Sophisticated Ladies
Bordeaux, Aquitaine, France
Music
Press
"...an air of sophistication and flair...eclectic ensemble...uniquely personal...as solid and entertaining as they come.... an infectious ebb and flow proving once and for all there is a heck of a lot of fun to be found in jazz...serious...prime time musicians, a jazz collective from around the globe...an impressive release worthy of the time and trouble to check it out ! These ladies are the real deal! "
- Brent Black, @critical Jazz (Aug 08, 2012) - @ critical jazz
Discography
Sophisticated Ladies "A True Story"
Photos
Bio
The SOPHISTICATED LADIES preserve the harmonic richness of the compositions of the early composers , all the while marrying the compositions with rhythms from North and South America, the Carribean, and Africa, which simply give one a desire to get up and dance.
The initial impulse for the Ladies was the encounter of Rachael Magidson (swing singer from the San Francisco bay area) and Valerie Chane-tef (pianist from the island La Réunion specializing in Afro-Cuban music). The joy of taking standards and changing things up by adding a montuno, or cha cha cha, a samba or Bolero inspired them both and they found very talented counterparts in the south west of Franceto complete the quartet. Nolwenn Leizour, a very talented upright Bassist with great experience playing both Jazz and Latin styles, and Emilie Calme on the flute who is not only a virtuoso but also has a strong background in percussion and specifically carribean music.
The result is a new breath of life for the compositions of the golden era of Jazz.
A whole range of emotions is explored using the richness of the Ladies different backgrounds, the beautiful compositions of the great American Songbook, and the maturity with which the Ladies treat the subject.
The Sophisticated Ladies quartet is Jazz for all occasions, and all peoples.
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