Olivier Nataf - NO
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Olivier Nataf - NO

West Chester, Pennsylvania, United States | SELF

West Chester, Pennsylvania, United States | SELF
Band Blues Singer/Songwriter

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This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

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"Paris-Chicago on Wasser-Prawda"

Kann man den Chicagoer Bluesfans klar machen, dass diese Musik auch auf Französisch funktioniert? Der aus Frankreich stammende Singer-/Songwriter No versucht dies unter anderem mit seinem Album "Paris - Chicago".

"Ein paar Noten Blues, ein Streifen Funk, eine Träne Soul ... auf Französisch" umschreibt NO (Olivier Nataf) seine Musik. Und auf dem ersten - jetzt bei Jamendo veröffentlichten Album - Paris - Chicago gibt er uns genau dies: Schöne Blues-Songs mit einer wunderbaren Gitarre (da hat einer seinen B.B.King genau studiert!) und einer am Soul und Folk orientierten Stimme. Die Rhythmen decken dabei neben dem Funk und Blues auch noch Bereiche bis hin zum Reggae und Rock ab. Wobei die Stücke selbst über einen Zeitraum von 15 Jahren entstanden sind und so die Zeit vom College bis hin zum Erlebnis, Vater zu werden, handeln.

Zu Beginn seiner Karriere spielte NO in Pariser Cafés und Clubs. Doch als er mit seinen ersten Liedern bei verschiedenen Kompositionswettbewerben ziemlich erfolgreich war, stand für ihn schon fest, dass er in die USA ziehen wird. Jetzt spielt er (wiederum in Clubs, aber auch bei größeren Veranstaltungen der französischen Gemeinde in der Gegend) in Chicago und dem Umkreis.

Zwei ursprünglich auf dem Album vorhandene Coverversionen sind aus Lizenzgründen bei der Jamendo-Veröffentlichung fortgefallen. Wer sich für eine in einen Blues verwandelte Fassung von Stevie Wonders "Higher Ground" und eine ebensolche Bearbeitung von "Sweet Dreams" der Eurythmics interessiert, sollte das Album direkt beim Künstler bestellen. - Wasser-Prawda


"Paris-Chicago on Wildy's World"

French singer-songwriter Olivier Nataf recently moved from France to Chicago, Illinois, celebrating with the release of Paris-Chicago. A mix of singer-songwriter pastiche, good old Chicago-style blues, soul, funk and Rock N Roll, Paris-Chicago is very familiar and very new all at once.

Grooving on a hot electric blues vibe, No creates a highly listenable and occasionally danceable album in Paris-Chicago. Opening with Laisser-Moi Passez, No kicks in a funky backbeat and a catchy melody to draw the listener's attention from the opening notes of the album. Nataf has a very pleasant voice and sounds more like a folk singer than a blues vocalist, but he makes the songs work very well. Paris-Chicago has a hot-n-cool feel to it, channeling a bit of B.B. King in the process. Plus En Enfant opens with a complex acoustic part and sticks with the acoustic gig throughout. Je Mais Que Tu Alors... Just Me sounds very familiar from the outset, borrowing the same chord progression and nearly the same style of Stray Cat Strut. My favorite song on the album is Les Vendeuses De Charme, with its classical guitar opening and reggae rhythms. Respect is a sweet sounding ballad and a great balance to the more upbeat material on Paris-Chicago for the first minute, before breaking into an upbeat rock tune. No closes out with two covers, a blues cover of Stevie Wonder's Higher Ground, which I liked, and a highly intriguing blues rendition of The Eurythmics' Sweet Dreams. This was the highlight of the album; a wholly unexpected and eye-opening interpretation that practically redefines the song.

No took a few listens. Paris-Chicago was one of those albums I didn't like much upon first listen, but it grew on me. My French isn't anywhere near as good as it once was as I just haven't used it in many years, so I can't really comment on the lyrical comment, but Paris-Chicago is a highly enjoyable listen. Be sure to say yes to No. - Wildy's World


"Paris-Chicago sur MusiciensBiz"


D'emblée le ton est donné : « Paris-Chicago » est un disque de blues rock habité par la passion de la guitare. No, aka Olivier Nataf, exilé à Chicago, chante en français avec un timbre proche de celui de Cabrel, l'accent en moins.


No, "Paris-Chicago"
Et il s'en sort plutôt bien, doublant les voix pour accentuer certaines parties, il est assez convaincant dans son rôle de chanteur.

Mais c'est surtout comme guitariste de blues que nous le découvrons assez brillant, inspiré, technique sans esbrouffe et très créatif. Chapeau Mister No ! Il n'y a qu'à écouter ce beau blues fonky qu'est « Laissez-moi passer ». Rien que ça, c'est direct OK pour la green card. Il doit passer pour un Ovni dans une des villes historiques du blues à jouer comme un diable, vous rendez-vous compte ? Un frenchy qui a le blues !

