Madeleine Peyroux at Ethno Jazz Festival: a jazz voice from Billie Holiday to Cohen

The American jazz singer with a distinctive voice, hailed by journalists as Billie Holiday’s successor, will perform at the White Stork Synagogue on 7 May as part of Ethno Jazz Festival 2014.

“The only thing that matters is the song,” says songwriter Madeleine Peyroux. The artist is convinced that her unique voice carried her from the streets of Paris towards fame.

Sixteen years after “Dreamland”, Peyroux still clearly enchants audiences with jazz, pop and world music. Six acclaimed albums have given this “brightest jazz star” an excellent reputation, while impeccably chosen repertoire makes each new record eagerly awaited by fans and the wider music market. Interpreting jazz standards and contemporary songs in her seductive voice, she enriches them and frequently reveals new meanings.

From Holiday to Dylan, from Bessie Smith to Leonard Cohen, Peyroux sheds new light on familiar musical gems, using every phrase as though it were her own, in what some describe as “creating new classics”.

This “artistic soul” began her musical adventure as a teenager in Paris. Captivated by street music, at fifteen she left school and joined a blues-jazz band. “Someone gave me early Billie Holiday recordings and told me to learn them.”

Peyroux worked not only with melody but also with key and phrasing, creating new pieces from classic standards. ‘Working on Billie Holiday’s songs helped me discover my own voice,’ she explains.

Years later, her undeniable talent was recognised. Yves Beauvais heard her in a New York club and signed her to Atlantic Records, later co-producing her 1996 debut album, “Dreamland”. Her dreamy, muted voice enchanted audiences and critics, as did her next album, “Carless Love”, released in 2004. It was a milestone for the artist, beginning a fruitful period of collaboration with producer Larry Klein.

Peyroux has travelled a long way from Paris's streets to the most prestigious concert halls and collaborations with outstanding musicians. Where other artists might decide to rest on their laurels and bask in fame while reaping the rewards, Peyroux continually explores new musical territories.

Charmingly modest, she does not expect to become someone important to the world: she simply wants to do her own thing. We do not know what the future will bring, but it is easy to see that much still lies ahead on Madeleine Peyroux's musical journey…

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