The Paris Combo has been hailed as one of the hottest cabaret acts to grace the stages of international theater in recent years. The band's music is a combination of pre-World War II influence, sleek and sexy jazz, pop Flamenco rhythms and a rocking group of North African beats and percussions. The smooth and vivacious voice of femme fatale Belle du Berry marks the exotic style and soul-filled rhythm of the group.
On Saturday night, the cabaret ensemble performed for a filled Spaulding Auditorium. The performance encompassed their intricate style, innovative music and renowned creativity. The cabaret quintet consists of an Australian trumpeter, a Madagascan percussionist and an Algerian guitarist.
This weekend's concert by the Paris Combo was certainly not a run-of-the-mill perfromance. The group was receptive, creative and passionate. The members' clever style helped bring the audience into the show, and made everyone feel as if they were transported to a small cabaret in the heart of a Parisian spring.
While it's safe to say that most people in the audience were not able to fully understand the French lyrics, the message behind each song was clear. Every piece was filled with a degree of genuine energy and passion that one seldom sees in today's entertainment world.
Belle du Berry began the performance with a series of French jokes and passionate words. She made the audience feel at ease as she practiced her English and tried to do some on-the-spot translations. She presented each song with an individual message, a single goal. From love and the art of being single to NASA and Spanish fever, the range of topics covered by the Paris Combo was magical.
It certainly didn't take long for the audience to become involved in the show. When the ensemble asked for audience members to get up from their seats and dance in the aisles, the audience was certainly quick to respond. By the end of the performance, over 100 couples were dancing their way up and down the aisles of Spaulding, trying to tango, waltz and cha-cha to the Franco-Spanish beats of the Paris Combo.
The Paris Combo was formally created back in Paris in 1995. The group began as a charismatic ensemble that performed in cafes, clubs and even on barges along France's rivers. The cabaret collective, though, has grown to become an internationally renowned performing group.
Before the Paris Combo's establishment, du Berry and pianist David Lewis had already met with one another for a number of unique and prominent projects and performances. They had spent time playing music from the '30s and '40s until the arrival of Australian David Lewis and Mano Razanajato, who helped bring a new sound to the cabaret act.
While the Paris Combo displays diversity in its member's musical interests and cultural backgrounds, the ensemble has been successful in coming together to provide a sound that is united and creative. Their gypsy-like, rambunctious attitude and appreciation for their music has allowed these musicians to soar above their contemporaries and establish names for themselves among popular French and international culture.
The Paris Combo is certainly not your typical musical act. A combination of extreme interests and personalities, the ensemble relies heavily upon their own zany antics and a series of improvisational acts that have become critical to every one of the group's performances.
The group is currently in the United States in support of their latest album, "Attraction." The CD marks the group's third international release, following their debut album, "Paris Combo," and their follow-up album, "Living Room."
The Paris Combo's latest album has received acclaim from people around the world, both within their homeland of France, from the rest of Europe, across the United States, Asia and Australia. They have been deemed "the hottest cabaret act to come out of the City Of Lights" by Billboard Magazine.
From the first song to the last dance, the sleek look, feel and sounds of the Paris Combo captivated the Spaulding audience. The seductive and charming ensemble was able to break through international barriers and prove that the language of song and music can cross over oceans.
