Name Change for an Historic Afro-Caribbean Night Spot

In September 2016, I wrote about the impending relaunch of the Bal Colonial, which was commonly known as le Bal Nègre.

The club was scheduled to reopen on March 21, 2017 with the name "Le Bal Nègre." But protests caused the owner to rename the club "Le Bal de la rue Blomet," after the street on which it is located.

Le Bal de la Rue Blomet
Header at Le Bal Blomet's Web site

Le Bal Blomet façade
Press photo from Le Bal Blomet Web site

On the Web site Change.org, an open letter to owner Guillaume Cornut expressed outrage at the selection of the name "Bal Nègre," saying that the name was insulting and racist. It also "called out" M. Cornut for having falsely declared that Claude Ribbe - a key influencer in Paris' Afro-Caribbean community - supported his choice. Six thousand (6,000) - 7,000 persons reportedly signed the letter, which was addressed to Cornut; Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris; Philippe Goujon, Mayor of the 15th arrondissement; and Audrey Azoulay, France's Minister of Culture.

Additionally, several dozen people staged a live protest in front of the establishment on February 7. Notably, one person carried a sign bearing the image of James Baldwin and the title of the recently released documentary I Am Not Your Negro.

Tweet posted by @vivreparis on February 7, 2017
The original opening date of March 21 was selected because it marks the beginning of spring. But, as noted in the open letter, this is also the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The opening actually took place on March 22, 2017.

Le Bal Blomet promises eclectic musical programming, including cabaret, jazz, and classical music on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays in a spacious, 250-seat concert hall.

Concert hall at Le Bal Blomet
Press photo from Le Bal Blomet Web site
It also has a restaurant that seats 70 persons and features French cuisine with a Caribbean influence.

Restaurant logo and photo at Le Bal Blomet
Press photo from Le Bal Blomet Web site
Le Bal Blomet
33 rue Blomet
75015 Paris
Telephone: 01 44 93 00 27
La Table du Bal Restaurant hours:
Tuesday through Friday 12 noon to 2 PM and 7 PM to 10 PM
Saturday 12 noon to 3 PM and 7 PM to 10 PM
Sunday 12 noon to 3 PM

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Making a Comeback - Le Bal Nègre

Le Bal Nègre at 33, rue Blomet in Paris' 15th arrondissement, was the most popular Antillean dancing nightspot in Paris for decades.

Bal Nègre advertisement
Though the establishment was officially named Le Bal Colonial, it was commonly known as Le Bal Nègre. It was created in 1924 in the French tradition of the bal-musette. The club featured music and clientele from the French Caribbean; a Martinican named Jean Rézard des Wouves led the orchestra. According to another Martinican musician named Ernest Léardée, who took over the orchestra in 1929 and remained its leader until 1931, “banjos, horns, and drums” provided the sounds that moved the crowd, and a dance called the biguine ruled the day. Josephine Baker made the biguine popular with a broader public when she performed the dance in Paris Qui Remue at the Casino de Paris in 1931.

African Americans were frequent visitors at Le Bal Nègre; Countee Cullen was a repeat customer during his visits to Paris in the late 1920s and 30s. These interactions represented a significant means of exposure of African Americans to the culture of other people of African descent. Then whites became enamored of the club, particularly the Surrealist crowd and American expats such as Hemingway and Fitzgerald. Their patronage changed the atmosphere of the club and it was reportedly never the same again.

Palmer Hayden captured the spirit of the Bal in his c. 1927 watercolor on paper Le Bal Jeunesse.

The Bal Nègre suffered great decline after the Second World War and became a café in 1962. In 1989, a jazz club called St. Louis Blues took over the space and operated there until 2006.

St. Louis Blues in 2004
© Discover Paris!
The building was slated for renovation into office space in 2010, but the project was abandoned. In 2012, approval was granted for the restoration of the Bal Nègre in its original spirit, complete with dance hall. An architectural and cultural reconstitution is now underway. It will consist of a multi-level performance hall and a multimedia art cabaret dedicated to the alignment of art and popular culture in music, film, musical theater, and the fine arts for the public’s enjoyment. It is scheduled to reopen in 2017.

Mailbox at Le Bal Nègre construction site
© Discover Paris!
Read the detailed history of the Bal Nègre here: http://www.lebalnegre.fr/ (an English translation is available on the Web site).

