Bonjour de Paris ...
Chers Amis,
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”.
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.
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.
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.
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 https://www.lagunabeachlive.org/special-fundraiser-for-live-music-kids.
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.
"Fragile", our new recording, is available as a download on CD Baby at this link. https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/leslielewis5
Thank you to everyone who has already downloaded it. We hope that you are enjoying the listen.
"Fragile" 2017 Surf Cove Jazz
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
Until next time,
Leslie and Gerard
Please if you have any comments feel free to contact me at <gerard@surfcovejazz.com>. I enjoy hearing your thoughts. This email also appears on our website where you may comment as well. http://www.surfcovejazz.com/blog/
http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LeslieLewis
http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/GerardHagenTrio
http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leslie-lewis/id27976719
http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gerard-hagen-trio/id312875736