Lisa Lindsley & La Belle Epoque at Piedmont Piano Company

One spring afternoon outside of Paris, jazz vocalist Lisa Lindsley and French pianist Laurent Marode discovered an unexpected musical bond, and the material for La Belle Epoque’s latest release.

“Wouldn’t It Be Loverly” is an intriguing tribute to film musicals, delivered with heady arrangements, swinging tempos and flawless musicianship. Working with a stellar coterie of Parisian players, she delivers an irresistible program featuring pianist Laurent Marode, drummer Mourad Benhammou, Esaie Cid on flute, clarinet and tenor saxophone, and Bay Area bass master Jeff Chambers (the Paris session’s only ringer). ...

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One spring afternoon outside of Paris, jazz vocalist Lisa Lindsley and French pianist Laurent Marode discovered an unexpected musical bond, and the material for La Belle Epoque’s latest release.

“Wouldn’t It Be Loverly” is an intriguing tribute to film musicals, delivered with heady arrangements, swinging tempos and flawless musicianship. Working with a stellar coterie of Parisian players, she delivers an irresistible program featuring pianist Laurent Marode, drummer Mourad Benhammou, Esaie Cid on flute, clarinet and tenor saxophone, and Bay Area bass master Jeff Chambers (the Paris session’s only ringer).

With her third CD, Lindsley invites listeners to surrender to her smoky soprano, while her vocal command and deft timing assure they will be delighted they did. Jeff Chambers’ lush bass lines are a perfect interplay with Mourad Benhammou’s dexterous brush work, Laurent Marode’s melodic and seductive piano and Esaie Cid’s lustrous flute and brass performances.

Marode’s arrangements maintain a respectful, yet contemporary interpretation, from Everybody Wants to be a Cat, through the luminous tracks I Could Have Danced All Night, and It’s a Lovely Day, to the apropos summation – That’s Entertainment.

Living and creating on two continents, America and France, is not always easy, but they have melded together their talents to create some dazzling and exquisite music. Jazz Journalist Andrew Gilbert said of their inaugural album, “It’s an album for blissful late-night listening that leaves you wondering what the next day has to offer”

The title track of the quartet’s 2016 release, Long After Midnight, charted for three weeks on the U.S. Top 40, and remained in the Top 5 slot for seven weeks on the CMJ Jazz charts. La Belle Epoque will tour the U.S. and Europe, fall of 2017. They are scheduled to record their next album in France in October.

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