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Louis Armstrong in Paris

Louis Armstrong spent a good deal of time in Paris, performing at the best venues in town, recording, and even making a movie (Paris Blues). Here are some fun facts about Satchmo and the City of Light!

Louis Armstrong stencil art
© Discover Paris!
During his first visit to Paris in 1932, Armstrong stayed at Le Grand Hôtel, across from the Palais Garnier and down the street from the Olympia Theater.

Le Grand Hôtel
© Discover Paris!
In 1934-1935, Armstrong lived at the Hôtel Alba Opéra in the 9th arrondissement. A plaque on the façade of the building honors him.

Hôtel Alba Opéra - façade
© Discover Paris!

Plaque at Hôtel Alba Opéra
© Discover Paris!
He frequented Eugene Bullard's Athletic Club, which was also located in the 9th arrondissement, during this stay.

Ad for Eugene Bullard's Athletic Club
© Discover Paris!
In 1947, Armstrong recorded a jazzy version of the Edith Piaf classic song "La Vie en Rose." Listen to it here:



In 1991, a square in the 13th arrondissement was dedicated to him to commemorate his first recording outside the U.S. at a nearby music studio.

Place Louis Armstrong
© Discover Paris!

Flower bed at Place Louis Armstrong
© Discover Paris!
In 2003, Didier Jeunesse published a children's book on Armstrong for its Guinguette collection. Called Armstrong, it was written by Claude Nougaro and Maurice Vander.

Armstrong - book cover
© Discover Paris!
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Paris Jazz Portraits - The Herman Leonard Photographic Collection

While searching for a vintage image of Billie Holiday in Paris, I came across an incredible collection of photos of jazz musicians. They were taken by Herman Leonard (1923-2010).

Johnny Hodges at the Brasserie Lipp, 1958 (detail)
Photo by Herman Leonard

Leonard photographed the Paris jazz scene and set up a studio for fashion and advertising photography in Neuilly-sur-Seine. He lived in Paris from the mid 1950s until 1980.

See images of Leonard's Paris photos of several performers by clicking on the links below:

Louis Armstrong

Art Blakey

Diahann Carroll, Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington

Duke Ellington

Johnny Hodges

Billy Strayhorn

Lester Young
The Herman Leonard Photographic Collection, 1948-1991 is held at the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian.

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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.

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Dawn's Early Light - A Retrospective of American Song and Dance

On February 12, 2016, artistic directors Asha Thomas and Crystal Petit staged a magnificent performance at the American Church in Paris that paid homage to American music.

Crystal Petit and Asha Thomas
© Discover Paris!
Called Dawn's Early Light, this roughly one-hour preview vividly showcased everything from blues and Broadway to gospel and contemporary tunes. Combined with inspired choreography, it stirred my soul. At times, it even took my breath away!

Opening number
© Discover Paris!
In addition to being one of the artistic directors, Asha Thomas is the choreographer for the show and dances in it as well.

Asha Thomas
© Discover Paris!
Never have I seen such expressive light in a performer's eyes as I saw when she danced to Stevie Wonder's "Knocks Me off My Feet."

Artistic director Crystal Petit is also the lead female vocalist in the show. She delivered a moving rendition of Nina Simone's "Work Song" as well as a beautiful interpretation of "Battle Hymn of the Republic" that was coupled with a powerful spoken word performance delivered by male vocalist Jua Amir.

Crystal Petit
© Discover Paris!

Jua Amir and Crystal Petit
© Discover Paris!
Amir joined the musicians on stage to give a rousing performance of Tracy Chapman's "Talkin bout a Revolution." He also dances in the show.

Josiah Woodson and Jua Amir
© Discover Paris!
Brian Scott Bagley of Looking for Josephine fame and Nicola Ayoub also shone that evening, with each dancer providing spark and fire to the evening's performance.

Nicola Ayoub and Brian Scott Bagley
© Discover Paris!

Brian Scott Bagley
© Discover Paris!

Nicola Ayoub
© Discover Paris!
Music was provided by musical director/trumpetist/guitarist Josiah Woodson,

Josiah Woodson
© Discover Paris!
pianist Daniel Gassin,

Daniel Gassin
© Discover Paris!
bassist Jerry Thompson III,

Jerry Thompson III
© Discover Paris!
Drummer Laurent-Emmanuel "Tilo" Berthelo,

Laurent-Emmanuel "Tilo" Berthelo
© Discover Paris!
and guest violinist Tarani Merriweather Woodson.

