitting in a tree. Preparations for the evening’s performance included red carpets on the sidewalks, uplighting of trees and large lanterns that would be lit by candles.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.relaischateaux.com/en/search-book/hotel-restaurant/charbagh/#.VA0X3UuE6yM"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.relaischateaux.com/en/search-book/hotel-restaurant/charbagh/#.VA0X3UuE6yM</em></span></a><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Entrance to the venue.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/ef47645b49f2099e06d43c74ef101cc7d9c59b08/original/file.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDg4NCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="884" width="660" /> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>The performance venue.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/ef47645b49f2099e06d43c74ef101cc7d9c59b08/original/file.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> The suite where Leslie and I stayed had a living room w/ fireplace, office area, bedroom, marble bathtub and a walk in shower with room for around ten people. There was an upstairs area that we didn’t take the time to visit. The main floor area alone was larger than our apt. in Paris.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>The living room in our suite.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/75395449f55d3fdeb914254cd870f3c8279149e2/original/1.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em>The performance took place in the garden next to a pool. To my delight the piano they supplied was a Yamaha grand. It was very, very hot and the rehearsal took a long time because we needed to integrate some locals into the show who had never done it before. We were happy to have a little time to nap before dinner and the show.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Courtyard of the venue. We performed in the garden/pool area in the back.</em></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/2cde3c4f81c2fcb09030627de892d4fb617bda31/original/img1537.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDg4NCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="884" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>The pool area.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/2d545f21a271a4819bcac1c66675fea8d2b84ed9/original/img1531.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>The Stage.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/70db8304cccf0115b7b6f92a73806f005582e3cf/original/img1533.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>During the sound check.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/a640d2c40e8d9f1ba5423819b02922ccceec4c64/original/2.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Pre-show audience viewed from the piano.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/dcb4fcc1431e5bf76897815dedab945b1f43a824/original/img1554.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em>The guests dressed in the style of "The Great Gatsby".</em> <em>The performance went well until the very end. The plan was to end the show with a segue from the band playing “The Charleston” to a DJ playing recorded dance music. Earlier in the day I had noticed a large canon like object backstage. Unfortunately I learned during the performance that it was a device that used a very large and noisy fan to blow gold strips of confetti into the air toward the audience. I didn’t see them rolling it directly behind the piano during the last song. When they lit the thing up it was like being in a small room with 50 vacuum cleaners being started simultaneously. Not only could I not hear any of the musicians, but soon the piano was covered in confetti so I could not find the piano keys! At that time the band was repeating a short section of “The Charleston” waiting for the DJ to start, and I completely lost where we were in the song. As I turned around to tune in the stage crew that had caused this meltdown they realized what happened, turned off the fan and quickly left. Beyond that, the show had gone well. We slept for a very few hours and got up at 6:30 am for the flight back to Paris. Back in Paris that night we played at Monte Verdi, a new place for us which is located in Saint Germain des Prés. Saturday we played on a boat on the river Seine and Sunday Leslie did the Lido and than ran down to play with me at Chez Papa. Looking forward to finally sleeping a bit on Monday.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>The confetti canon that disrupted my night!!!</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/9234be908ac618d53b0ae772ac09f39b723349e5/original/img1534.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Courtyard at night with candles.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/ce675b714fe86995df034bce988c63274c92800a/original/img1559.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and I at the entrance at night.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/cc88c45717c6632fbe182417d052b4957f51ed8f/original/img1561.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDg4NCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="884" width="660" /></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> At the moment we have many friends visiting or about to visit Paris. There has been a pretty steady stream of friends for most of the summer. We have really enjoyed the time we’ve been able to spend with you. In July we were able to reconnect with Sam Harris. Leslie’s longtime friend from when they were in Nashville at the early stages of their careers. They hadn’t seen each other in many years. Sam has had a great career which took him from shows in L.A. to Broadway in N.Y. and recently he became an author with a book available on Amazon. </em><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.amazon.com/Ham-Slices-Life-Essays-Stories-ebook/dp/B00BSBVFLS/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410215770&sr=1-1&keywords=sam+harris+ham"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.amazon.com/Ham-Slices-Life-Essays-Stories-ebook/dp/B00BSBVFLS/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410215770&sr=1-1&keywords=sam+harris+ham</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> Speaking of longtime friends, Jerry Kalaf and Joey Sellers have both released new recordings of their original compositions. Jerry has had many of his compositions placed in TV and films so you most likely have heard them without knowing it. I have recorded a number of his tunes on my trio CD’s. His latest is called “Welcome to Earth”. It features a some of my favorite L.A. musicians. Jerry has paid attention to all the details so the compositions are very well done and the sound quality is pristine. His iTunes page is </em><a data-imported="1" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/jerry-kalaf/id86437837"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/jerry-kalaf/id86437837</em></span></a><em> Joey is an award winning composer who has written symphonies, chamber works, jazz compositions, big band charts, you name it. He leads a eleven piece group that is made up of first call L.A. players. His CD was recorded live during a concert at Saddleback College. It has all of the energy that is generated when musicians are performing improvised music in the moment. Joey’s compositions are like mini suites with some very creative things going on. This being Joey, you have to be prepared for some humor as evidenced by the title composition “Something About Butter”. His iTunes page is </em><a data-imported="1" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/joey-sellers-jazz-aggregation/id164049169"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/joey-sellers-jazz-aggregation/id164049169</em></span></a><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>You can also go to CDBaby. By the way, Leslie and I are there as well.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/JerryKalaf</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/JoeySellersJazzAggregation"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/JoeySellersJazzAggregation</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <a data-imported="1" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <a data-imported="1" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719</em></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em>https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Sorry about the shameless plugs. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> In the previous newsletter I forgot to include these photos of the beautiful B&B where we stayed in Bruges. Here are a couple of photos. We hope to </em><em>return sometime in the future.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/a0e289cce73b4fb68dfcd419dc528fda76504a61/original/img1475.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDg4NCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="884" width="660" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>View of the canal from our room.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/d73c5b933c3d7f866ecc3a6ac0dfa61323b38977/original/img1444.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjYweDQ5MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="493" width="660" /></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> For those of you who live in France, this week we are at Monte Verdi in Paris on Thursday and Saturday at 8:00 pm. </em><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.lemonteverdi.com/en/welcome"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.lemonteverdi.com/en/welcome</em></span></a><em> On Friday Leslie works with Ziggy Mandacé's Band at the Hotel Du Louvre at 9:00 pm. http://parishoteldulouvre.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html Please check </em><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>www.surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em> for details.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We hope all is well for you and your families and please keep in touch. It is really good to hear from you.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and Gerard </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <</em><a data-imported="1" href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>gerard@surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em>>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. </em><a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/blog"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</em></strong></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137411
2014-08-21T02:00:00+02:00
2019-12-05T18:59:41+01:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Bonjour de Paris" 21 August 2014
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>Bonjour de Paris ...</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Chers Amis, </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> We are back in Paris after a week in Belgium. As it turned out, we are glad that we were able to spend some time in that country. Brussels is so close to Paris but the two cities are very different. There is a relaxed, informal feeling one finds in the people in Brussels that reminds me of the people I grew up with in the mid-west. The city has its’ own identity and we found it to be both urban and international but also very manageable and laid back. Because this was all new territory for us we found ourselves going and going so we would not miss something that we would regret. Consequently we returned to Paris in need of some rest and relaxation! We spent most of our time in the museums, city parks and walking along the canals. There was a daily search for the perfect lunch followed by the search for the perfect dinner. We were like Lewis and Clark searching the new territories except we were searching for meals and we didn’t have to camp, and we weren’t worried about what we might encounter over the next hill! Other than that we were completely like Lewis and Clark.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> This being Europe one can expect to see many churches and hear many church bells. O<em>ne night as we walked back to our hotel we learned t</em>here must be at least one Belgian monk with a sense of humor because we heard “Summertime” played on church bells complete with the chromatic walk down which leads from one harmony to the next. The following day we took in a very inspiring Picasso exposition which also included works by some of his contemporaries. I found a drawing of Picasso with Stravinsky by Jean Cocteau to be very fascinating. Leslie was completely taken by the beautiful gardens which could be found pretty much at every turn. We were surprised by how chilly it was during the week we were there. We weren’t surprised that it rained for a time everyday, usually late afternoon. This became a daily routine that could be counted on. The last day we were there we got caught in an afternoon rain storm and even though we had umbrellas, we got soaked. It’s not fun sitting outdoors on a platform waiting for a train in clothes that are wet! Beyond that, we really enjoyed ourselves in Belgium.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/7c766cecf8d3fde61064c70e0e1fe8fafed41f71/original/img-1347.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjkweDUxNSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="515" width="690" /></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Grand Place, Brussels</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/b7c89e21221076b98f63f4241f648ebc6eb48fe4/original/img-1391.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjkweDUxNSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="515" width="690" /></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Canal in Bruges</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/f1555fda7fdfacf395fb84832be4c03b99af53ba/original/img-1433.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjkweDUxNSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="515" width="690" /></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Lake in Bruges</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> We hit the ground running this week. Leslie had two dates at the Lido and we are doing two nights at Chez Papa. Two new students started lessons this week and I finished work on the opening scene for a new show which traces African-American female singers from early blues singers to current R&B singers. If I have already mentioned this please forgive me but I wrote dialogue (between four musicians and a bartender) for the opening scene for this show. Originally my involvement was to be the music director. Somehow I got talked into writing dialogue. I had to do quite a bit a research on the singers and things like the Harlem Renaissance and the Chitlin Circuit. I have been working on this for the past two months. Finally I finished it this week. It was an interesting experience and in case you are wondering, I have no idea how to go about writing dialogue, a play, a book or anything else for that matter. I am pretty sure that I suck at this but somehow the director is okay with what I’ve done.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> September will bring more traveling as we hit the road for Morocco and then later to New York and Seattle. More on that as the time draws closer.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> For those of you who live in France, this week we are at Chez Papa in Paris on Friday and Saturday at 9:00 pm. </em><a href="http://www.papajazzclub.fr" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.papajazzclub.fr</em></span></a><em> Please check </em><a href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>www.surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em> for details.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Many of you have asked about photos of the apartment so I added some below. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/17dc82cf9c31ca595742e143025ffe880e3a69f7/original/img-1290-lighter.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjkweDUxNSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="515" width="690" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Looking from the apt. </em><em>entrance to the courtyard.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/63fd2ba67a06633ab394b7f3f0dc4a56ef80242b/original/img-1286.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjkweDUxNSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="515" width="690" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Looking from loft down to the living room. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/2e9ab2d4d098957695148aa6ab5471263c769d32/original/img-1299.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjkweDUxNSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="515" width="690" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie's courtyard, view from the living room.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/2ce45dc29a036daec8a64c2195730d9d390f526c/original/img-1300.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjkweDUxNSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="515" width="690" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><em>Another view of </em>Leslie's </em><em>courtyard.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> We hope all is well for you and your families and please keep in touch. It is really good to hear from you.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and Gerard </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <</em><a href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>gerard@surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em>>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. </em><a href="/blog" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</em></strong></span></a></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137410
2014-07-30T02:00:00+02:00
2019-12-05T19:01:17+01:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Bonjour de Paris" 30 July 2014
