Our NY Entertainer of the week is Chloe Perrier. Chloe will be performing this week on December 21st at 6 p.m. at Club Bonafide. You can also check out her performance on December 28th at 5:30 p.m. at City Vineyard Pier. Check out the interview below!
upfrontNY: Can you tell us about your new band, The French Heart Jazz Band?
Chloé Perrier: It is a mix of French chansons and American jazz standards from the ’20s to the ’40s with a continental flair. A kind of “Gatsby in Paris“ vibes. Hot and fun. It is composed by my dream team: Aki Ishiguro on guitar, Rodrigo Recabarren on drums, Jim Robertson on Bass (with who I am playing since I moved in NYC) and I added two other amazing musicians; Jon Hunt on clarinet and Caroline Bugala on violin.
upfrontNY: When and how did you discover your passion for jazz music?
Chloé Perrier: Since I was a kid I had a passion for music and I was listening to songs all the time. When I was 5 I started to play violin. Jazz came little by little. When I began to sing on stage I was looking for songs. I naturally chose more and more Jazz songs. So I decided to go back to school to learn more about it, and went to Jazz School. Since then I am listening to any kind of Jazz almost all day long!
upfrontNY: How do you feel when you are performing?
Chloé Perrier: Alive and happy !
upfrontNY: For those who are new to jazz, what can they expect?
Chloé Perrier: A good time. Jazz was a popular music style and is still my favorite. Everyone can enjoy it. And I try to keep it that way when I am performing. I like to see people smiling and dancing during the show.
upfrontNY: What was it like completing your studies at the Bill Evans Piano Academy in Paris?
Chloé Perrier: Great ! I grew a lot as a singer, and I learned to compose there. My Teachers Sara Lazarus and Joe Malkholm are passionate and really good at sharing their passion! So I learned a lot!
upfrontNY: You have played many venues around New York City, do you have a favorite venue that you have performed in?
Chloé Perrier: I have two: The Manderley at the Mc Kittrick Hotel (Home of Sleep No More). It was one of the first clubs I play in NYC. I love the vibe there and I am a big fan of the show. For the record: I got the gig by hiding a CD in my panties, I was wearing a dress, and you are not allowed to keep your bag to see the show. At the end of the show I gave my CD “Coeur de Francaise” to the booking person and luckily he loves French Jazz and hire me ! And Club Bonafide, the sound is just amazing there.They believe in me since their opening and they offered me a residency for both of my bands ! (You can check the dates on my website http://chloeperrier.
upfrontNY: What are you currently working on?
Chloé Perrier: We just finished mixing and mastering my new album with the great Max Ross (System Two). This will be the first album of my French Heart Jazz Band and I expect to release it at the beginning of 2019. I am really happy about it, and can’t wait to share it !
NYC FAVORITES:
Favorite NYC restaurant : I have two :
Nyonya, a Malaisian restaurant in Little Italy. Not fancy at all but so good !
And Benoit Bistro midtown, really fancy and the best French food in town!
Favorite NYC spot for inspiration : Walking between Brighton Beach and Coney Island, even in the winter. And I love to take the Q train over the Manhattan Bridge to enjoy the view of Statue of Liberty, the city and Dumbo. I do this almost every day.
Favorite NYC season: Summer
Favorite thing about NYC: You can be yourself.
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