Vincent Germain Sings - A Voice Coaching Recital

Vincent Germain loves to sing.

Vincent Germain
© Discover Paris!
So much so that he hired a coach to help him train his voice, learn to work with musical accompaniment, and interact with his audience.

On the afternoon of Sunday, June 5, that coach held a recital for him at her home. Friends, relatives, and acquaintances turned out to listen to him and guitarist Philippe Alfonsi perform fourteen jazz, R&B, and French classics. These included "Sunny," "Ménilmontant," "The Girl from Ipanema," and Prince's "Kiss."

Vincent and his audience
© Discover Paris!

Philippe Alfonsi and Vincent Germain
© Discover Paris!
For a few of the songs, Vincent accompanied himself on piano.

Singing and playing the piano
© Discover Paris!
Toward the end of the recital, he got the audience on its feet and had members singing, dancing, and clapping to the music.

Vincent's coach is Joan Minor, longtime Paris expat and consummate performer. She has worked with Vincent since 2013 and is proud of the progress he's made since she hosted his first recital at her home in October 2013. She says it's a thrill for her to see a student make a breakthrough and think that she had something to do with it!

Joan Minor
© Discover Paris!
Joan joined Vincent for the last couple of songs, ad libbing and adding a little humor to the mix by cajoling the audience to partake of the buffet spread she prepared for the event.

Joan and Vincent singing
© Discover Paris!
By the end of the performance, everyone was laughing and so inspired that they demanded an encore. Vincent complied by singing "What a Difference a Day Makes." During the reception afterward, he continued to sing and play the piano, regaling attendees with songs such as "Touch Me in the Morning" by Diana Ross.

Tickling the ivories
© Discover Paris!
Vincent has been singing at piano bars on his own for some time, but now has a steady musical partner in Philippe. He says he's ready to move to the next phase of his singing career and start booking paying gigs.

************

Entrée to Black Paris!™ is a Discover Paris! blog.

If you like this posting, share it with your friends by using one of the social media links below!

Gospel at Saint-Sulpice Church for the 2015 Saint-Germain-des-Prés Jazz Festival

Simply sublime.

That's my take on the gospel concert held on Tuesday evening at Saint-Sulpice church that was part of this year's Saint-Germain-des-Prés Jazz Festival.

The church was filled with hundreds of spectators and the music got people on their feet multiple times throughout the performance.

Filling the church
© Discover Paris!

Church lighting
© Discover Paris!
This concert featured the inimitable Rhoda Scott on the Hammond organ. She played three songs before the members of the chorus took their places on stage.

Rhoda Scott
© Discover Paris!
Emmanuel Djob played guitar and was the other headliner for the event, undoubtedly due to the success that he is enjoying after his participation in Season 2 of the French version of the reality singing competition, The Voice.

Emmanuel Djob
© Discover Paris!
Two Paris expats, Linda Lee Hopkins and Joan Minor, formed part of the chorus and also sang solos during the evening.

Linda Lee Hopkins sings "Amazing Grace"
© Discover Paris!

Joan Minor sings "Precious Lord"
© Discover Paris!
The performers regaled the packed house with numerous classic gospel songs and spirituals, including "Going to See the King," "Down by the Riverside," and "When the Saints Come Marching in." The entire list of singers and musicians is as follows:

Rhoda Scott : Hammond organ
Emmanuel Pi Djob : chorus leader, guitar, tenor, baritone
Linda Lee Hopkins : alto
Michaël Robinson : tenor
Joan Minor : soprano, alto
Eva Hakapoka : mezzo-soprano
Fey B (Fabrice Claire) : tenor
Rebecca Phirmis : soprano
Sikaa Sidi : alto
Thomas Derouineau : cajon

Djob sang "A Change Is Gonna Come" as a solo during the first half of the concert and later spoke to the audience in French while the rest of the chorus took a break. He sang a song in French, followed by "Georgia on My Mind" infused with the melody of "Amazing Grace." Djob rocked his head just like Ray Charles as he sang this song.

The concert would have closed with Linda Lee Hopkins' solo renditions of "Glory Hallelujah" and Ben E. King's "Stand by Me" (a departure, along with "A Change Is Gonna Come" and "Georgia on My Mind," from the evening's gospel theme). But the audience demanded an encore, so the chorus returned to sing "Oh Happy Day" and "Amen." Mezzo soprano Eva Hakapoka took the lead on these tunes, belting them out with a vibrancy that shook the audience, before the performers left the altar/stage for good.

Eva Hakapoka sings "Oh Happy Day"
© Discover Paris!

All performers
© Discover Paris!
This 15th edition of the jazz festival runs from May 21 through June 1, so there are still a couple of days left to enjoy performances. Check out the schedule here.

************

Entrée to Black Paris!™ is a Discover Paris! blog.

If you like this posting, share it with your friends by using one of the social media links below!

Black Paris Profiles™: Joan Minor

Joan Minor in song
© Paul Grayson - Photoinos.com
Joan Minor first moved to Paris in 1999, determined to continue the musical career that she began during her 25-year stint as a human resources executive at Stanford University. She married Paul Grayson in 2003 and moved to NYC in 2005 when Paul was transferred there by his company. The happy couple returned to Paris in 2009 as a result of Paul’s promotion. Seeing them together at the 2nd Annual Brothers’ Spring Gala in June 2012 was the impetus for this interview.

************

Black Paris Profiles™ is now available on Kindle.  Only excerpts are available on this blog.

To get your copy of Black Paris Profiles™, click HERE.

************

Entrée to Black Paris!™ is a Discover Paris! blog.

If you liked this article, share it with your friends and colleagues by clicking on one or more of the social media buttons below!