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Sing Out!
Summer 2008 Vol. 52 #2
Christine Albert
Paris, Texafrance
MoonHouse 2906
Image this: growing
up in upstate New York with a French grandmother and a
Swiss mother. Christine Albert found herself surrounded
by the music of Parisian café society and its beloved
songstress Edith Piaf. When she moved to Santa Fe these
influences began to mix with the style of American
singer-songwriters of the Southwest. Eventually, she
relocated to Austin and her talent burst into full
bloom. Paris, Texafrance is Christine’s third
CD, and it’s a bilingual trip through a variety of
classic French and American songs.
The CD opens with
“Swing Troubadour” by Charles Trenet and Leon Chauliac.
It is sung in both French and Christine’s English
translation. She is ably accompanied by a very talented
ensemble including Shawn Sanders, cell; Paul Glasse,
mandolin; Eddie Cantu and Paul Pearcy, percussion; David
Carroll, bass; and her husband Chris Gage, guitar, piano
and accordion.
“I Shouldn’t Care /
Quand J’M’En Fous Pas Mal” is a classic from the Piaf
repertoire highlighting salon accordion and a light and
airy rhythm. The most overtly “texafrench” of the
selections is “The French Song” from the singing of
Lucille Starr, who had a hit with the tune in 1963.
Jesse Winchester’s
“L’air de la Louisiane” incorporates a delicate
arrangement including nylon strung guitar and
Christine’s ethereal backing vocals. Adam Mitchell’s
“French Waltz” features the accordion and mandolin in
its lovely accompaniment. You may recall the popular
version by Nicolette Larson.
The CD concludes
with the Edith Piaf’s signature anthem “Hymn a l’amour /
Hymn to Love.” It is an appropriate ending to a
delightful CD featuring a set of tunes that may not
appeal to everyone, but given a chance you’ll fall under
the spell of Paris, Texafrance by Christine
Albert and her very talented ensemble. – TD
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