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Throughout my singing career, I have always been quite lucky in finding the most wonderful musicians to accompany me on stage. Not only have I had the honor to perform with very talented and all-round players, I also have had the good fortune to be able to call most of them my friends. I say fortunate, because when people get along together both musically and otherwise, something magical may happen on stage. And that’s exactly what making music is about for me. On November 30 at C’ville Coffee, I will have the great pleasure of playing with some of the most talented musicians that Charlottesville has to offer. These people truly bring out the best in me!  Photo courtesy Metcalfe Music. On accordion, the man who can make you feel like you are somewhere on a romantic spot in Paris with your loved one: the multi-faceted Matty Metcalfe. Matty plays more instruments than anyone I know, but I like it best when he plays the accordion. Everything I love about French music comes to life when Matty plays his instrument. It’s got that “Oh la la!” and he plays it so well.  Photo courtesy Mia Magruder. On bass, Chris Dammann, who recently relocated from Chicago, where he studied music and played everything from classical with the Chicago Chamber Opera to free jazz with some of Chicago’s greatest. Chris’s openness to all music styles, especially the ones I like to share with the audience, makes me cross my fingers that he’ll stay in town for many years to come.  Photo Meredith Montague. On the piano, my husband Gérard Brikkenaar van Dijk who never stops surprising me, particularly on stage–and sometimes that brings out magical moments that make me forget any quarrel we have ever had!  Photo Meredith Montague. One of our special guests for the evening will be guitarist Royce Campbell, accompanying me on some of his very own tunes. I am so happy Royce has agreed to join us, for he is not only my friend, but he is also the one who composed all of the beautiful tunes on my first CD (Paulien) launched in the U.S. in 2007. On a night when we’ll be playing unforgettable French and American songs, Royce’s compositions should definitely play a part.
 On Saturday, November 30 at 8 pm, I will be performing at one of Charlottesville’s premier spots for cool jazz, C’ville Coffee. Chris Dammann and Matty Metcalfe will be accompanying me, along with some very special guests. We will be playing some well known standards and less familiar tunes in the most romantic language of all, in a show that I’d like to call “A French-American Songbook”. Tickets are $10 (at the door).
 Photo by Jennifer Jacovitch Autumn is my favorite time of year. I love the cool, foggy mornings and the mild afternoons of the Virginia weather. And the leaves, turning from green to a beautiful red, orange and gold. I love the melancholy that the season brings.The dead leaves of fall that cover the earth so it can sleep, only to wake up again in spring; change that comes before a new beginning. And I love how it has inspired poets and song writers to create songs that have become unforgettable classics. Like Johnny Mercer’s “Autumn Leaves”, that was originally written by Hungarian-French composer Joseph Kosma, with lyrics by French poet Jacques Prévert in 1945. Ever since I discovered the original version, as sung by Yves Montand in the movie “Les Portes de la Nuit”, I’ve never gone back. I hope you enjoy my version of “Autumn Leaves”…….
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PaulienA place for me (and occasionally a guest author) to share news and updates, as well as other various thoughts and musings. Archives
September 2016
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