Album Notes

The 24-page liner notes contain all the lyrics, translations and commentary.

A favorite of the Club at Chicago Symphony Center, Paris-born actor/singer Claudia Hommel is joined here by the legendary violinist Johnny Frigo.

Together and separately they tour the country (and abroad). Johnny with the Hot Club of 52nd Street or on the jazz festival circuit with pianist Joe Vito. Claudia tours most often with pianist Bob Moreen, and is joined by acccordionist, and jazz ensembles. Her current programs include Souvenirs of Paris, 1950; Romance Language; French Impressions (including Fauré, Chabrier, Ravel), and Paris in the Jazz Age (1900-1940).

Described as a "bit of Audrey Hepburn, with something of Ginger Rogers, Leslie Caron, Maurice Chevalier and ...Air Jordan," Claudia "will make you want to dance along the Seine." A long time member of Actors Equity, SAG and AFTRA, she is a founding member of Chicago Cabaret Professionals.

Is there an audience for the old French songs? Claudia responds: "When I sing 'Mon amant de Saint Jean' I ask the women in the audience if they remember the fateful moment when we stupidly lost our heart to that gorgeous liar, and all the women nod in recognition. The emotions and scenarios are universal." She chuckles, "But somehow it just seems easier to sing about it in French."

Making language sing attracts other poets to Claudia's work. Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Yusef Komunyakaa, produced a poem for the new album. Published in the thick little booklet accompanying the CD, he writes,
"A voice. Not only a piano calling to a woman, but a woman speaking a language of tenable blue that salves each bruise...

...turning inside the nervous system of a dream coming true, worlds held whole by a seam of lyrical blood."

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