BEHIA JAZZ

JAZZMEN SWING
This CD contains a jewel : “Johanna’s song”, music and lyrics signed by BEHIA. In France; only Aldo Romano would be expected to write such a beautiful melody ...Behia, Diva of the Côte d'Azur is a great vocalist and a real entertainer. She charms her audience She has everything that could make her one the greatest jazz Ladies….. "
CULTURE JAZZ; Michel Delorme : Membre of the John Coltrane Syndicate
- Michel Delorme Member of the John Coltrane Syndicate

“The second opus of Behia, the French Riviera based Jazz vocalist proves to have all the qualities appearing in her first recording: warm and rich tone ; voice complying with every subtlety and nuance, beautifully mastered and a real sense of swing”
Jacques Aboucaya « Jazz Magazine » Sept 2004 - JAZZ MAGAZINE

I had already praised Behia’s first Cd : « Just Squeeze me » and I am sticking to my guns concerning her second one
Behia displays her vocal qualities even more in “Jazzmen Swing” singing in English, French, Spanish , Portuguese and Hebrew with a very fine , clear and precise phrasing, a good scat and a great deal of feeling and sensitiveness. This is a beautiful CD;
. JAZZ HOT by Michel Bedin
- JAZZ HOT International mag for jazz

CONCERT : TRIBUTE TO BILLIE HOLIDAY
« GOOD MORNING BILLIE »
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of Billie Holiday, BEHIA JAZZ QUARTET gives a show as a tribute to this wonderful icon of Jazz and Blues, and performs the most striking songs and compositions which marked her life.
This « Diva of Jazz », « Callas of Blues » or « Lady Day » as «Pres» Lester Young used to call her, made us travel between swing and blues, light and darkness and heaven and hell as was her life . With a style of her own , she conveyed her own truth , full of nuances and rhythm made of pure emotion.
Behia succeeds marvelously in making her live again trying to convey Billie 's dramatic intensity along with her enthusiasm , which made her unique.
- Presentation of venue

THE FAMOUS CARTOONIST SINE AND JAZZ CRITIC HAS LISTENED TO BEHIA’S CD :
You need to have guts and be afraid of nothing to sing “Strange Fruit”; “God bless the Child” or “Good morning heartache” after the unforgettable performances by Billie Holiday, the greatest of the greatest ladies of Jazz.
This is as if , as a cartoonist, I tried to compete with Leonardo da Vinci or Picasso…. Everybody, would quite rightly, be skeptical.
There are challenges that seem almost impossible to take up like the one consisting in tackling Lady Day’s repertoire. Fortunately, Behia got ahead and this didn’t frightened her. She launched herself headlong with her open heart into this somewhat very risky adventure.
I had already fallen under her spell, one summer night during her concert in Cairanne , for JAZZ DANS LES VIGNES Jazz Festival, but I had thought that my enthusiasm was due to the charming place and to the quality wine offered to everybody before the show.
I was wrong, because when I listened to the CD in the comfort of my home, the pleasure was renewed and even bigger than ever.
Thank you so much Behia and congratulations to the wonderful musicians who accompany you so nicely.
Here is a CD to savour without restraint.
SINE
- SINE famous French Cartoonist and Jazz critic

Michel Delorme, Famous Jazz Critic and Member of the John Coltrane Syndicate has listened to Behia’s CD :

Behia has conceived a beautiful project around Billie Holiday whom she reveres like all people of taste.
Billie and Nina Simone have been the two greatest performers in the history of vocal jazz and have conveyed emotion and sincerity that have reached wonderful peaks.
Behia does not fall into the trap of “ paying a tribute to…”which is what People tend to do nowadays, they take a famous name and make money with it.
This is not BILLIE HOLIDAY sung by Behia , but this is BEHIA singing songs that Billie had already made her own in her time.
The repertoire is extremely well chosen. Small miracles like Good morning heartache or Don’t explain alternate with blues that never leave you and embrace you, Fine and mellow, Billie’s blues, and very cheerful songs like What a little moonlight can do, them there eyes or Miss Brown to you.
But more than anything, you have to have a hell of a nerve to tackle Strange Fruit, the ballad of the hangmen , the ballad of lynching. Behia’s voice , filled with distilled emotion, is perfect, the drama of the song is tangible.
Behia doesn’t venture to imitate Billie’s voice, but from time to time , just a tiny inflection, “ a voice blink”.She is just herself and she beautifully succeeds
- Michel Delorme Member of the John Coltrane syndicate, Member of The Jazz academy

«Un sens du swing permanent, un sound qui rappelle quelques grandes ladies du jazz, une jolie sensibilité et surtout une mise en place parfaite.
Elément important, son don pour la composition avec quelques titres dont elle a signé les paroles sur des musiques de Bariohay et d’autres qui sont totalement de sa main.
Si ce n’est déjà fait, retenez son nom. Behia est à suivre….de près ! »
Henri Marchal. La Semaine des Spectacles .Juin 06 - la semaine des spectacles Henri Marchal 2006

 Ce second opus de la chanteuse cannoise confirme toutes les qualités manifestées lors de son enregistrement initial : voix bien timbrée se pliant à toutes les nuances, mise en place parfaite, indéniable sens du swing. Avec cela, des accompagnateurs bien choisis, notamment Louis Bariohay aux guitares et Olivier Boutry au sax. Au répertoire, quelques standards (dont Jardin d’hiver qu’interprète aussi Stacy Kent), des incursions vers la bossa et une composition originale signée Behia, ce Jazzmen Swing qui donne son titre à un album fort réussi. On aurait tort de bouder son plaisir ».
Jacques Aboucaya , Jazz Magazine , septembre 06  - JAZZ MAGAZINE 2006

« ....BEHIA peut affronter avec succès les salles qui veulent bien proposer des chanteuses de jazz dignes de ce nom. »
Gérald Mathieu, «  Jazz Notes »  Déc 2003
- Jazz Notes