Amid the dazzling elegance of the historic 18th century Odéon-Théâtre de l’Europe in central Paris, New Jersey born singer Stacey Kent opened the Saint-Germain-des-Prés Jazz Festival this week to rapturous applause.
With her acclaimed velvety smooth vocals, Stacey used the occasion to perform songs from her latest album, her fourteenth, ‘Summer me, Winter me,’ released last November, including classics such as ‘If You Go Away,’ an adaptation of the 1959 Jacques Brel song ‘Ne Me Quitte Pas’ with English lyrics by Rod McKuen, as well as ‘Under Paris Skies’ by Andy Williams about the seductive nature of the romantic City of Light.
Another song from her album was the nostalgic, ‘Postcard Lovers,’ a soft nostalgic melody written by her husband, talented saxophone player Jim Tomlinson, who performed on-stage with her. Together with Nobel Prize winning novelist, Kazuo Ishiguro, Tomlinson has composed a number of songs on Stacey’s playlist.
Her concert featured a wide repertoire, in English, French and Portuguese including compositions by Richard Rogers from the US, Michel Legrand from France and Antonio Carlos Jobim from Brazil.
Grammy nominated Kent has sold more than two million albums worldwide and the audience’s enthusiastic appreciation of her other songs including the tribute to lost love, ‘Thinking About The Rain’ with refrains such as ‘The sky surrounds the sunlight in a swirl of blue and gold. The kind of day that makes you want to watch the world unfold.’ reflects her continued popularity.
Aside from Tomlinson, Kent was accompanied by long-time friend and pianist, Art Hirahara and for part of the concert by the young musicians of the Akilone Quartet, namely Magdalena Geka (violin), Elise De-Bendelac (violin), Avishai Chameides (viola) and Lucie Mercat (cello).
Now in its 23rd year, the Saint-Germain-des-Prés Jazz Festival runs until May 20 and features performances by pianists Shani Diluka and Fred Hersch and musician Robin Mansanti in quartet formation. Venues include Saint-Sulpice church, Théâtre de l’Alliance Française and Maison de l’Océan.
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