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>Bonjour de Paris ...</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Chers Amis, </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> July has been very, very busy. We have been working outside of Paris for the past 5 weekends and have one more road trip this week. </em><em style="color: #003366; font-size: medium;">Mostly we have been going to La Baule and working at L’Hermitage and also the Hotel Royal. </em><a href="http://www.lucienbarriere.com/fr/hotel-luxe/La-Baule-Hermitage-Barriere/presentation-hotel.html%20" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em style="font-size: medium;">http://www.lucienbarriere.com/fr/hotel-luxe/La-Baule-Hermitage-Barriere/presentation-hotel.html</em></span></a><em style="color: #003366; font-size: medium;"> Midweek we've been working in Paris and even though it is summer we have picked up some new students as well. Leslie continues to work at The Lido on the Champs-Èlysées. It is a modern version of the Moulin Rouge. She sings a pre-show dinner set with a big band. It is a good, high profile, job for her and since it’s an early set she can be home by 9:30 pm. Last week we worked for the first time at Monte Verdi, a restaurant very near our apartment. <a href="http://www.lemonteverdi.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://www.lemonteverdi.com</span></a> It is warm here at night so the restaurants typically have all the doors and windows open. During the course of the evening many of the people who walked by heard the music and came in to check it out. By around 10:00 pm we had a full house. It is a great place to work and we are very happy to have booked more dates there in September. It doesn’t hurt that we can be there in less than a 3 minute walk from home. After Aug. 9th things here slow way down for us. Many of the jazz clubs and restaurants close till September and so for us nothing much gets accomplished in France in August. Since we have a few weeks of downtime, we decided to see Belgium, an area of Europe that is new to us. We are going for 6 days and will be in Brussels, Bruges and Ghent. Brussels is only a little more than an hour train ride from Paris so it is a pretty easy trip. Even though every month we routinely hit the road for work, we don’t typically have much time for sightseeing so I am hoping that we will feel like tourists when we visit Belgium. First I need to get a flowered shirt, khaki shorts, white tennis shoes and a fanny pack with a camera in it.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em style="color: #003366; font-size: medium;"> Speaking of road trips, in the first week of Sept. the "Cotton Club" show we work with is doing a show in Marrakech. Once again we fly in to do the show and have to be back in Paris to work the next night so no time to see anything. But it will be interesting to just “be” in Morocco. If any of you have been there maybe you can suggest one thing we can quickly check out just in case we have a free hour or two. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em style="color: #003366; font-size: medium;"> For those of you who live in France, this week we are at Chez Papa in Paris on Wednesday and Thursday at 8:30 pm. </em><a style="font-size: medium;" href="http://www.papajazzclub.fr" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.papajazzclub.fr</em></span></a><em style="color: #003366; font-size: medium;"> Friday Leslie works with Clément Blumen’s trio at Place Dampierre in Bagneux, France. Saturday Leslie and I are at L'Hôtel Hermitage in La Baule so please check </em><a style="font-size: medium;" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>www.surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em style="color: #003366; font-size: medium;"> for details.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em style="color: #003366; font-size: medium;">We were really happy to see Joe and Sherry D’antony while they visited Paris on their way home to O.C. after vacationing in Italy. We enjoyed a great lunch and they were able to join us for a night of music at Chez Papa which we really appreciated. We also got to hang with Lisa Webb, a fine pianist/song writer Leslie worked with some twenty years ago. Lisa had lost touch with Leslie and heard one of our recordings on SiriusXM radio which prompted her to get in touch. I am always amazed by how the world works. More friends are in town this week including a great singer Leslie worked with many years ago when she lived in Nashville. Please let us know if you are planning to be here, it is always good to see you. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em style="color: #003366; font-size: medium;">We hope all is well for you and your families and please keep in touch. It is really good to hear from you.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em style="color: #003366; font-size: medium;">Until next time,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and Gerard </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em style="color: #003366; font-size: medium;">Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <</em><a style="font-size: medium;" href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>gerard@surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em style="color: #003366; font-size: medium;">>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. </em><a style="font-size: medium;" href="/blog" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</em></strong></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137409
2014-06-30T02:00:00+02:00
2019-12-05T18:57:48+01:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Bonjour de Paris" 30 June 2014
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><strong>Bonjour de Paris ...</strong></em></span><br><br></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Chers Amis, </em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> June in Paris. So far it has been a pretty mild summer here. Some rain mixed with some really beautiful, sunny days. I still can’t get used to the daylight lasting until around 10:00 pm here. It feels funny to go play a jazz gig in broad daylight! Leslie has really done wonders with our courtyard terrace. She chose some great patio furniture as well as plants, bushes and flowers to make it a really beautiful space. She brought it all together with pillows and seat cushions. I now know more about color and pattern combinations than I ever thought I would. We have been enjoying eating our dinners out there and have shared a bottle or two of wine with friends as well. </em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> The apartment has come a long way. Our storage issues have been solved so there are no boxes sitting in our living room. There are still some things to finish in the kitchen but the space is functioning as we had hoped. It is nice to come home to a place that feels like “our” home. </em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> Work has been going well this month. Leslie did a jazz festival in Corbeil-Essonnes which is about 90 minutes from Paris. She has also been working regularly at The Lido located on the Champs-Élysées. We have been working monthly dates as a duo at the Speakeasy and Chez Papa. </em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> June 21st was the Fête de la Musique. <a href="http://www.fetedelamusique.culture.fr/en/" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://www.fetedelamusique.culture.fr/en/</span></a></em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Basically every club, restaurant, concert hall, and church in Paris has live music. Also pretty much every block of Paris has a band playing outdoors. You can imagine the cacophony. Many of the streets are blocked to traffic and the public transit is less predictable than usual. On top of this, the streets are filled with people who have been partying a bit too much and will block traffic as they walk down the middle of the street. The result is that many taxi drivers don’t work because it’s just to annoying to deal with those conditions. (Last year Leslie and I didn’t get home till 4:00 am on the night of Fête de la Musique.) This year we had two jobs, both of which required that we use our equipment (keyboard and P.A. system). We had about one hour to get from one job to the next. The afternoon performance was at Cercle Suedois which is not too far from the Louvre. There we had to play in two rooms and move back and forth between the two. The moves included drums, bass, keyboard and P.A., several times. After that we went to do an outdoor performance in the 12th arrondissement. Being outdoors meant that we were on a walkway which was near a fish market. Every so often the wind would shift and whew, the smell was almost overwhelming. Despite the less than ideal situation ,the band was swinging and Leslie’s performance inspired the crowd to fill the street and start dancing. It wasn’t long before we had a real party atmosphere going and all the weirdness was forgotten, at least until the next time the wind shifted. All in all that day we had four equipment moves and did seven sets of music in three locations. We also had three moves by taxi. Fortunately we were able to get taxis by phoning to make reservations. If we had tried to hail a cab on the street we would have been out of luck. I think we got home around 2:00 am this year. </em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/8f235aff5c4f641663c31a46819b436f1ad365f5/original/leslie-gerard-cs-desk-small.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjAweDkwMiJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="902" width="600" /></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We are at the desk where Alfred Nobel signed the testament which began the Nobel Prize Awards.</em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em style="color: #003366; font-size: medium;"> A few weeks ago part of our performance at Chez Papa Jazz Club was filmed for a French TV show. It aired on Friday night on France Channel 3. It was a show featuring the Saint Germain Des Prés area of Paris where Chez Papa is located.This happens to be our neighborhood as well. This area was the center of jazz in Paris and there were at one time, many jazz clubs located there. Filming our performance was a recognition of the history jazz has had in this area of Paris. Leslie was interviewed as well as the club owner and some patrons. The band got some airtime as well. We don’t have a TV, including a digital recorder, in our apartment so there was no opportunity to record the program. I streamed it live on my Mac but Leslie was working that night so she missed it. There may be a way to get a copy from the station.</em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> For those of you who live in Paris, this week we are at the Speakeasy on Wednesday at 8:30 pm. <a href="http://www.lespeakeasy.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://www.lespeakeasy.com</span></a> July is very busy with performances booked weeknights in Paris and weekends in La Baule so please check www.surfcovejazz.com for details.</em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> We were really happy to see Judy Donohue while she visited Paris. We met Judy at one of our concerts in Santa Fe. She and some of her friends were able to join us at Chez Papa which we really appreciated. We are looking forward to seeing more friends who are vacationing in Paris in the up coming weeks. Please let us know if you are planning to be here. It is always good to see you. </em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> We hope all is well for you and your families and please keep in touch. It is really good to hear from you.</em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time,</em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and Gerard </em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <<a href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">gerard@surfcovejazz.com</span></a>>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. <a href="/blog" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</span></a></em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span><br><br></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137408
2014-05-28T02:00:00+02:00
2019-12-05T18:56:58+01:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Bonjour de Paris" 28 May 2014
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>Bonjour de Paris ...</em></strong></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Chers Amis, </em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> It has begun to feel a bit like Spring here in Paris. Leslie is gardening again on our terrace. The outdoor space is starting to come together. We are looking forward to enjoying some time out there this summer. I even saw a Weber grill for sale in Paris. It was an electric grill, but this being the middle of Paris we will take what we can get. </em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> Paris has begun to feel like it is filling up with visitors. The streets in our neighborhood are becoming more congested and the cafes even more busy than usual. Our neighborhood is really a wonderful place to live. We are continuously finding new restaurants in the area. So much so that we had to put the breaks on our dinners out or risk blowing a huge hole in our food budget. To that end, we had a picnic lunch last Friday afternoon in the Jardin du Luxembourg which is only a few minutes walk from our home. No matter how many times we visit a park in Paris, any park, it never gets old. It’s even a great thing to do in the winter. The same with strolling along the river Seine. This has become a favorite way to end the evenings when we aren’t working. We recently met some friends at the river and enjoyed a few hours watching the boats float by with the lights reflecting on the water while enjoying a few glasses of wine. While we were sitting next to the water, two swans walked out of the river and sat down about 10 feet from us. You can’t make this stuff up. At least I can’t!</em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> The Musée d’Orsay is showing a Vincent Van Gogh exhibition. It was really awe inspiring and I found it difficult to walk away from the paintings. There is something about taking in great art that I find very calming. Leslie and I have been hunting the galleries in Paris for artwork for the walls of our apartment. It has been a blast to search through all of these small galleries and in some cases getting to know the artists. We have found a few paintings that we really liked and happily added to the walls of our home.</em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> We are still working on getting some work done in the apartment. I am hoping for it to start in another week or so. My goal is to have the apartment the way we want it by mid June. We now have a saxophonist living in our building. With three singers (including Leslie) on our floor it sometimes feels like I am in a episode of “FAME” when I return home.</em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> Our work has been going well. 2014 started with a bang and continued like crazy until the end of March when things slowed down a bit. We were actually grateful to have a few weeks of downtime. Fortunately things are getting busy again and we are, of course, very grateful for that as well. Leslie is now working regularly at The Lido on the Champs-Élysées. We are still working monthly at Chez Papa Jazz Club and the Speakeasy. Those monthly dates, plus some concert dates and a number of hotel dates are helping to keep us busy through the middle of August. </em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> Leslie performed at a piano repair shop in a suburb of Paris last Saturday. We played the same room last December and, when another singer couldn’t make the gig, they asked her to fill in. She sang with Alain Jean-Marie a well known French pianist and Grant Stewart, a very swinging New York City based sax player on tour in France. Bernard, the owner of the shop, has set up a small stage with drums, a great piano and sound system. The stage is defined by colored lights strung above the musicians. He covers the pianos with table cloths and has set up a bar, food and desserts. But the best thing is how friendly everyone is and what a nice vibe is created in the room. It is a setting that really allows the musicians to excel and Leslie really brought the house down.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/60fbf02acac55020343c81e237e7ed15f6295018/original/img-1246piano-solo-leslie.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjUweDQ4NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="485" width="650" /> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> We will be in New York and Seattle in late September. We had planned to be in California, but the time we could be away from Paris was shortened due to our work schedule. Unfortunately there is no time for a California visit this trip.</em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> We hope all is well for you and your families and please keep in touch. It is really good to hear from you.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time,</em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and Gerard </em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em> 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/</em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span><br><br></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137407
2014-04-04T02:00:00+02:00
2019-12-05T18:56:05+01:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Bonjour de Paris". 4 April 2014
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>Bonjour de Paris ...</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Chers Amis, </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> Time has been flying by and although many things have been happening that I wanted to tell you about, I have not been in a good place for writing until now. First I have to announce that Leslie received her carte vitale last Monday! I need to repeat that. </em><strong><em>Leslie received her carte vitale last Monday.</em></strong><em> She now is eligible to do some work that was previously not available to her. We started this process in November, 2012. We made approximately fifteen trips to the social security office. Last November I lost my temper at the office and we subsequently decided to do all communications via mail. I think it was three or four letters later when we finally received word that she had been accepted and would receive her card. We received that news in December and finally received the card with her social security number this week. We celebrated with a nice meal at a bistro across the street from our apartment. We happened to be seated next to a very nice couple from Georgia. He was the president of a college near Atlanta and was also president of a music society in Florida that stages operas. She was, of course, a singer. During the course of our dinner she looked at Leslie and asked if she was a singer. Leslie and I had not been talking about music so I don’t know what caused her to think Leslie was a singer. By the way this is not the first time that this has happened. I guess Leslie must give off singer vibes only able to be detected by other singers. These kinds of things happen often here. I have come to call these moments “a Parisienne thing”.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> We are still living in boxes in our apartment. It is making Leslie crazy. We need to have some storage built into the living room and also some work done in the kitchen before we can empty the contents of the boxes. The normal time frame for something like this to be accomplished in most places has no relationship to the amount of time that will be needed to accomplish this task here. You can forget the old “expect the job to be twice as long and twice as expensive” rule. We would welcome that prospect.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em>The apartment is on the first floor, but since this is an old building, one must walk up another half flight of stairs beyond the first flight and then down a half flight of stairs and down a hallway to get to our place. At the end of the hallway there are a few more steps to go down to reach our door. There is one apartment located along the hallway and another that has it’s door right next to ours. This description is important because it is yet another example of “a Parisienne thing”. So you can imagine it is not exactly easy to give directions to our apartment to our friends or students. Also, there are two doors that have digital codes you need to know in order to get to the apartment. Here is the “Parisienne thing”… all three apartments on our floor are occupied by jazz singers! It is enough to give a piano player nightmares!</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em>We have had some very nice gigs over the past few months. The trip to Laon, France for the </em><em>Jazz’titudes Festival</em><em> with the “Cotton Club” show was very fun and we are looking forward to doing more concerts with them in the fall. I got to play a 9’ Steinway grand piano and they had a very good crew doing sound. Ron Meza was on the band so we had a few laughs with him on the road to Laon and back to Paris.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie took this photo after the sound check for the Jazz’titudes Festival in Laon </em><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/75247f2e5a325d1a8951070e37f8ea5580008428/original/gerard-jazztitudes-at-piano.jpeg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjUweDQ4NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="485" width="650" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>This is the Jazz’titudes Festival stage from the house seats. They were comfortable seats and I was trying to take a quick nap before sound check.