“Ménilmontant” (2012, 1938)

This sunny, light, and lively piece is classic French swing jazz. Referred to as either “hot jazz” or “gypsy jazz,” it’s music by the people, of the people, and for the people. People playing music, people listening, and people enjoying – in a homey, garden setting. The way music is supposed to be experienced and enjoyed.

Honorable Bohemian

The lyrics apparently praise the finer aspects of the bohemian neighborhood of the title. The kind of place where, even if you leave for a long time, your heart stays behind. The kind of place where people greet you and welcome you whenever you return.

note – I’d never heard this song until doing some research for “Music to Your Ears.” After 1 listen, I liked it so much that I listened again. After 2 listens, I decided to make this post. And now, I think I'll eventually put it on the "Honor Roll."

Avalon Jazz Band

Vocalist Tatiana Eva-Marie and violinist Adrien Chevalier formed Avalon Jazz Band in 2012. The band performs jazz standards and related forms of music from the Paris music scene of the 1930s–1940s, including that played by Dhango Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli.

Shaking and Swinging

Apart from playing classic jazz standards, Avalon Jazz Band also performs original music, in which it blends old and new music, old world and new world influences, to create a rejuvenated and revitalized swing music for today.

In 2015, Vanity Fair proclaimed Tatiana Eva-Marie as one of the “finest rising jazz vocalists” who are “shaking up the jazz world.” _{(Image source)}

Ménilmontant mais oui madame

C'est là que j'ai laissé mon cœur

C'est là que je viens retrouver mon âme

Toute ma flamme

Tout mon bonheur...

Quand je revois ma petite église

Où les mariages allaient gaiement

Quand je revois ma vieille maison grise

Où même la brise

Parle d'antan

Elles me racontent

Comme autrefois

De jolis contes

Beaux jours passés je vous revois

Un rendez-vous

Une musique

Des yeux rêveurs tout un roman

Tout un roman d'amour poétique et pathétique

Ménilmontant!

Quand midi sonne
La vie s'éveille à nouveau
Tout résonne
De mille échos
La midinette fait sa dînette au bistro
La pipelette
Lit ses journaux
Voici la grille verte
Voici la porte ouverte
Qui grince un peu pour dire "Bonjour, bonjour
Alors te v'là de retour?"
Ménilmontant mais oui madame
C'est là que j'ai laissé mon cœur
C'est là que je viens retrouver mon âme
Toute ma flamme
Tout mon bonheur...
Quand je revois ma petite gare
Où chaque train passait joyeux
J'entends encor dans le tintamarre
Des mots bizarres
Des mots d'adieux
Je suis pas poète
Mais je suis ému,
Et dans ma tête
Y a des souvenirs jamais perdus
Un soir d'hiver
Une musique
Des yeux très doux les tiens maman
Quel beau roman d'amour poétique
Et pathétique
Ménilmontant!
  _{(Image source)} _{Lyrics by Charles Trenet, courtesy of – Lyrics.com

Reference – Wikipedia

Reference – AvalonJazzBand.com

Reference – YouTube.com

Into your ears … through 5 channels

The various posts are categorized into 5 channels _{(Right-Click to see details)}

         1 – “Music to Your Ears” (MTYE)

         2 – “Cover Versions”

         3 – “Honor Roll”

         4 – “Documentaries”

         5 – “Mock’n’Roll”

More “Music to Your Ears” ...

          Previous posts in this series – "MTYE posts 1–20"

Links to my other series ...}

Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 1"
Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 2"