A Little Wine and Chanson

By Jennifer Jacovitch

It’s a breezy, sunny afternoon at Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards, a winery tucked away into the rolling hills just south of Charlottesville, Virginia.  With a glass of white wine in my hand, I stroll around the grounds, feeling the sun on my face and admiring the hazy Blue Ridge mountains in the distance. Children run and play in the springtime grass, couples and small groups of people sit along the hillside next to the winery or at tables on the patio, chatting softly, and tasting samples of the local wine.
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Yet, the moment is made whole by the soft, melodic sounds that emerge from one corner of the patio–the pure voice of Paulien singing a lively repertoire of French chanson and familiar jazz standards, with the accompaniment of Royce Campbell on guitar and Gerard Brikkenaar Van Dijk on keyboards.

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The atmosphere is lively, but yet calm. I lean back into my chair, close my eyes, and just allow the music to wash completely over me.  Like the gentle breeze that stirs the air, Paulien’s voice is both soothing and warm, and my mind floats into a state of pure relaxation.  In addition to a serenade of well-known jazz tunes such as “Don’t Get Around Much Any More,” “Do Nothing ’til You Hear From Me,” “Night and Day,” and “La Mer” (“Beyond the Sea”), Paulien also performs original compositions by Royce Campbell, including, “I’m on a Cloud,” “You Are,” and “We Were Simply Meant to Be,” all featured on her 2007 recording, Paulien.

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