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/2af359bbc654f8babb6cd6a62e9aaf1fca71d3e2/original/jazztitudes-stage.jpeg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjUweDQ4NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="485" width="650" /> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em> Leslie and I did a duo concert in the home of a wonderful woman here in Paris. She has a beautiful apartment that she designed to be able to host home concerts. The living space was like a New York loft complete with a very nice Yamaha 7’ grand piano. The room held around 70 people and it was sold out. After the concert we stayed for a reception and a very nice lady offered to give us French language lessons. We later found out she was Charles de Gaulle’s niece. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em>We are still doing Chez Papa three nights each month and also the after hours show at Speakeasy a couple nights a month. The Speakeasy gig is never predictable so it is difficult to know how to prepare. Recently a band from Boston dropped by and sat in with us. That night we ended up playing till after 3:00 am. One night we started the night playing songs from the 70’s while people danced and the club owner pounded a drum beat on the lid of the piano. We followed that set with some late night jazz. It is never dull that is for sure.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em>I am very pleased to announce that this July and the beginning of August Leslie and I are going to play weekends at L’Hermitage Barriére Hôtel and Le Royal-Thalasso Barriere Hôtel in La Baule, France. La Baule is on the Atlantic coast of France, so we will be spending our weekends away from Paris enjoying the beach during the day while playing jazz at night! Oh yeah</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>This is a shot from our hotel room at Le Royal-Thalasso Barriere Hôtel in La Baule taken last December when we last worked there.</em><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/f1220dd2068e8fc16d24440b69520d34c07eeccd/original/sea-from-la-baule-hotel.jpeg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjUweDQ4NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="485" width="650" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em>Marcy Vaj our violinist friend from L.A. is in town visiting. She took this beautiful photo in the neighborhood where she is staying in Paris. Many of you have plans to be in Paris in the upcoming months. We are very excited to see you here so please everyone, let us know if you have plans to visit. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/f98537f393c394d63ff9a5005133ea93bba43460/original/photo-22.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjUweDg2NyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="867" width="650" /> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We hope all is well for you and your families and please keep in touch. It is really good to hear from you.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and Gerard </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <</em><a href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>gerard@surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em>>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. </em><a href="/blog" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</em></strong></span></a></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137406
2014-03-06T01:00:00+01:00
2018-07-09T02:32:34+02:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Bonjour de Paris". 6 March 2014
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>Bonjour de Paris ...</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Chers Amis, </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>It has been a while since the last post. There has been literally no time to write. The reason for this is we have moved to a new apartment in the Saint Germain Des Prés area of Paris. We managed to get closer to the center of Paris and get an apt. that functions much better for us with better defined living spaces. This is one of the older parts of Paris and the buildings often have shall we say “quirks”. These are the things I like to think give a home character, but in reality they are minor annoyances that are part of living life in an older areas of many European cities. Our bathroom has very low ceilings, even for us. Our living room has 20 foot ceilings with very large windows and doors that lead to a courtyard. I am really looking forward to using this outdoor space in spring and summer. Leslie is thrilled to be able to garden. Our little street, and I mean little, (there is only one lane), is mostly filled with foot traffic but there are occasional cars as well. The main thing about the street is that there are 10-12 bars and restaurants on our one little block. The street is well known among the twenty something crowd. It is also well remembered by the thirty-forty something crowd who when they learn where we live typically will chuckle with a “I remember when” story from their past. The weekend evenings are quite busy with the energy of youth in the air. Fortunately our apt. is located on the inside courtyard of our building which keeps us safely away from the partiers and the resulting ruckus.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>I am more than thrilled to announce that today Leslie received by mail the document that she will return with a photo to create her carte Vitale and thus she will have a permanent social security number. She should receive the actual carte Vitale in the mail in about two weeks. So almost a year to the day since since I received my carte Vitale she will get hers and that will bring more opportunities to work! We started this process in November, 2012! Keep in mind this is just a social security number not a green card. We have had our work documents since the fall of 2012.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Tonight we played a concert on a boat in the river Seine. It was a typical Parisienne thing. Which means it was just a little too weird to fit into what would be the normal experience you would expect if you were invited to attend a concert on someone’s boat. For starters the gangplank was about 8 inches wide and had no railings. The stairs to lower deck were so steep that even I (5’7”) hit my head. Once we made it into the performance space we were pleased to see a Yamaha piano (tuned that day), and a Yamaha P.A. system. I have no idea how they got that piano on board. The concert was a blast even though Leslie is still suffering from a cold that has moved to her lungs and won’t let go.<br> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>There are many cool things coming up this month. We are doing more performances of the “Cotton Club” show. Our next performance with that show is at the Jazz’ittudes Festival in Laon, France. Ron Meza, who many of you know from our gigs at Kobe Steakhouse is on the band for that date. Tomorrow night Leslie is working at Le Rageuneau and next weekend Leslie and I are doing a duo concert at a Sunday salon for a Parisienne music association. That along with our regular Chez Papa club dates gibes us a lot to look forward to.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and I were approached to be a part of a new show that will trace the progression of black female singers from early blues and gospel to jazz to current R&B. I have started doing some preliminary research on the music so I can write arrangements that will be historically accurate as well as creatively interesting. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We are looking forward to seeing some of you here in Paris in the upcoming months. I have learned to never be surprised by who may show up in Paris and lately we have been meeting people who have mutual friends with us. Please let us know if you have plans to visit Paris. We always enjoy a good hang with our friends.</em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We hope all is well for you and your families</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and Gerard </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <</em><a href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>gerard@surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em>>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. </em><a href="/blog" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</em></strong></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137405
2014-01-27T01:00:00+01:00
2018-07-09T02:31:57+02:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Bonne Année de Paris". 27 Janvier 2014
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>Bonne Année de Paris ...</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em>Chers Amis, </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Hello from Paris! We hope you are well and looking forward to many exciting things in 2014. When I look back at where we were last January I can see that we have made great progress in 2013. This year is looking like it will be a very good year for us. It’s in my nature to get nervous when too many good things start to happen, but nevertheless I’m going to go with the flow and try to enjoy whatever comes our way. In reality I believe that many of the things we did last year to develop professional relationships here in France are starting to bear fruit. So here goes, I’ll list a few of the new developments we are happy about. In November of 2012 we began the process of submitting documents to get our French social security numbers. I received mine in the spring of 2013. Leslie </em><strong><em>still</em></strong><em> has not received hers! I have lost track but I believe we have made around twenty trips to the social security office. Around last November I decided I couldn’t take it any longer and would do everything with them by mail. Around that time Ron Meza, our friend and fellow musician, called to say he was at the social security office and he was being helped by a woman in the office who was very good at her job! So we rushed over and Ron, Leslie and I gave her all the information she requested and asked her to handle the process of getting Leslie a number. She seemed to be very competent and she said she would help with the situation. Over the next few months we kept on receiving more and more requests for documents that we had already given them, in some cases three or four times! I would always respond by mail and tried to do breathing exercises to keep my blood pressure down. Finally, last week Ron called to say he received a phone call from the woman in that social security office saying that Leslie has finally qualified for her number! On top of that, we have worked enough in France that we will receive a refund of health insurance premiums that we payed last summer! We still have not received the number but we have been told it is coming! I’m expecting that once Leslie has her number they will send her an invoice for the premiums they are refunding to me! I wasn’t kidding when I said I get nervous when too many good things happen.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Last fall Leslie found a website that listed apartments for rent in Paris. After some research we realized that we could lower our rent and possibly get a larger apartment. So Leslie began an apartment search that began in September and ended last week when we signed a lease on a new apartment. I am very grateful to her for the many, many hours she spent researching apartments, making phone calls, and visiting neighborhoods to look for our new apartment. I am very excited to say that our new apartment is in Saint Germain des Prés, which is a great area of Paris, and we were able to lower our rent and get a little more space. We will be able to walk to a few of the jazz clubs where we work and we are very close to some favorite restaurants as well as the river Seine.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Work wise we are being offered more and more concerts as well as some additional work in some hotels outside of Paris. Last week we did a concert at Cercle Suedois (Swedish Circle). It is an association for Swedes in Paris. They have a beautiful building that has a very interesting history. The room where we ate dinner has the desk where Alfred Nobel sat when he signed the testament that created the Nobel Foundation which, as we all know, awards yearly prizes in economics, etc. The concert was held in a room with a beautiful 9‘ grand piano. We will get to perform there again in June. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/c1766c3007592095d6a4ab0f7ea2d58d09402d07/original/gerard-swedish-embassy.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NTUweDczMyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="733" width="550" /></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>This is from a previous performance where we "sat in" with some friends at Cercle Suedois.<br></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Last week was Interior Design Week in Paris. On Saturday as we walked to work we heard a brass band playing down the street. We went down to check it out and saw where the street had been decorated with very large lamp shades that were hanging above the band. It was a very festive atmosphere!</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/1c50cf236db6cd6c2e29554b4ebadbbdb5e0b1cd/original/img-1134.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NTUweDQxMSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="411" width="550" /></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>You can see the lamp shades and the tuba player from the band in this photo.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/894dbd8ede0f84b6f8545a5f82a6c051f22a6a73/original/img-1139.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NTUweDQxMSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="411" width="550" /></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Here is another photo from the other side of the street. Leslie is standing in the street!</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We hope all is well for you and you are excited for 2014 and everything it may bring. Please let us know if you have plans to visit Paris. We always enjoy a good hang with our friends.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Here’s to a wonderful New Year,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and Gerard </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <</em><a href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>gerard@surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em>>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. </em><strong><em><a href="/blog" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</span></a></em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong> </strong></span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137404
2014-01-04T01:00:00+01:00
2021-08-02T12:29:21+02:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Bonne Année de Paris" 4 Janvier 2014
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>Bonne Année de Paris ...</em></strong></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Chers Amis, </em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> Best wishes to all of you for a New Year filled with love, laughter, good health and many opportunities to enjoy live music!</em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> We had a very nice Christmas this year and hope you did as well. </em><em>It has been a pretty mild winter and there has been no snow in Paris, at least so far! By this time last year we had had two snow storms. The snow doesn’t last for more than a few days but it does make for some interesting commutes to and from work.</em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> Commuting to work is at the heart of this next story. On Sunday, December 29th we traveled by TGV (train) to work two nights at l’Hôtel Royal in La Baule, France. Both nights were great and we were lucky to spend some time with friends we’ve made who live in the area. The hotel put us in an ocean view room and we ate very well each night in the dinning room. We left early on December 31st for a quick return to Paris for a New Year’s Eve performance. Once we arrived at our apartment we had only two hours to get our equipment and clothes together and get a taxi to take us to the hotel Georges V for work that night. The performance was in a beautiful salon. The tables were set with Baccarat stemware, beautiful flowers, linen, etc. The music wasn’t bad either! The ambassador from Brazil was there so we did some bossa novas and Leslie sang in Portuguese. </em></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/fc773946f5d2ba41ee381c1cd8335089ac702a23/original/img-0059.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjUweDQ4NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="485" width="650" /> </em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>The view from our hotel room in La Baule. Trés jolie! </em></strong></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>The salon in Georges V where we worked on New Year's Eve. </em></strong></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>The courtyard view from the salon. It was pouring rain at the time.</em></strong></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/a55588b801a3c333737ac917b37d18cc5a42c9df/original/img-1117.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjQzeDQ4MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="480" width="643" /></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>Another courtyard view. </em></strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>There were a few bands playing in different locations in the hotel including a eleven piece salsa band. They were provided band uniforms from the hotel. They were dressed completely in white. Shoes, socks, slacks, shirt, bow tie, vest and a tuxedo jacket complete with tails! I can’t remember ever playing at a hotel in L.A. that had wardrobe for the bands that play there, but apparently this is normal for Paris. Fortunately I could wear my own black suit and Leslie her own gown. At the end of the night when it was time to go home there were no taxis available. By the time we realized that we weren’t going to get a taxi the metro was closing and the buses were sporadic. We had to leave our equipment with hotel security and walk home from the hotel. We got home around 2:00 am and Leslie was in misery because she didn’t have proper shoes for that long of a walk. The next day we returned to the hotel to get the equipment. We were really looking forward to having Thursday off to recuperate, but we ended with a last minute booking at Chez Papa and so 2014 has started off with a bang.</em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> Tonight Leslie talked me into going ice skating! Despite growing up in North Dakota and having older siblings that skated, I have never really skated before. I preferred the indoor warmth to North Dakota winter temperatures. As for tonight, I am happy to say there were no broken bones or trips to the ER. I am just now starting to get some feeling back in my ankles. The experience has given me a new found respect for hockey players who must have pretty amazing cardiovascular systems. </em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> This year is looking pretty good in terms of concerts and club work. We have dates booked into October of 2014. If a few things fall into place we may do a little U.S. tour in the fall.</em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> We hope all is well for you and you are excited for 2014 and everything it may bring. Please let us know if you have plans to visit Paris. We always enjoy a good hang with our friends.</em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Here’s to a wonderful New Year,</em></span><br><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and Gerard </em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <<a data-imported="1" href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com"><span style="color:#ffffff">gerard@surfcovejazz.com</span></a>>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. <a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/blog"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</span></a></em></span><br><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span><br><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span><br> </p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137403