Tarani Merriweather Woodson
© Discover Paris!
The group is seeking funds to support the production of the full-length version of Dawn's Early Light.

For more information, visit the Web site www.dawnsearlylight-production.com.

Triumphant cast
© Discover Paris!
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Beauford Delaney Exhibition in Paris

Happy New Year from Entrée to Black Paris!
In two recent ETBP blog posts I mentioned that plans are underway for a Beauford Delaney exhibition in Paris.

Today, I'm sharing details about this groundbreaking show and Entrée to Black Paris' involvement in it!

I recently founded a U.S. non-profit organization called Wells International Foundation (WIF). Beauford Delaney: Resonance of Form and Vibration of Color (formerly entitled Beauford Delaney and Paris: A Breathtaking Evolution)is the foundation’s inaugural project. Three of WIF’s focus areas will come together through the exhibition – the arts, study abroad, and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics).

To bring the project to fruition, WIF is partnering with a number of organizations, including Les Amis de Beauford Delaney, a French non-profit association that I founded in 2009, and Columbia Global Centers | Europe at Reid Hall in Paris. Columbia Global Centers is providing 1400 sq ft of exhibition space that will permit the display of over 40 paintings and works on paper by Beauford Delaney (1901-1979), most of which have never been seen by the general public before. The grand opening is scheduled for February 3, 2016 and the show will run from February 4-29, 2016. This will be the first solo exhibition of Beauford's work in Paris since the 1992 show organized by the Galerie Darthea Speyer.

Portrait of Beauford Delaney
1953 Carl Van Vechten

Untitled
Beauford Delaney
1957 Oil on canvas
Centre Pompidou, Paris
© Estate of Beauford Delaney,
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator

During the spring semester, Columbia University will be offering an undergraduate course entitled "Le Pari(s) du Jazz,” taught by Professor Alexandre Pierrepont, at Reid Hall. Upon learning of WIF’s plans for the exhibition, Professor Pierrepont decided to incorporate it into the course in the following ways:

• Spoken word artist Mike Ladd will speak at a public event about jazz in conjunction with the course. He is personally acquainted with Beauford’s biographer, David A. Leeming, and appreciates Beauford’s work. Given that his talk will be held in the exhibition space, Ladd will speak about the works in the exhibition as well.
• The university will host a public screening of a documentary about the African-American experience in Paris. Entitled Paris Noir, When African Americans Came to Paris (Blue Lion Films, 2015), the film includes several references to jazz and to artists, including Beauford.
• I will give a private presentation of Beauford’s art to the undergraduate students of the class.

Mike Ladd (detail)
Image courtesy of Mike Ladd

J Rêve International, an organization that fosters visual and performing arts, creative education, and global exchanges to transform lives and communities, will host a Global Educator Program workshop on STEAM education and multiple intelligences inspired by Beauford’s life and work. Six teachers from New York, South Korea (via Ohio), and Texas will participate in the week-long workshop designed to develop experience that equips them with the global competencies necessary to bring an international arts perspective to their schools.

Jacqueline Cofield, founder of J Rêve International
Screenshot from Beauford Delaney Paris Program video

Additionally, the University of Arizona and WIF are working together to organize the Augmented Reality Project that I described previously on this blog. Six students, led by Professor Bryan Carter, will come to Paris to create an app (a small, specialized program that is downloaded into mobile devices) that will allow persons attending the exhibition to view videos on their smartphones that provide information about the paintings. Mike Ladd will provide commentary for several of these videos. The teachers from the Global Educator Program will be able to use this app during their workshop in Paris and take the technology back to their respective school districts in the U.S. at the end of the program.

Teachers and students will also enjoy the newest Discover Paris! walking tour, Entrée to Black Paris' Beauford Delaney’s Montparnasse, which I created for the exhibition.

Going forward, WIF will work with Discover Paris! to support its study abroad initiatives and with Discover Paris! and Les Amis de Beauford Delaney to support its arts initiatives.

The University of Arizona students are currently raising money for their trip to Paris and have created a 2’15” video that explains why they are so passionate about this project. Click on the link below to view it and make a donation to support them. If you need a last minute tax deduction for 2015, this is a great way to get one!

University of Arizona Students Travel to Paris for Art/Technology Project

University of Arizona Students
Screenshot from U of A fundraising video
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Entrée to Black Paris!™ is a Discover Paris! blog.