Bebop Spoken There

Ludovic Beier (Django Festival Allstars): ''Manouche means 'free man,' and gypsies have been travelers since they migrated west from India to Europe.'' (DownBeat March, 2026)

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

18383 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 247 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 17 ), 57

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Sunday, May 24, 2015

EP Review: Priscilla Badhwar - Mademoiselle.

Priscilla Badhwar (vcl); Eddy Hobwizal (pno/Rhodes); David Pulkingham (gtr); Daniel Durham (bs); Steve Schwelling (dms).
(Review by Lance).
An enigmatic CD/EP (20 minutes) recorded in Austin, Texas by a native of that city yet the only way to describe it is as Jazz Chanson. Badhwar sings almost completely in French and sounds as authentic as any chanteuse you may chance upon in a Montmartre Café - not a "y'awl' within earshot!
Much of the material consists of tried and tested pieces from Le grande recueil de chansons francais.
Mademoiselle (Henri Salvador); Boum! (Charles Trenet); Jardon d'hiver (Keren Ann); Plus Je T'embrasse (Blossom Dearie); Maladie d'Amour (Salvador); All I Really Want is Love (Salvador).
Such an appealing voice the words just curl around your heartstrings.
But where, I hear you ask, is the jazz?
The jazz comes in the lilting swing that pervades throughout, the Django-like guitar solos and the rhythmic piano contributions from Hobwizal. There's also a touch of Brazil in the mix.
Chamber jazz and none the worse for that it's one of the most charming discs I've heard this year.
I'm a sucker for a song sung in French!
Lance.

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