2013-12-24T01:00:00+01:00
2013-12-24T07:20:55+01:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Joyeux Noël de Paris". 24 Décembre 2013
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<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#be1840"><strong><em>Joyeux Noël de Paris ...</em></strong></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#be1840"><em>Chers Amis, </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#15651d"><em> </em><em>Leslie and I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and send our best wishes for a New Year filled with all of the things that make you happy and fulfilled. We are very grateful and honored that you have remained interested in reading about our adventures and have taken the time to remain in contact with us to tell us about your adventures as well. It is such a pleasure for us to read your responses to these posts. We always look forward to getting updates on your lives. It is even better when you come to visit and we can spend some time enjoying Paris together. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#be1840"> <em>(On a side note, I must apologize for my previous post from Japan. Once I reread it and realized how poorly it was written I was more than a little embarrassed. I promise no more 3:00 AM beer drinking posts while on tour.)</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#15651d"> <em>As many of you know, Paris is really an incredibly beautiful city during this time of year. I did a performance on a boat cruising on the Seine and the Christmas lights reflecting on the water were spectacular. One of our favorite things to do this time of year is to walk around the city and look at the Christmas decorations. This year we have managed to make an improvised Christmas tree in our tiny Paris apartment with some branches, ornaments and lights. With each passing year things become a little more normal. Last year the holidays came and went without too much fanfare for us. This year we are celebrating Christmas with some friends here in Paris and then we leave to work for a few days at l’Hôtel Royal in La Baule, France followed by a quick return for a New Year’s Eve performance in Paris.</em></span></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/3b60293a229b9daffad31efb39f97d09098ed086/original/img-0047.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NDg1eDY1MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="650" width="485" /></em></p>
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<p> <span style="color:#be1840">Our improvised Christmas Tree!</span></p>
<p><span style="color:#15651d"><em>As Leslie and I looked back on this past year, I realized that basically everything I assumed would happen as we built our music careers in Paris has turned out to be almost the exact opposite of what actually has happened. I thought that as we became better known here we would eventually be busy performing, rehearsing, practicing, arranging and teaching. Thank God that has happened, but not in the way I anticipated. I assumed we would have formed a band and be working with the same guys on a regular basis. As it is, we work with new musicians pretty much on every job. I thought we’d be working steadily in Paris and we would have a fairly balanced work load between performing and teaching. But we find ourselves doing quite a bit of traveling for work and our teaching schedule is much lighter than our performing schedule. Other than teaching me another of life’s lessons, none of the above really matters. We are very, very grateful to have the opportunities we’ve been given and look forward to learning what new adventures 2014 will bring.</em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#b30e1c">Photo of Paris last winter by Sara Monacelli, our Italian friend and wonderful cook!</span></p>
<p><em style="color: #0b6422; font-size: medium;">This time of year brings universal themes of love of family and friends, hope for peace, wishes of goodwill, and the joy of giving of ourselves, that are the most important part of the way Christmas is celebrated worldwide. This brings us back to where this post started. Leslie and I have much to be thankful for, we are very blessed. A large part of our good fortune is due to the many family and friends who have filled our lives with laughter, joy and love. We hope for all of you the most heartfelt wishes for a blessed Christmas and a New Year that brings health, happiness and much love. </em></p>
<p><span style="color:#b30e1c">Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,</span></p>
<p><span style="color:#b30e1c"><em>Joyeux Noël et une Bonne Année,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#b30e1c"><em>Feliz Navidad y un Feliz Año Nuevo,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#b30e1c"><em>Buon Natale e un Felice Anno Nuovo,</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#b30e1c"> <em>Leslie and Gerard , </em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#15651d"><em>Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <</em><a href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#15651d"><em>gerard@surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em>>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. </em><a href="/blog" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"><span style="color:#15651d"><strong><em>http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</em></strong></span></a></span></p>
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Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137402
2013-12-07T01:00:00+01:00
2018-07-09T02:28:52+02:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Notes de Jazz de Paris". 7 Décembre 2013
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<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em> Le Jazz Cette Semaine ...</em></strong></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Chers Amis, </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <</em><a href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>gerard@surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em>>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. </em><a href="/blog" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</em></strong></span></a></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We are about halfway through our tour in Japan and we’re still standing. It has been quite an experience. Generally after work we come back the hotel exhausted and Leslie drifts off to sleep to the sounds of BBC (the only station we can understand) on TV. As for me I’m still wired (as usual). Tomorrow we don’t have to be up and out early so this is why I decided to enjoy a Japanese beer and take a moment to write at 1:43 AM. Since we’ve been here I have sampled a number of different types of sake but after a while it is difficult to remember which one I like best so I stick with beer until I have more time to work this problem out. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/b35cede5b1458dc761fca3bcd0ffb2c53b476cc2/original/tokyo-from-hotel.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjUweDQ4NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="485" width="650" /></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong> View of Tokyo from our hotel room.</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>The gigs have been a blast. We have worked in both small rooms that seat 30-40 people and larger rooms that seat 90-100. Most every gig has been sold out. We have been fortunate to work with some great local musicians. They speak very little English so we communicate by singing the way we want things played. That’s the way it should be anyway regardless of language barriers. Things got off to a slow start in the first rehearsal because they were so intent on reading the charts perfectly. I took the music off the drummer’s stand so he would realize that it was better to rely on his instinct. From then on things loosened up and by the second second set that night they were both playing great and the four of us sounded like a band.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/5e3f728e1859780eee9b7a10f4ebecccac4207d6/original/tokyo-trio-satin-doll.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjUweDQ4NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="485" width="650" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong> Me, Akira and Masayuki at Satin Doll in Tokyo.</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>I had no idea how many CD’s to expect to sell so I brought what I thought was appropriate based on past experience. We sold them all in the first three gigs! Fortunately our Japanese promoter still has copies of our first CD which he released in Japan a few years ago, but I don’t have any of the other CD's to sell here. </em><em>I somehow always manage to find new ways to lose money!</em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie has been singing great! I think the fact that all of her work since leaving California has been singing jazz has really allowed her to take things up to another level. She has been very well received here and we get treated very well. Once we get back to Paris and get a chance to catch our breathe we have some ideas for some new projects. I am excited for this up coming year. I am going off on a tangent here but it does relate to the previous sentence. We have begun to learn how things work in France in order to get booked into jazz festivals. We have been trying for the past year and have made little, if any, progress. We did get booked for a festival this summer in Chamonix. This is how it worked. (I am obviously not sure how to correctly punctuate this sentence.) A friend’s veterinarian’s, wife’s, cousin knew the person who booked this festival! And that is how we were able to get the booking. Now back to Japan. </em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>This is an amazingly quiet city. It is quieter on the street here than it is in our apartment in Paris. This afternoon I heard someone honk their car horn and it startled me. It is also very clean and orderly. I was surprised to see direction lanes on the floors in the subways. And I was more surprised that people actually followed them. In Paris people just run into to each other. The people here are very gracious and they actually do their jobs! </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/fa0f674c51e333894ca7ef451fe54b634d635f29/original/tokyo-park.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjUweDQ4NSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="485" width="650" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><strong>Park in Ueno, Tokyo.</strong> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We have added quite a few dates in or near Paris between December 13th and the 31st. So if you live in Paris or are going to be visiting please check</em><em> </em><a href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>http://www.surfcovejazz.com </em></strong></span></a><em> </em><em>for more information.</em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Please take a moment to add our Facebook page to your “Likes” </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leslie-Lewis-Gerard-Hagen-Trio/151399944884337" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leslie-Lewis-Gerard-Hagen-Trio/151399944884337</em></span></a><em> </em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>As always you can find more info about us at </em><a href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em> http://www.surfcovejazz.com </em></strong></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>This email is on the BLOG page on our website </em><a href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>www.surfcovejazz.com</em></strong></span></a><em> with a share icon at the bottom of the page if you are so inclined. As always if you want to be spared from anymore emails please reply with an unsubscribe request. <</em><a href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>gerard@surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em>> I promise there will be no hard feelings. </em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time ... </em></span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137401
2013-11-24T01:00:00+01:00
2018-07-09T02:26:52+02:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Notes de Jazz de Paris". 25 Novembre 2013
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<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em> Le Jazz Cette Semaine ...</em></strong></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Chers Amis, </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <</em><a href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>gerard@surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em>>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. </em><a href="/blog" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</em></strong></span></a></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Many new and exciting/interesting things happening here. I have re worked our website. </em><a href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>www.surfcovejazz.com</em></strong></span></a><em> Some new features include an MP3 player located at the top of the page that has everything we have released in a continuous loop. If you want you can have our recordings playing in random order in the background as you are working on things at your computer. We are always adding photos from our gigs, road trips and visits from friends in the photo galleries. Please check it out and give us your feedback on how we are doing and how we can improve things.</em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> We had a great night at Chez Papa last Friday. It was all the better because my sister and brother-in-law were in town and able to attend the performance. If that wasn’t enough Carl and Lauren Schmid, friends from O.C., who were in London and were scheduled to fly home made a special trip to Paris for one night just to see us! Leslie and I are still humbled by their wonderful act of kindness. That night at Chez Papa a number of our friends and regular listeners were curious to meet my family so there was a steady stream of people visiting their table to say hello. I’m not sure my sister was expecting that much attention. What can I say, we have made some great friends here in France. It was very cool to have a few days to share the Paris that Leslie and I know with my sister and brother-in-law. </em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We have been putting in quite a few hours in preparation for our Japan tour which is rapidly approaching. We have thought through all possible contingencies (I hope) and we are in good shape. Packing for a two week tour which includes bringing CD’s and sheet music as well as performance clothes, etc. and still avoid checking bags is a challenge. Any road rats out there with packing suggestions would be welcome. We have been spoiled by traveling by train and for shorter lengths of time where these things aren’t issues. </em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>This bowling thing has gotten a bit out of control! Once word of our bowling nights got out to other musicians many have expressed an interest in joining in the fun. Having spent much of my life around musicians I assume the attraction is the idea of drinking and trying to hit something without fear of being arrested. We have now gone three times! We have a (very) loosely organized team called “The Gutter Balls”. One of our members who is an artist is beginning work on team bowling shirts. It is great fun and a good release from my daily routine of living in my own head with music and whatever else happens to be roaming around in there.</em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We picked up an after hours job (midnight to ?) for next week. I think the last time I did and after hours job I was in my 20’s. Leslie can’t remember ever doing one! It is nice to live in a town where there actually is a desire for live music during after hours, especially on a Wednesday! Next Friday and Saturday we are back at Chez Papa, this time with bassist Pierre Boussaguet. He works with Michel Legrand and many jazz greats so it is always fun to have him on the gig. It will be a good warm up for Japan. </em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> December is very busy. Aside from the tour, we are working the day after we return from Japan as well as the day after that. I have a performance on a boat that will be cruising on the Seine and that same night Leslie is doing a club date with another band. The next day we have another club date. We do another weekend at Chez Papa and after Christmas we travel to La Baule on the 29th-30th to do a hotel job and return on the 31st and work New Year’s Eve at the hotel Georges V in Paris. On New Year’s Eve there are close to thirty musicians booked to perform in different rooms in the hotel that night. They are renting white tuxedos for the guys in the bands! In France they know better that to trust a musician to dress well for a formal job. </em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>For those of you who live in France, Leslie and I are working after hours (Midnight to ?) at </em><strong><em>Speakeasy </em></strong><em>on Wednesday, November 27. </em><a href="http://www.lespeakeasy.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>http://www.lespeakeasy.com</em></strong></span></a><em> On Friday and Saturday, November 29-30 we are working at </em><strong><em>Chez Papa Jazz Club</em></strong><em> with bassist Pierre Boussaguet. </em><a href="http://www.papajazzclub.fr%20" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><span style="color:#003366"><strong><em>http://www.papajazzclub.fr</em></strong></span><em> </em></span></a></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Please take a moment to add our Facebook page to your “Likes” </em><strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leslie-Lewis-Gerard-Hagen-Trio/151399944884337" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leslie-Lewis-Gerard-Hagen-Trio/151399944884337</em></span></a><em> </em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>As always you can find more info about us at </em><a href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em> http://www.surfcovejazz.com </em></strong></span></a></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>This email is on the BLOG page on our website </em><a href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>www.surfcovejazz.com</em></strong></span></a><em> with a share icon at the bottom of the page if you are so inclined. As always if you want to be spared from anymore emails please reply with an unsubscribe request. <</em><a href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>gerard@surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em>> I promise there will be no hard feelings. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie and I wish all of you a great Thanksgiving holiday with family, friends, food and … football!!!</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time ... </em></span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137400
2013-11-05T01:00:00+01:00
2018-07-09T02:27:33+02:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Notes de Jazz de Paris". 5 Novembre 2013