« Sansamitiéville », « Paris-Chicago » et son chorus au son saturé, « Plus un enfant » et sa guitare acoustique au rythme trépidant, « Jamais que tu alors » tout en douceur, ternaire à souhait, les excellents titres s'enchaînent sous nos oreilles ébahies et ravies. Les incursions dans le reggae par contre se font avec un bonheur inégal. « Farandole » n'est pas convaincant comme l'est « Les vendeuses de charme » dont le groove fonctionne à merveille et voit deux guitares se chevaucher gracieusement sur le chorus. « Paris-Chicago » est un disque aux couleurs variées. La voix veloutée, « un toi et moi » est groovy dans un registre mèlant soul et pop, « Respect » est une ballade folk qui surprend en se transformant en funk torride puis après un magnifique solo en blues. Quatre couleurs sur cette chanson de quatre minutes me semblent beaucoup, bien que les styles soient maîtrisés.

La fin du disque voit No chanter en anglais pour cause de covers ou de re créations de Higher Ground de Mr Wonder qui de reggae devient blues rock (belle voix de tête) et de « Sweet dreams » d'Eurythmics qui devient également un blues rock. Ce sont de belles adaptations personnelles. On s'aperçoit que No est finalement un bon chanteur qui a une palette d'interprétation riche et qui fait bien passer les choses.

Mais quel bon guitariste ! Ce « Paris-Chicago » est une merveille ! - MusiciensBiz


"A Frenchman with a Heart for American Blues"

American blues jazz with a French aftertaste. An almost fool-proof formula for creating pop funk music for this French singer includes a "few notes of Blues, a zest of Funk, a tear of Soul." Bizarrely calling himself, NO, French musician Olivier Nataf creates his own brand of blues jazz inspired tracks that are laced with French lyrics.

Paris - Chicago compiles 10 tracks that serve as a bridge connecting the American landscapes to that of the French. If you wonder what the blues sounds like with an international flair, NO, would be one act worth checking out.



Free music for professional licensingAfter almost a lifetime in France, NO, decided to transplant himself to the busy city of Chicago. However, apparently, he hasn't forgotten his French roots and his music is proof of this. Paris-Chicago encapsulates how the singer places an importance to the storyline and his French lyrics. On the other hand, whether he noticed it or not, American influences slowly crept into his style. Moreover, it was partly a factor that his own mother was a big fan of the "King of Rock and Roll," Elvis Presley.

Some of the main influences that he had growing up included great rock and blues acts like Jimi Hendrix, Otis Redding, Queen, The Rolling Stones and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

The album features 10 original songs while there are two song covers, namely Higher Ground from Stevie Wonder and Sweet Dreams by the Eurythmics

Paris-Chicago was recorded and mastered for about 7 months of studio sessions. The artist claims that it took a lot of feet dragging to finally end up with the finished the product, yet somehow they made it work.
- FrostClick


"Celiac Disease Fundraising - University Club, Chicago"

NO plays with passion and enthusiasm. His soothing voice permeates the air, setting a lively, but relaxed tone.
He is a talented professional! We were so fortunate to have him play our event—it really made the evening!
- Carol M. Shilson - Executive Director, The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center


Discography

Paris-Chicago, 2008
Laissez-moi passer (Let me in), demo 2006

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Bio

Few notes of Blues, a zest of Funk, a tear of Soul...
Quelques notes de Blues, un zest de Funk, une larme de Soul...

In French or in English, music is a common language beyond all barriers. Welcome et Bienvenue to my world: a world that blends American grooves with French Lyrics, Bluesy licks with Reggae rhythms, Funky riffs with Rock power. No rocket science formula, just multiple influences that always find a way to express themselves, together, independently or side by side.

After performing and recording my songs in Chicago in 2007-2008, the debut album’s title “Paris-Chicago” seems appropriate to move further into introducing myself: it is simply the trip I took 4 years ago physically, but over 15 years ago musically.

For the intimate connoisseur, “Paris-Chicago” is a sort of personal Best-Of of all these years of songwriting from college (Laissez-moi passer) to crazy parties with friends (Je mais que tu alors… juste mens) into the adult life (Plus un enfant), and becoming a father (Paris-Chicago). Also, being an artist always starts with being a fan. That is why you will find 2 bonus tracks in the album: Bluesy versions of Higher Ground (Stevie Wonder), and Sweet Dreams (Eurythmics)!

Of course, all of the album’s songs have been tested live in many coffee-houses, bars and festivals in Paris in 2005-2006, Chicago in 2007-2009, and more recently at the Musikfest 2010 in Bethlehem, PA, and Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts 2011, at Philadelphia's Magic Gardens.

The French know it already: you don’t always need to understand the lyrics to let the groove control your feet, and the American public has started to enjoy that too!

Learn more on my website and don't hesitate to send me a "note"!