On 4 April jazz singer Miroslava Katsarova will present her latest music project – April in Paris. Once again, she teams up on stage with her trio – Miroslav Turiiski (piano), Hristo Yotsov (drums) and Veselin Veselinov-Eko (double bass).

“The programme is in French, but there is one piece that is in English, a classical jazz composition that has given the name to the entire concert programme,” says Miroslava Katsarova. “April in Paris is an old song, written in 1932, a song about the beauty of the French capital at this delightful time of year. It also says that April in Paris is a state of kind, a feeling that compares to no other. Hence my own wish to take a musical journey in space and time to a state of mind that pervades French music. All other songs are in French and are emblematic of the age of chanson. The set also features some more recent compositions. When we put our heads together with Miroslav Turiiski, who did the arrangements, our aim was to preserve the authenticity of the French music, while at the same time showcasing our own, personal style.”

April in Paris features 14 songs. Jazz fans and lovers of French chanson will be able to hear two of the best loved songs of the Grande Dame of French music Édith Piaf – Non, je ne regrette dе rienandLa vie en rose.Michel Legrand’sEt la Meris another beautiful French song included in the programme. The other equally celebrated songs featured include the 1960s classic by Joe Dassin Les Champs-Elysees, Jacques Brel’s Ne me quitte pas, Que reste-t-il de nos amours by Charles Trenet. One more song will also be performed in French - Les eaux de Mars(Waters of March).

“Among the songs I have selected there are some that are more recent by comparison, like the 1980s song Voyage, Voyage by Desireless, a very vivid illustration of the French new wave of the time. But it is only now that I have come to really appreciate it. That is the reason why we interpreted it in a new way. We have included French singers and songwriters, but also French speaking artistes like Jacques Brel and Claude Nougaro. Nothing new can be invented in music any more. Still, the great thing is that a blend between celebrated songs can turn out beautiful.”

April in Paris goes with an accompanying special paper edition containing the lyrics of all of the songs, as well as some, written by Miroslava for the project, her own bond with the French language, culture and way of life. The leaflet, which will be given out to each and every person who will attend the concerts, also includes photographs from a photo session by Pavel Chervenkov.

After presenting April in Paris in Sofia and in Plovdiv, Miroslava Katsarova and her jazz trio will launch a summer tour in different towns nationwide.

English version: Milena Daynova

Photo: private library