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<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em> Le Jazz Cette Semaine ...</em></strong></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Chers Amis, </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em><em style="color: #808000; font-size: medium;">Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <</em><a style="font-size: medium;" href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>gerard@surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em style="color: #808000; font-size: medium;">>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. </em><a style="font-size: medium;" href="/blog" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</em></strong></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em style="color: #808000; font-size: medium;">We are into the fall season, the cooler temperatures, changing colors, rainy weather, etc. All very different from California. Leslie has adapted better than I. I suffer residual trauma from my childhood winters in North Dakota! I lived many happy winters in California never once looking at the snow capped mountains with any desire to visit. I do enjoy the fall, it’s just that winter follows! </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/cbf35763aae73bfc9dd6d20ffa07121cb7e32063/original/img-3349.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NTAweDc1MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="750" width="500" /></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Here is a photo in Montmartre taken by our friend Gabriela Rosa Da Silva.</em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>This weekend Leslie and I had a rare Saturday and Sunday without any gigs so we did our best to enjoy some time together not thinking or doing anything related to work. That was after we both got in a few hours of practice on Saturday afternoon. That night we got out for a dinner and a movie. It was very enjoyable even though we both at various times fell asleep during the trailers, they seem to go forever these days! Sunday afternoon</em><em>I had a rehearsal and then we visited Bastille, the first neighborhood we lived in when we moved to Paris in July of 2012. We experienced a flood of memories and realized how much has changed and how, back then, we knew very little about what challenges we were about face. The phrase “What were we thinking?” repeatedly came up! We moved here before we were sure we would be issued proper work visas. How stupid was that? This adventure was, and still is, based on pure blind faith. One of many things we realized with the aid of hindsight was that we were so focused on work and getting connections in France that we really forgot about birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, all of the things that we all typically celebrate. We missed all of the joy, laughter and love celebrating these holidays can bring to our lives. This year we are determined to try to get some balance between work and play back in our lives. To that end, Leslie planned a night of bowling and pizza for my birthday last month. I say this with the utmost respect due to our Parisienne friends, if you ever have the chance to bowl in Paris, you should! It is a hoot! The technique used in France has very little in common with what I was familiar with from my very hazy memory of bowling when I was in college. Here it is not so much bowling as it’s “rolling”. Of course beer is a must, particularly since it helps to keep one unaware of all the soft tissue muscle damage one is inflicting upon oneself during the course of the game. Leslie’s birthday is later in November and of course Thanksgiving and Christmas are on the way so we look forward to making up for last year’s meager holiday celebrations.</em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/afe8d6d225cf18ba37dd6e1a091fa41cd2fa607f/original/0974.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NzAweDUyMyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="523" width="700" /> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Our infamous night of bowling in Paris.We are blessed with a great group of friends.<br></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>October was a great month work wise. November is looking good as is December with our Japan tour and quite a few dates that are booked in France around Christmas. We are very excited to announce we have booked some festival dates for the spring and summer. We will be traveling to Chamonix in the French Alps as well as back to La Baule which is turning into a second home for us. Festival dates are not easy to get so we are thrilled to have a foot in the door.</em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>I have family visiting Paris in a few weeks. Leslie and I are very excited for that opportunity to share a bit of our lives here in Paris with loved ones. Russell and Joe, our friends from Long Beach recently were in Paris and came to hear us at the River Cafe. Russell, Joe, Leslie and I had an adventure getting to our respective home/hotel since the metro line we needed was not running, but these are the things that make life in France, ... well let’s just say a sense of humor helps. The good news is that there are more Californians on the way this month as well. It is always great to see you so please look us up the next time you are here.</em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/83ee30f78472978e92043261c08aafb41164fb0a/original/img-1020.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjAweDQ0OCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="448" width="600" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Russell, Joe and me trying to get home on the metro.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em style="color: #808000; font-size: medium;">This week Leslie is performing for a 1930’s themed party on Tuesday, those events usually provide some great stories. For those of you who live in France, I am working with Jules Day (a vocalist we knew in L.A.) at </em><strong><em>Chez Papa Jazz Club </em></strong><a href="http://www.papajazzclub.fr" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>http://www.papajazzclub.fr</em></strong></span></a><em style="color: #808000; font-size: medium;"> in Paris on Thursday, November 7th. Leslie and I are at </em><strong><em>Chez Papa Jazz Club </em></strong><em style="color: #808000; font-size: medium;">with bassist Peter Giron on Friday, November 15th. On Friday and Saturday, November 29-30 we are working at </em><strong><em>Chez Papa</em></strong><em style="color: #808000; font-size: medium;"> with bassist Pierre Boussaguet.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em style="color: #808000; font-size: medium;">Please take a moment to add our Facebook page to your “Likes” </em><a style="font-size: medium;" href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leslie-Lewis-Gerard-Hagen-Trio/151399944884337%20" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><span style="color:#808000"><em>https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leslie-Lewis-Gerard-Hagen-Trio/151399944884337</em></span></span></a><em style="color: #808000; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leslie-Lewis-Gerard-Hagen-Trio/151399944884337%20" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></a> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em><em style="color: #808000; font-size: medium;">As always you can find more info about us at </em><a style="font-size: medium;" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em> <span style="color:#808000">http://www.surfcovejazz.com </span></em></strong></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><a href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em><span style="color:#808000"></span></em></strong></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em><em style="color: #808000; font-size: medium;">This email is on the BLOG page on our website </em><a href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>www.surfcovejazz.com</em></strong></span></a><em style="color: #808000; font-size: medium;"> with a share icon at the bottom of the page if you are so inclined. As always if you want to be spared from anymore emails please reply with an unsubscribe request. <</em><a style="font-size: medium;" href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>gerard@surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em style="color: #808000; font-size: medium;">> I promise there will be no hard feelings. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time ... </em></span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137399
2013-10-09T02:00:00+02:00
2021-08-02T12:23:44+02:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Notes de Jazz de Paris". 9 Octobre 2013
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<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em> Le Jazz Cette Semaine ...</em></strong></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Chers Amis, </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <</em><a data-imported="1" href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>gerard@surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. </em><a data-imported="1" data-link-type="page" href="/blog" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</em></strong></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Autumn in Paris has become my favorite time. Everyone writes songs about spring time in Paris. But for me I like the fall. Even though winter follows and I generally dislike winter, still there is something very beautiful about Paris during this time of year. Leslie and I were fortunate to have Gabriela, our photographer friend, invite us to Montmartre to shoot some photos last week. I’ve included a few of them on our Facebook band page. </em><em style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><a data-imported="1" href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a683134965044163.1073741828.151399944884337&type=3"><span style="color:#ffffff">https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a683134965044163.1073741828.151399944884337&type=3</span></a></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/0680e2efa5855f133298f1fd54bb63b0229debe1/original/leslies-favorite-banner.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjAweDIxMyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="213" width="600" /></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Here is a shot of us in Montmartre. Gabriela Rosa Da Silva-Photographer</em></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> This past Saturday in Paris was the Nuit Blanche (white night) Festival. </em><em><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.paris.fr/accueil/accueil-paris-fr/nuit-blanche-2013-decouvrez-le-programme/rub_1_actu_135314_port_24329"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://www.paris.fr/accueil/accueil-paris-fr/nuit-blanche-2013-decouvrez-le-programme/rub_1_actu_135314_port_24329</span></a> </em><em style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">All over town the museums, auditoriums, galleries, churches open their doors from 7:00 pm to 7:00 am to host concerts, art installations, art shows, films, street art, etc. Some of the jazz clubs had music going till 4:00 am. I should mention it is all free. We made it until about 3:00 am. It was very cool to be out and about on a night that has so much energy and opportunity. The streets were packed and the cafes were jammed. We took the night bus back home. The night bus is, shall we say, colorful anytime you ride it, but on this particular night colorful is not a strong enough word. It was more like being in a zoo. A very cramped zoo!</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">The month of September just flew by! It is a bit scary how easy it is to loose track of days. Leslie was running like crazy for much of September. Aside from the work we did together and our teaching, she did three nights at </em><strong style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><em>Le Caveau de la Huchette</em></strong><em style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> with an organ trio. Philippe Petit, one of our favorite musicians in Paris was playing organ. I was able to catch a few sets one night and I can attest that the band sounded great. </em><strong style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><em>Le Caveau de la Huchette</em></strong><em style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> has been operating as a jazz club since the second war ended. It is a very interesting place to work. There is a gothic feel in the basement room which is, as the French say, “the cave”! I have been there in the afternoon for a rehearsal and found there is kind of a creepy feeling in the room. Only later did I learn it has be documented that in earlier centuries the building was a meeting place for the Templars and later a Masonic Lodge. At that time it was used for trials and executions. So there are rooms that were courtrooms, prisons and execution chambers! Thence the creepy feeling that one sometimes feels in the space. A few decades of people enjoying music in that space must have had an effect because at night when the place is full and people are dancing to the music all of that goes away. Leslie also did a road trip to Nantes and worked there with a local rhythm section. They did a concert in a castle for a group of jazz fans from the area. The owner of the castle built and home for himself on the same property and rents out the space for special events. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">As it turns out, we often work here as a duo. When a performance requires more people we expand the group as needed. Having had the opportunity to work with quite a few musicians we find ourselves adding people according to their musical personality as opposed to which instrument they play. (Recently we did a club date with piano, drums and voice.) In California we were blessed to get our regular band for most of our work. That allowed for a sense of security. But here in Paris we have become used to this new way of working and it does provide for some very surprising and sometimes magical moments on the bandstand. The key is the combination of musical personalities. Sort of like planning a great dinner party! Our duo has become the core of our musical identity and it becomes up to the other players to find a way to integrate themselves into the performance. That is where the musical personality of the player becomes so important. Fortunately we have found a number of bassists and drummers in Paris that we like to work with. Which brings me to our December trip to Japan. </em><em style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">We are getting things ready for that tour. The travel arrangements are done, the documentation for work visas is being assembled, we are preparing the set lists and getting the arrangements ready to send to the bassists and drummers in Japan that we will work with. Once again putting things together with unknown musicians in a very short time and hoping for some unexpected moments of musical magic!</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Okay, I have resisted bringing up this topic again but... now this has become absurd. Leslie still has not received her social security number! I received mine last April. Having started the process last November, we have been to that office fifteen times! We have submitted the paperwork three, maybe four times! Somehow or other they can’t seem to process Leslie’s number. She has now lost her monthly job singing at the Hotel du Louvre because they are no longer willing to hire her with a provisional number! In many, many ways this is a great place to live and work, in fact it is inspiring, but dealing with the bureaucracy is unbelievably difficult! There maybe a joke in there somewhere but I am not that funny.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">For those of you who live in France, this week we are at </em><strong style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><em>Chez Papa Jazz Club </em></strong><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub.fr" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>http://www.papajazzclub.fr</em></strong></span></a><em style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> in Paris on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, October 10th -11th & 12th. Friday and Saturday we are working there with bassist Pierre Boussaguet. He works with Michel Legrand and many other well know musicians here in France. </em><em style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">We will be at the </em><strong style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><em>Jazz Club Etoile </em></strong><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.jazzclub-paris.com" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>http://www.jazzclub-paris.com</em></strong></span></a><em style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> at the Meridien Hotel in Paris on October, 16th & 17th with Olivier Defays quintet. On October 22nd we travel just outside of Paris with bassist Patrice Soler and drummer Thierry Tardieu to play on the </em><strong style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><em>Eaubonne Jazz Concert</em></strong><em style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> series. </em><strong style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><em><a data-imported="1" href="http://eaubonne.jazz.free.fr/new/index.php"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://eaubonne.jazz.free.fr/new/index.php</span></a> </em></strong><em style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">We travel back to La Baule, France to work as a duo at the </em><strong style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><em>Hotel Royal</em></strong><em style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> on October 27th-28th & 29th. Leslie is at </em><strong style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><em>La Ragueneau </em></strong><em style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">in Paris</em><strong style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><em> </em></strong><em style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">with Clément Blumen’s trio on October, 25th. </em><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.ragueneau.fr/actualites/2012/soirees-jazz-a-paris.php"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><em>http://www.ragueneau.fr/actualites/2012/soirees-jazz-a-paris.php</em></strong></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Please take a moment to add our Facebook page to your “Likes” </em><a data-imported="1" href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leslie-Lewis-Gerard-Hagen-Trio/151399944884337" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leslie-Lewis-Gerard-Hagen-Trio/151399944884337</em></span></a><em style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em><em style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">As always you can find more info about us at </em><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em> http://www.surfcovejazz.com </em></strong></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em><em style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">This email is on the BLOG page on our website </em><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong><em>www.surfcovejazz.com</em></strong></span></a><em style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> with a share icon at the bottom of the page if you are so inclined. As always if you want to be spared from anymore emails please reply with an unsubscribe request. <</em><a data-imported="1" href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>gerard@surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">> I promise there will be no hard feelings. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Until next time ... </em></span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137398
2013-09-03T02:00:00+02:00
2018-07-09T02:23:44+02:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Notes de Jazz de Paris". 3 Septembre 2013
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Arial; min-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; font-size: 24px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><strong><em> Le Jazz Cette Semaine ...</em></strong></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica; color: #333233; min-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>Chers Amis, </em></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica; color: #333233;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em> Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <</em><a style="font-family: Verdana;" href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>gerard@surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em>>. </em><em> I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. </em><a style="font-family: Verdana;" href="/blog" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><strong><em>http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</em></strong></span></a></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16; min-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>The release our latest recording </em><strong><em>“Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen in New York”</em></strong><em> (Surf Cove Jazz 104) has been going very well. It is available on iTunes and CD Baby in case you are wondering. We are very happy with the sales on our live performance dates as well as the response we’ve had from listeners as well as jazz critics. I have included some of the reviews on our website </em><a href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/press/" data-imported="1"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>http://www.surfcovejazz.com/press/</em></span></a><em>and our Facebook Band page. </em><a style="font-family: Verdana;" href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leslie-Lewis-Gerard-Hagen-Trio/151399944884337" data-imported="1"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leslie-Lewis-Gerard-Hagen-Trio/151399944884337</em></span></a></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16; min-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><span style="letter-spacing:0px"><em>We came back to Paris from California exhausted. We did a little teaching but honestly I can’t recall exactly what we did except go for some walks along the Seine. Our trip to Bulgaria was great fun. Even flying WIZZ AIR wasn’t as bad as I’d feared. Although Leslie and I were a bit surprised when upon landing in Sofia a number of fellow travelers began applauding! I was wondering what they </em></span><span style="letter-spacing:0px; text-decoration:underline"><em>thought</em></span><span style="letter-spacing:0px"><em> was going to happen. The same thing happened when we returned to Paris. I guess it’s a cultural thing. The Black Sea was very, very nice. We stayed in Sozopol. A small port town surrounded on three sides by water. It has a history dating back to the Roman Empire. We of course spent most of our time, well all of our time, at the beach! So much for exploring the historical significance of one of the most important historical trading centers on the Black Sea. We did explore the restaurants and found them to be top notch. We also found a jazz club and a salsa dance club called Lipstick! (See pictures below.) And of course we had to help ourselves to “Afro Coffee” on the road. We also found “Bankomat” to very handy with the favorable exchange rate between the euro and the lev.</em></span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/31f953ee71b952cdcae4f35eaff7a094cb1c1d9c/original/img-08001.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NTAweDM3MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="The Black Sea" height="373" width="500" /></em></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>The Black Sea, Sozopol Bulgaria</em></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/82792c5d68490f64d3d6bff0160335989eaf6bbf/original/0812.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NTAweDM3MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Bulgarian Dancers" height="373" width="500" /></em></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><span style="letter-spacing:0px"><em>Dancers put on a show at a </em></span><em>restaurant. </em></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/c92a522f2953cac4fc96cbd943eaa7ddd47029b7/original/img-0900.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NTAweDM3MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Jazz Club Sozopol" height="373" width="500" /> </em></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie & Mariya w/ patron at "Mishel Jazz Club" Sozopol Bulgaria.</em></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/83244fff1c3d9aaeb040c8dbc622008247c6d265/original/0781.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NTAweDM3MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Afro Coffee" height="373" width="500" /></em></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Dig the "70's" style for the "Afro Coffee" drinkers.</em></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/d6b870f86736ec42d42eba0dada41907c91f5dc4/original/0913.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NTAweDM3MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Bankomatic" height="373" width="500" /></em></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>When you need a bank ... Bankomat!</em></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16; min-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>We worked at </em><strong><em>Chez Papa</em></strong><em> in Paris last night. It was our first performance since we played at Kobe Steakhouse in August. It was great to play again. Leslie and I were really happy to be working. We are booked there this week Thursday, Friday and Saturday. We have a possible Sunday night booking as well. We resumed teaching today and have a handful of students starting their fall studies this week.</em></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>So here we go again... no telling what this year may bring!</em></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>For those of you who live in Paris we are at <strong>Chez Papa Jazz Club </strong></em></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>Jeudi, 5 Septembre 21h et Vendredi, Samedi 6-7 Septembre 21h30.</em></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em><span style="text-decoration:underline"><strong><a href="http://www.papajazzclub.fr/fr" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff; text-decoration:underline">http://www.papajazzclub.fr/fr</span></a></strong></span></em></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4e5516; min-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4e5516; min-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #1022a3;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><span style="letter-spacing:0px"><em>Please take a moment to add our Facebook page to your “Likes” </em><span style="letter-spacing:0px"><em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leslie-Lewis-Gerard-Hagen-Trio/151399944884337" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leslie-Lewis-Gerard-Hagen-Trio/151399944884337</span></a></em></span></span><span style="letter-spacing:0px"><em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leslie-Lewis-Gerard-Hagen-Trio/151399944884337" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></a></em></span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>As always you can find more info about us at </em><a style="font-family: Verdana;" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/" data-imported="1"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><strong><em> http://www.surfcovejazz.com </em></strong></span></a></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica; color: #333233;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>This email is on the BLOG page on our website </em><a style="font-family: Verdana;" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/" data-imported="1"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><strong><em>www.surfcovejazz.com</em></strong></span></a><em> </em><em>with a share icon at the bottom of the page if you are so inclined. As always if you want to be spared from anymore emails please reply with an unsubscribe request.</em><em> <</em><a style="font-family: Verdana;" href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>gerard@surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em>> </em><em>I promise there will be no hard feelings. </em></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica; color: #333233; min-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time ... </em></span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137397
2013-08-15T02:00:00+02:00
2018-07-09T02:23:04+02:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Notes de Jazz de Paris". 15 Août 2013
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Arial; min-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; font-size: 24px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><strong><em> Le Jazz Cette Semaine ...</em></strong></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica; color: #333233; min-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>Chers Amis, </em></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica; color: #333233;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em> Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <</em><a href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>gerard@surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em>>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. </em><a href="/blog" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><strong><em>http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</em></strong></span></a></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16; min-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em> </em></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><span style="letter-spacing:0px"><em>We are back in Paris after a two week mini-tour in California and New Mexico. We had a great time visiting with friends, catching up and enjoying some very good meals. Leslie and I dropped in on Ron Kobayashi’s Friday night jam session in Newport Beach where we had a chance to see and hear many great musicians. There were several nice hangs especially at Kim and Gary Roberts’ home and at Mike and Carol Penn’s home. And, oh yeah, while we were there we did six concerts, three radio interviews and two interviews for newspapers as well as release our latest recording </em><strong><em>“Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen in New York”</em></strong><em> (Surf Cove Jazz 104). We really enjoyed working again with our California band of Jerry Kalaf, Domenic Genova, Joey Sellers, Chuck Manning and Ron Meza. On Aug. 4th Leslie had a really great concert with the Pacific Symphony and J.T. and the California Dreamin’ Band at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine, CA. She was burnin' and </em></span><em>I couldn’t have been more proud of her.</em></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/6ca58e0fe06ad57fa9dbaff45e53981863a2af1d/original/lvps-host.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NTUweDQxMyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="413" width="550" /></em></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><strong>Leslie sings w/ Pacific Symphony at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater.</strong></em></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><strong><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/e9fd304e97851b4f5e99640b0b76d695fda476b1/original/leslie-gerard-backstage-verizon-amptitheater.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NTUweDQxMSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="411" width="550" /></strong></em></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><strong>Leslie & Gerard back stage at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater.</strong></em></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>In Beverly Hills we worked a new room for us called </em><strong><em>H.O.M.E.</em></strong><em> where we were reacquainted with several friends (Alan, Tina & Priscilla) from L.A. that we met while we were playing at </em><strong><em>Chez Papa</em></strong><em> in Paris. It was great fun to see them back in the U.S. Our gig at </em><strong><em>Kobe Steakhouse</em></strong><em> was sold out and a real nice way to end our tour. In New Mexico we got to work with our friends Cal Haines and Victoria Rogers and a new friend Jon Gagan. While there we had two of three concerts sell out and played in some very nice venues including the </em><strong><em>Harwood Museum</em></strong><em>,</em><em>Taos and </em><strong><em>The Outpost</em></strong><em>, Albuquerque. Along the way we made many new friends and had quite a few laughs.</em></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/dbec80825f27197730f3a56e637837b7e15a2dff/original/dsc07981small.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NTUweDM2NiJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="366" width="550" /> </em></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><strong>At "The Outpost" in Albuquerque, Jon Gagan bass & Cal Haines drums.</strong></em></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Photo by V. Rogers.</em></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/870009e2a928746d157dfc52de6c064dabb4ddb6/original/taosconcert.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NTUweDM2NiJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="366" width="550" /></em></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><strong>At the Harwood Museum Taos, N.M. Jon Gagan bass & Cal Haines drums.</strong></em></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Photo by V. Rogers.</em></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>It is great to be back in Paris but, as always, a little melancholy lingers from having to say good bye to so many friends and family. We are completely wiped out from the trip but we are also excited about some new musical adventures on the horizon and a some new music we want to tackle in the near future. Before that can happen we have decided to take advantage of the last few weeks of summer (with no work booked) and take the first real vacation we have had in several years. We are going to spend a week on the Black Sea with the plan of doing next to nothing! I have a hard time doing nothing but I’m hoping maybe Leslie can somehow settle me down. She always seems to find some way to surprise me. If you have the idea that I’d be lost without her you’d be right!</em></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><span style="letter-spacing:0px"><em>Please take a moment to add our Facebook page to your “Likes” </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leslie-Lewis-Gerard-Hagen-Trio/151399944884337" data-imported="1"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leslie-Lewis-Gerard-Hagen-Trio/151399944884337</em></span></a></span><span style="letter-spacing:0px"><em> </em></span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>As always you can find more info about us at </em><a href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/" data-imported="1"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><strong><em> http://www.surfcovejazz.com </em></strong></span></a></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>This email is on the BLOG page on our website </em><a href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/" data-imported="1"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><strong><em>www.surfcovejazz.com</em></strong></span></a><em> with a share icon at the bottom of the page if you are so inclined. As always if you want to be spared from anymore emails please reply with an unsubscribe request. <</em><a href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>gerard@surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em>> I promise there will be no hard feelings. </em></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time ... </em></span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137396
2013-07-29T02:00:00+02:00
2020-01-21T05:24:32+01:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Notes de Jazz de Paris". 29 Juillet 2013
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<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; font-size: 24px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><strong><em> Le Jazz Cette Semaine ...</em></strong></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>Chers Amis, </em></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em> Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <</em><a href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>gerard@surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em>>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. </em><a href="/blog" data-imported="1" data-link-type="page"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><strong><em>http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/</em></strong></span></a></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>This summer has been flying by. It is hard to believe it is already August. A year ago we were living in a short term rental near Bastille hunting for both an apartment and work. We had just gotten confirmation that we had indeed been granted work visas and were preparing to fly back to L.A. to receive our visas at the French Consulate. Now it is a year later and we are coming off of our best month here yet! Please forgive me if I sound boastful but I am happy to announce that we collectively worked seventeen jobs this month! </em></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>This has been an incredible year to say the least. I have probably aged three or more years while Leslie seems to be able to go with the flow more easily. I get tired just thinking of this year! Our trip to California and New Mexico will be great fun but not very relaxing so we decided to take a little vacation once we return to France. Aside from a short day trip to Normandy (which I missed, more on that later) we haven’t really traveled for fun here. I think I mentioned that I agreed to go to Bulgaria after having too much to drink. Well it gets worse! Not only are we going to Bulgaria, we are flying on “WIZZ AIR”. Yes it is a real airline! Anyway, we are going and hope to spend a relaxing week on the Black Sea later in August. </em></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>We have been blessed with visits from many friends from “the states”, (for a while we were averaging two a week). We have also made many, many new friends here in France. Often at the end of the night when Leslie and I are returning home from work we have moments when we ask ourselves if this is really happening. It still seems surreal that we live here.</em></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>We have been traveling quite a bit for work of late and have been experiencing the train system on a regular basis. It is a great way to travel except when it’s hot and the air conditioning breaks down! That combined with a delay along the route makes it not such a great way to go! Recently I worked near Lyon and ended up on the wrong train the next morning when I returned to Paris. When I got on the train I confirmed with a couple that this was indeed the train to Paris. Unfortunately I chose the only two people on the train who were more clueless that I. The three of us commiserated on the platform in some small town while waiting for another train back to Lyon to get yet another train back to Paris! Other than that it has been pretty smooth going. Oh yeah, I was supposed to meet Leslie that afternoon in Normandy where she had travelled with some friends. Because I missed my train in Lyon I was late getting to Paris and didn’t make it to Normandy. Leslie is just now starting to talk to me again! </em></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><span style="letter-spacing:0.0px"><em>We are very excited to be leaving for L.A. in the morning. We are packed and, I think, prepared for everything. We are really excited to see everyone and get to work again with Jerry, Domenic, Joey, Chuck and Ron. The Kobe Steak House job on August 11th </em></span><span style="letter-spacing:0px"><em>is already a full house</em></span><span style="letter-spacing:0.0px"><em>. We really hope that anyone who wanted to come has made reservations because they are unable to accommodate more people. If you missed KOBE please come and hear us at H.O.M.E. (House of Music and Entertainment) </em><a href="http://home90210.com" data-imported="1"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><strong><em>http://home90210.com</em></strong></span></a><strong><em> </em></strong><em>in Beverly Hills</em><em>on Saturday, August 10 from 7:30 -10:00 pm. Fellow musicians who have worked there are raving about it and we are told that this is a wonderful restaurant and they do a great job of featuring the music. Nice stage, grand piano, a very good sound system with a sound man. Also there is $5 parking is right next to the club. Please contact them for a reservation if you plan to be there. It will be the same band as Kobe and an equally nice setting to hear music.</em></span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><span style="letter-spacing:0.0px"><em>On August 4th, Leslie is at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in a joint appearance of J.T. and California Dreamin’ </em></span><span style="letter-spacing:0px"><em>with the Pacific Symphony. </em><span style="letter-spacing:0px"><strong><em><a href="http://www.pacificsymphony.org/main.taf?p=9,5,6,6&productionID=9951&PerfID=9956" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://www.pacificsymphony.org/main.taf?p=9,5,6,6&productionID=9951&PerfID=9956</span></a></em></strong></span></span><span style="letter-spacing:0px"><em><a href="http://www.pacificsymphony.org/main.taf?p=9,5,6,6&productionID=9951&PerfID=9956" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></a> </em></span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4e5516;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><span style="letter-spacing:0.0px"><em>For those of you who are in New Mexico or know someone there who would like to hear live jazz, Leslie and I will be working three concerts with drummer Cal Haines and bassist Jon Gagan. On Wednesday, August 7th we are playing a home concert in Santa Fe. I can get you more info if you would like. We are at the Arthur Bell Auditorium in the Harwood Museum of Art </em></span><span style="letter-spacing:0px; text-decoration:underline"><strong><em><a href="http://www.harwoodmuseum.org/events/index/date:2013-08" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff; text-decoration:underline">http://www.harwoodmuseum.org/events/index/date:2013-08</span></a></em></strong></span><span style="letter-spacing:0.0px"><em> in Taos on August 8th and in Albuquerque at the Outpost Performance Center. Tickets are at </em></span><span style="letter-spacing:0px; text-decoration:underline"><strong><em><a href="http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/359561" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff; text-decoration:underline">http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/359561</span></a></em></strong></span><span style="letter-spacing:0.0px"><em> </em></span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #1022a3;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><span style="letter-spacing:0px"><em>Please take a moment to add our Facebook page to your “Likes” </em><span style="letter-spacing:0px"><em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leslie-Lewis-Gerard-Hagen-Trio/151399944884337" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leslie-Lewis-Gerard-Hagen-Trio/151399944884337</span></a></em></span></span><span style="letter-spacing:0px"><em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leslie-Lewis-Gerard-Hagen-Trio/151399944884337" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></a></em></span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>As always you can find more info about us at </em><a href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/" data-imported="1"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><strong><em> http://www.surfcovejazz.com </em></strong></span></a></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>This email is on the BLOG page on our website </em><a href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/" data-imported="1"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><strong><em>www.surfcovejazz.com</em></strong></span></a><em> with a share icon at the bottom of the page if you are so inclined. As always if you want to be spared from anymore emails please reply with an unsubscribe request. <</em><a href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>gerard@surfcovejazz.com</em></span></a><em>> I promise there will be no hard feelings. </em></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time ... </em></span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137395
2013-06-10T02:00:00+02:00
2020-10-14T16:35:18+02:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Notes de Jazz de Paris". 10 Juin 2013
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<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; font-size: 24px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><strong><em> Le Jazz Cette Semaine ...</em></strong></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>Chers Amis, </em></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>Things are becoming crazy busy right now. I look at our schedule and it never looks that busy in terms of scheduled rehearsals, lessons and gigs. But the day starts and promo material needs to be emailed, material for gigs has to be prepared, a student comes over for a lesson here and there and somehow the day is gone and I am always amazed at how much is still on the “to do” list. I seem to be “time management” challenged! If anyone has any suggestions on time management I’m at<</em><a data-imported="1" href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff">gerard@surfcovejazz.com</span></a>> </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><span style="letter-spacing:0px">I am very happy to tell you that I received my Carte Vitale which is the last (I hope) government number that is required to legally work in France. Of course Leslie has not yet received hers because they got confused about her last name which legally is Leslie Hagen as opposed to Leslie Lewis. The thing is all of her legal documents including checks that she receives for work use her legal name. We aren’t even sure how they learned of the last name Lewis since all of the documents we submitted use her legal name. The result is that she needs to resubmit all of the required paperwork and she </span><span style="letter-spacing:0px; text-decoration:underline">may</span><span style="letter-spacing:0px"> get her carte in three months! Which will be a year to the month since we started the application process.</span></em></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>I was hired to write arrangements for a singer here in Paris who is going on an extended tour of Asia. Also, Leslie has some new tunes in mind for our trip to California/New Mexico so I’ve got some charts to do for her as well. She also needs some new charts for some gigs she has booked in July. We are currently working on the artwork and layout for the new duo CD and we are really excited about the release of that project.</em> </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; color: #4a4f16; min-height: 16px;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><span style="letter-spacing:0px"> </span><span style="font-style:italic; letter-spacing:0px">Leslie picked up a very interesting job for June 22nd. She will be flying to Corsica to sing one song at a wedding. I have to admit that I didn’t know anything about Corsica beyond that it exists. Once we checked it out we realized that it would be a great place to visit. As it happens we are working June 21st so she will fly there the morning of the gig, do the gig that afternoon and fly back to Paris. So sadly, no time for sightseeing. On the plus side, through this job we met the program director for a jazz festival that happens yearly on Corsica so we hope to be performing there next year.</span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4e5516;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>Our friends John and Maureen Vastardis were in town for a short visit. We were able to enjoy a couple of dinners together and a night at Autour de Midi, a jazz club in Montmartre. There are a number of friends who will be in Paris this summer so we are very excited to see you and hang while you are here. Please be sure to get in touch if you are interested in getting together while you are here.</em></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4e5516;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/970b55e7fd7f5711285651802feae280481350d4/original/park-in-15-eme.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NzAweDUyMyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="523" width="700" />The weather here has finally warmed up to match the month of June. Here is a park in the 15th.</em></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><span style="letter-spacing:0px">For those of you who live in Paris or will be visiting this month, on Friday, June 21st, Leslie and I are working with bassist Patrice Soler at Chez Papa Jazz Club in Saint Germain des Pr</span><span style="letter-spacing:0px">è</span><span style="letter-spacing:0px">s. </span></em><span style="letter-spacing:0px; text-decoration:underline"><strong>http://www.papajazzclub.fr/</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><span style="letter-spacing:0px"><em>Chez Papa is a great place to hear music and enjoy a meal. The music starts at 9:30 pm and ends at 1:30 am. There is a 10 € music charge which is waved for those who dine there. On Friday, June 28th Leslie is singing with guitarist Siegfried Mandancé’s band at Le Defender Bar in the Hôtel du Louvre. </em><a data-imported="1" href="http://parishoteldulouvre.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><strong>http://parishoteldulouvre.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html</strong></span></a><strong> </strong><em>Le Defender Bar is a very elegant room and is a lovely place to listen to music. The music is from 9:00 - Midnight, </em></span><span style="letter-spacing:0px"><em>entrée libre, consommation obligatoire.</em></span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie at Chez Papa with Priscilla and Christine our friends (we just met that night) from L.A. We are looking forward to seeing them at H.O.M.E. in Beverly Hills on August, 10th.</em></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><span style="letter-spacing:0px">August will be here very soon and we are really excited to see everyone and get to work again with Jerry, Domenic, Joey, Chuck and Ron. The Kobe Steak House job on August 11th </span><span style="letter-spacing:0px"><strong>is already a full house</strong></span></em><span style="letter-spacing:0px"><em>. We really hope that anyone who wanted to come has made reservations because they are unable to accommodate more people. One possible solution would be to come and hear us at H.O.M.E. (House of Music and Entertainment)</em> <a data-imported="1" href="http://home90210.com"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><strong>http://home90210.com</strong></span></a><strong> </strong><em>in Beverly Hillson Saturday, August 10 from 7:30 -10:00 pm. Fellow musicians who have worked there are raving about it and we are told that this is a wonderful restaurant and they do a great job of featuring the music. Nice stage, grand piano, a very good sound system with a sound man. Also there is $5 parking directly across the street. Please contact them for a reservation if you plan to be there. It will be the same band as Kobe and an equally nice setting to hear music.</em></span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><span style="letter-spacing:0px"><em>On August 4th, Leslie is at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in a joint appearance of J.T. and California Dreamin’ </em></span><span style="letter-spacing:0px"><em>with the Pacific Symphony.</em> <a data-imported="1" href="http://www.pacificsymphony.org/main.taf?p=9,5,6,6&productionID=9951&PerfID=9956"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><strong>http://www.pacificsymphony.org/main.taf?p=9,5,6,6&productionID=9951&PerfID=9956</strong></span></a></span><span style="letter-spacing:0px"> </span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; color: #4e5516;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><span style="letter-spacing:0px"><em>For those of you who are in New Mexico or know someone there who would like to hear live jazz, Leslie and I will be working three concerts with drummer Cal Haines and bassist Jon Gagan. On Wednesday, August 7th we are playing a home concert in Santa Fe. I can get you more info if you would like. We are at the Arthur Bell Auditorium in the Harwood Museum of Art </em></span><span style="letter-spacing:0px; text-decoration:underline"><strong>http://www.harwoodmuseum.org/events/index/date:2013-08</strong></span><span style="letter-spacing:0px"> <em>in Taos on August 8th and in Albuquerque at the Outpost Performance Center. Tickets are at </em></span><span style="letter-spacing:0px; text-decoration:underline"><strong>http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/359561</strong></span><span style="letter-spacing:0px"> </span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; text-decoration:underline; color:#ffffff"><strong>Up Coming JULY Concert Dates ...</strong></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><span style="letter-spacing:0px"><em>On July 10-11-12-13 Leslie is working in Paris with Jeff Hoffman’s band at Jazz Club Etoile in the </em></span><span style="letter-spacing:0px; text-decoration:underline"><strong>Meridien Hotel. http://www.lemeridienetoile.com/fr/jazzclubetoile</strong></span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; color: #4e5516;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><span style="letter-spacing:0px"><em>On July 19-20-21st we are working as a duo in a resort in La Baule on the Atlantic coast. </em><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.lucienbarriere.com/fr/hotel-luxe/La-Baule-Royal-Thalasso-Barriere/accueil.html"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><strong>http://www.lucienbarriere.com/fr/hotel-luxe/La-Baule-Royal-Thalasso-Barriere/accueil.html</strong></span></a><strong> </strong> </span><span style="letter-spacing:0px"> </span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; color: #4e5516;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em><span style="letter-spacing:0px"> On July 26-27 Leslie and I are working in Paris with bassist Nicola Sabato (7/26) and bassist Bruno Rousselet (7/27) at Chez Papa </span><span style="letter-spacing:0px">in Saint Germain des Pr</span><span style="letter-spacing:0px">è</span></em><span style="letter-spacing:0px"><em>s.</em> <a data-imported="1" href="http://www.papajazzclub.fr"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><strong>http://www.papajazzclub.fr</strong></span></a></span><span style="letter-spacing:0px; text-decoration:underline"><strong>/</strong></span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; color: #4e5516; min-height: 16px;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><span style="letter-spacing:0px"> </span><span style="letter-spacing:0px"><em>Please take a moment to add our Facebook page to your “Likes” </em><a data-imported="1" href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leslie-Lewis-Gerard-Hagen-Trio/151399944884337"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><strong>https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leslie-Lewis-Gerard-Hagen-Trio/151399944884337</strong></span></a></span><span style="letter-spacing:0px"> </span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>As always you can find more info about us at </em><a data-imported="1" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><strong> http://www.surfcovejazz.com </strong></span></a></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>This email is on the BLOG page on our website</em> <a data-imported="1" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><strong>www.surfcovejazz.com</strong></span></a> <em>with a share icon at the bottom of the page if you are so inclined. As always if you want to be spared from anymore emails please reply with an unsubscribe request.</em> <<a data-imported="1" href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff">gerard@surfcovejazz.com</span></a>> <em>I promise there will be no hard feelings. </em></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time ... </em></span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137394
2013-05-20T02:00:00+02:00
2018-07-09T02:21:07+02:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Notes de Jazz de Paris". 20 Mai 2013
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<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; font-size: 24px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><strong><em> Le Jazz Cette Semaine ...</em></strong></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff">Chers Amis, </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff">I am very pleased with the response to this new format for staying in touch with all of you. This is on the BLOG page on our website <a style="font-family: Verdana;" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/" data-imported="1"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><strong>www.surfcovejazz.com</strong></span></a> with a share icon at the bottom of the page if you are so inclined. As always if you want to be spared from anymore emails please reply with an unsubscribe request. <<a style="font-family: Verdana;" href="mailto:gerard@surfcovejazz.com" data-imported="1"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff">gerard@surfcovejazz.com</span></a>> I promise there will be no hard feelings. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><span style="letter-spacing:0px">For those of you who live in Paris, this week Friday, May 24th, Leslie is singing with guitarist Siegfried Mandancé’s band at Le Defender Bar in the Hôtel du Louvre. <a style="font-family: Verdana;" href="http://parishoteldulouvre.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html" data-imported="1"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><strong>http://parishoteldulouvre.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html</strong></span></a><strong> </strong>Le Defender Bar is a very elegant room and is a lovely place to listen to music. The music is from 9:00 - Midnight, </span><span style="letter-spacing:0px">entrée libre, consommation obligatoire.</span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff">One of the perks of living in Paris is that it is the most visited city in the world. So we typically see friends quite often. Currently we have been having a great time hanging in Paris with Domenic Genova and his family, Alexandra and Zoe. Many of you know Domenic has been the bass player in my trio since 1997. We have a shared musical history that is priceless. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16; min-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/32a756089f2cae18e71bfd0f7a4bc9a1ac85900f/original/domenic-and-gerard.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjAweDQ0OCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="448" width="600" /> </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff">Here is a photo of Domenic and me that I lovingly call “Geezers in Paris”.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; color: #333233; min-height: 16px;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><span style="letter-spacing:0px"> </span><span style="letter-spacing:0px">May 10 and 11th was another great weekend at Chez Papa <a style="font-family: Helvetica;" href="http://www.papajazzclub.fr" data-imported="1"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><strong>http://www.papajazzclub.fr</strong></span></a></span><span style="letter-spacing:0px; text-decoration:underline"><strong>/</strong></span><span style="letter-spacing:0px"> </span><span style="letter-spacing:0px"> </span><span style="letter-spacing:0px">in Saint Germain des Prés. We are happy to announce that they have booked us for June 21st and July 26 & 27th. One of the nice things about that gig is that it attracts many travelers so we meet people from all around the world. This time we met some wonderful folks from L.A. who are planning on hearing us at one of our our August gigs in California.</span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"> Speaking of gigs in California, we are very pleased to announce that we will be at H.O.M.E. (House of Music and Entertainment) <a style="font-family: Verdana;" href="http://home90210.com" data-imported="1"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><strong>http://home90210.com</strong></span></a><strong> </strong>in Beverly Hillson Saturday, August 10 from 7:30 -10:00 pm. H.O.M.E. is a wonderful space to listen to music and enjoy a meal in a first class setting. We will have the usual suspects in the band, AKA Jerry, Domenic, Joey & Chuck. As an added benefit there is $5 parking directly across the street. As you know parking can be difficult and expensive in Beverly Hills! Please make reservations if you plan to attend. We will be releasing our new duo CD that was recorded in New York on this occasion.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><span style="letter-spacing:0px"> On August 4th, Leslie is at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine in a joint appearance of J.T. and California Dreamin’ </span><span style="letter-spacing:0px">with the Pacific Symphony. <a style="font-family: Verdana;" href="http://www.pacificsymphony.org/main.taf?p=9,5,6,6&productionID=9951&PerfID=9956" data-imported="1"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><strong>http://www.pacificsymphony.org/main.taf?p=9,5,6,6&productionID=9951&PerfID=9956</strong></span></a></span><span style="letter-spacing:0px"> </span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; color: #4e5516;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><span style="letter-spacing:0px"> On August 11th we are at Kobe Steak House in Seal Beach with our California band including Ron Meza who will be in L.A. from Paris as well. <a style="font-family: Verdana;" href="http://www.kobebistro.com/5/index.html" data-imported="1"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><strong>http://www.kobebistro.com/5/index.html</strong></span></a> </span><span style="letter-spacing:0px"> </span><span style="letter-spacing:0px">Please make reservations if you plan to attend we are told that they are filling up quickly. </span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; color: #4e5516;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><span style="letter-spacing:0px"> We are very excited will be working three concerts with drummer Cal Haines and bassist Jon Gagan in New Mexico. On Wednesday, August 7th we are pl;aying for a private concert in Santa Fe. We are at the Arthur Bell Auditorium in the Harwood Museum of Art </span><span style="letter-spacing:0px; text-decoration:underline"><strong>http://www.harwoodmuseum.org/events/index/date:2013-08</strong></span><span style="letter-spacing:0px"> </span><span style="letter-spacing:0px">in Taos on August 8th and in Albuquerque at the Outpost Performance Center on August 9th.</span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4e5516;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"> It will be a busy time but we will have a few free days so there is a chance we can find some time to socialize. We are really excited to see you and find out what’s new with you.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"> Our concert in Monteux provided me with two of the most humorous and thus memorable moments I’ve ever had on stage. First a little background. We were doing a show called “The Cotton Club” which was a popular club in Harlem that for a while featured Duke Ellington’s band. Our show had a seven piece band, two male dancers and four female dancers, Leslie was the featured female vocalist and there was a male vocalist who also danced and was the MC for the show. He had a lot to remember throughout the show. Midway through the show he came out to sing one of his featured numbers. The band played the intro and he began to sing the wrong song. The song he sang was supposed to be the next instrumental number featuring a dancer who was standing in the wings with a confused look on his face. I told the bass player to switch songs and about that time the singer started to dance around the stage. He stopped next to me and smiled as he asked out of the corner of his mouth “What song are we supposed to be doing?” I told him and the band switched back to his solo song. Instead of singing he dances around the stage one more time stops next to me and out of the corner of his mouth he asks “How does it go?” Somehow he comes up with the melody and we finish. Now he doubles down. He turns to the band and says “I think we need to do that again?” We play the intro yet again only this time he goes out into the audience and invites three young girls around the age of eight up on the stage. While the band plays he shows them some dance moves and then proceeds to sing the song (again) as he dances around the girls. This of course endears him to everyone but the band! I gave him no end of grief after the show and again on the train ride home.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><span style="letter-spacing:0px">Here is the stage in Monteux. Due to rain we had to abandon the nice outdoor stage that had been set up for our </span><span style="letter-spacing:0px">concert. We ended up in a community center. </span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16; min-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"> <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/1b31532f57ea444f0bfefe47b70d7088fb17864c/original/gerardtgv-paris.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjAweDQ0OCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="448" width="600" /></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><span style="letter-spacing:0px"> </span><span style="letter-spacing:0px">Leslie and I have become real fans of the TGV (train) in France. It is truly a comfortable way to travel and makes flying seem even more of a drag than we previously thought. Leslie took this shot on the way back to Paris from Avignon. That really is my happy look!</span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16; min-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff">The rehearsals for, and travel to and from our gig in Monteux have caused me to not work on the new CD for a week or so. There still is plenty of time but I mention this mostly as a way forcing myself to get back to work on this project. We are still on track (if I get to work now) for an August release in California.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; color: #4e5516;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><span style="letter-spacing:0px">In case you are in France and near La Baule on July 19-20-21st we are working as a duo in a resort in La Baule on the Atlantic coast. <a style="font-family: Verdana;" href="http://www.lucienbarriere.com/fr/hotel-luxe/La-Baule-Royal-Thalasso-Barriere/accueil.html" data-imported="1"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><strong>http://www.lucienbarriere.com/fr/hotel-luxe/La-Baule-Royal-Thalasso-Barriere/accueil.html</strong></span></a><strong> </strong> </span><span style="letter-spacing:0px"> </span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4e5516; min-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; color: #1022a3;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><span style="letter-spacing:0px">Please take a moment to add our Facebook page to your “Likes” <a style="font-family: Verdana;" href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leslie-Lewis-Gerard-Hagen-Trio/151399944884337" data-imported="1"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><strong>https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leslie-Lewis-Gerard-Hagen-Trio/151399944884337</strong></span></a></span><span style="letter-spacing:0px"> </span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff">As always you can find more info about us at <a style="font-family: Verdana;" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/" data-imported="1"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><strong> http://www.surfcovejazz.com </strong></span></a></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica; color: #333233;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; color: #4a4f16;"><span style="letter-spacing:0px; color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time ... </em></span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137393
2013-04-29T02:00:00+02:00
2018-07-09T02:19:59+02:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Notes de Jazz de Paris". 29 Avril 2013
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> Le Jazz Cette Semaine ...</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Chers Amis, </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em><em>The second installment of the new blog. There is a BLOG page on our website</em> <a href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">www.surfcovejazz.com</span></a> <em>with a share icon at the bottom of the page if you are so inclined. Believe me when I say that I’m grateful that as many of you read this as do and I certainly don’t think this message is necessarily “share” worthy unless one has enemies they want to annoy! On the other hand this is a brave new world of communication and connectivity, so share away if you know someone who would like to read this. </em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Leslie has been amazing this past two weeks. She had a great night at “Le Ragueneau” </em><span style="text-decoration:underline"><a href="http://www.ragueneau.fr" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff; text-decoration:underline">http://www.ragueneau.fr</span></a></span><em> a restaurant near the Louvre. She works with a “house band” which features a different soloist each week. Around 11:00pm other musicians start to drop by after finishing their gigs and there is a jam session which is always fun. Unfortunately she then battled a cold which she got from me! While being sick she still killed it last Friday at Le Defender Bar at the Hôtel du Louvre. </em><span style="text-decoration:underline">http://parishoteldulouvre.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html</span> <em> Our friend Marcy Vaj, L.A. violinist extraordinaire, was in town and dropped by to play. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em><em>Here is a photo with both Leslie and Marcy at the Defender Bar.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/e73b5552e8f128d7010a428efe139400e5837acd/original/img-0601.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NTAweDM3MyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="373" width="500" /></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We are excited, and a bit nervous, about the new duo recording. We are on schedule to have it ready for release by the time we arrive in California in August. We are still in the planning phase for more performance dates in O.C./L.A. On August 4th, Leslie is at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in a joint appearance of J.T. and California Dreamin’ </em><em>with the Pacific Symphony</em>.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><a href="http://www.pacificsymphony.org/main.taf?p=9,5,6,6&productionID=9951&PerfID=9956" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://www.pacificsymphony.org/main.tafp=9,5,6,6&productionID=9951&PerfID=9956</span></a> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>On August 11th we are back at Kobe Steak House in Seal Beach with our California band (Chuck, Joey, Jerry & Domenic). Ron Meza who will be in L.A. from Paris will join us as well. Please make reservations if you plan to attend. In between those dates we will be working three concerts with Cal Haines and Jon Gagan in Santa Fe, Taos, and Albuquerque N.M. We are really excited to see you and find out what’s new with you. </em>http://Kobebistro.com </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>We are doing some traveling here in France over the next few months. Previously I mentioned that we are working in a "Cotton Club" show in Monteux in southern France in a few weeks. In July we are working as a duo in a resort in La Baule on the Atlantic coast</em>.<a href="http://www.lucienbarriere.com/fr/hotel-luxe/La-Baule-Royal-Thalasso-Barriere/accueil.html" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">http://www.lucienbarriere.com/fr/hotel-luxe/La-Baule-Royal-Thalasso-Barriere/accueil.html</span></a> <em>This past weekend I had a little too much to drink and apparently committed Leslie and I to go to Bulgaria in August when we return from California. In my defense it was very good wine! On the plus side Leslie is still speaking to me and Bulgaria is probably very nice. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em>Next weekend we are back at our favorite place to play in Paris, Chez Papa in Saint Germain</em>. <span style="text-decoration:underline">http://www.papajazzclub.fr</span> <em>Peter Giron will be playing bass. This is an “old school” jazz room that actually has great food.</em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>This is a photo of Leslie and me from a few weeks ago at Chez Papa. Over the years patrons have signed their names on the walls. The stairs are lit with candles and diners sit right next to the band. Literally right next to the band!</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/7c99eec92d1350b33371b65b993c3051da24dcf9/original/chez-papa-13-avril.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NTEweDY4MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="680" width="510" /></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>This is Peter Giron. He is actually a very funny guy and a blast to work with. You gotta love a guy who did a vaudeville gig that included playing for “Zippy the Chimp”. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/395512/508c9defa5f9822d7e3794606064076aa079151b/original/photo-peter-giron-by-big-max-leo-copy.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NDY0eDY5OSJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="699" width="464" /></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> <em>Please take a moment to add our Facebook page to your “Likes” </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em> </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leslie-Lewis-Gerard-Hagen-Trio/151399944884337" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leslie-Lewis-Gerard-Hagen-Trio/151399944884337</span></a> </span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>As always you can find more info about us at</em> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><a href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"> http://www.surfcovejazz.com </span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#ffffff"><em>Until next time ... </em> </span></p>
Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen
tag:surfcovejazz.com,2005:Post/6137392
2013-04-17T02:00:00+02:00
2021-03-03T18:03:45+01:00
Leslie Lewis et Gérard Hagen "Notes de Jazz de Paris".
<p style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ffffff; text-decoration:underline"><em><strong> Le Jazz Cette Semaine ...</strong></em></span></p>
<p style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff">Chers Amis, </span></p>
<p style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff">Welcome to our new "blog". Thank you to everyone who replied to my request to review the revamped “Surf Cove Jazz” website. <a title="This external link will open in a new window" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/" target="_blank" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">www.surfcovejazz.com</span></a> I have added French language pages where possible and added French language text to the appropriate (I hope) pages. Looking at Google Analytics we are getting about three quarters of our web traffic from France, specifically Paris. Which makes sense.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff">We finally had a few beautiful spring days. Some of you know that the arrival of spring means Leslie turns into the “green gardner”. Today she left to run what she generically referred to as errands. She returned with an armful of plants, flowers, etc. and proceeded to plant them on our terrace. So far no midnight gardening but it is still early in the season.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff">Last weekend we had a really great time working at Chez Papa in Saint Germain. Leslie was in rare form on Saturday night. She kept the room packed until 1:30 am and then received a standing ovation with requests for an encore. We finished at around 1:50 am and had a nice hang with the club owner afterwards. We got home at around 3:30 am. Fortunately there is a night bus that runs from the club to our home in about 12 minutes. Just one more reason why we love working there.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff">Things are pretty busy. <span style="text-decoration:underline"><em>Our duo CD is being mixed and mastered and will be available for purchase when we are in California this summer.</em></span> This is the first recording we’ve done without a band. It has been a bit scary to do a project that is so exposed. </span></p>
<p style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff">We brought a couple of Leslie’s vocal students to a jam session last week. They both did great and the result is that they can’t wait to do more. We may live to regret that night! </span></p>
<p style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff">In May Leslie and I are traveling with a Paris based production to Monteux, France to work in a “Cotton Club” show. The music pretty much all Duke Ellington, but there are a few Fats Waller tunes as well. The show includes several singers and tap dancers as well. Monteux is in the south of France not far from Avignon. The work schedule is such that we won’t have much time to explore the area. But we are looking forward to the train trip from Paris since it will be new terrain for both of us.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff">We are really looking forward to being in California in Aug. Leslie is working Aug. 4th in Irvine and we both are working with our old band on Aug. 11th in Seal Beach. In between we are flying to New Mexico for concerts in Santa Fe, Taos and Albuquerque with our friends Cal Haines and Victoria Rogers. We are looking forward to seeing you all and catching up with your lives so we will have to set up some opportunities to hang while we are in town.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff">Please take a moment to add our Facebook page to your “Likes” <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leslie-Lewis-Gerard-Hagen-Trio/151399944884337" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leslie-Lewis-Gerard-Hagen-Trio/151399944884337</span></a> </span></p>
<p style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff"> As always you can find more info about us at <a title="This external link will open in a new window" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/" target="_blank" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></a><span style="text-decoration:underline"><a title="This external link will open in a new window" href="http://www.surfcovejazz.com/" target="_blank" data-imported="1"><span style="color:#ffffff; text-decoration:underline">http://www.surfcovejazz.com </span></a></span></span></p>
<p style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff"> </span></p>
<p style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"><span style="color:#ffffff">Until next time ... </span></p>
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Leslie Lewis & Gerard Hagen