Ou est le jazz?

September 9, 2006 5:42 PM

FrenchJazzFilter: I'm looking for some soft, sultry french jazz (vocal) music.

Something like Diana Krall in french. Do you know any albums or artists that would quench my thirst?

posted by blue_beetle to Media & Arts (19 answers total)

If you can find anything by Juliette Greco, you'd probably like her. You might also like Patricia Kaas or Liane Foly.
posted by paulsc at 6:43 PM on September 9, 2006

Charles Biddle's daughter Stephanie is a Canadian singer with a terrific voice who often sings in French.
posted by cribcage at 6:50 PM on September 9, 2006 [1 favorite]

Madeleine Peyroux
posted by lilboo at 7:41 PM on September 9, 2006

Best answer: You might like some of Carla Bruni. None of Krall's accomplished piano accompaniament, and not particularly jazz, in fact. But the vocals may be what you're looking for: soft and smoky.

Her album has samples on the iTunes store. I'm partial to the tracks J'en Connais, Chanson Triste, and L'excessive.
posted by weston at 7:52 PM on September 9, 2006

Might be worth checking out Paris Combo. They might be more high-speed than you're looking for -- they're a little more 30s/Django Reinhardt jazz most of the time -- but they have a nice, round sound that makes them seem more sultry than they might otherwise.
posted by occhiblu at 7:59 PM on September 9, 2006

Seconded: Madeleine Peyroux is exactly who you're looking for.
posted by ryanhealy at 9:29 PM on September 9, 2006

Ute Lemper? I know she sings some French, but I don't know how much compared to German.
posted by sevenless at 9:39 PM on September 9, 2006

Is a male vocalist OK?
posted by nonmyopicdave at 10:13 PM on September 9, 2006

Duo Royale above are wonderful
posted by growabrain at 12:38 AM on September 10, 2006

Coralie Clément (who is Benjamin Biolay's sister).
posted by j.s.f. at 1:34 AM on September 10, 2006

Serge Gainsbourg - Du Jazz Dans Le Ravin
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Tindersticks - Nenette & Boni OST
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Bertrand Burgalat - The Sssound Of Mmmusic
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Maybe Keren Ann
posted by cottoncandyhammer at 5:52 AM on September 10, 2006

Try these two "Cafe de Flore" compilations.
posted by iviken at 9:07 AM on September 10, 2006

Best answer: This blog might give you some more possibilities.
posted by amestoy at 1:09 PM on September 10, 2006

Carla Bruni is soooooo great: that whole album is perfection
posted by lilboo at 5:16 PM on September 10, 2006

i would third Madeleine Peyroux, but she's American and sings in english.
posted by punkbitch at 10:01 PM on September 10, 2006

Carla Bruni and Keren Ann are both excellent suggestions
posted by mcstayinskool at 7:02 AM on September 11, 2006

Actually several of her songs are sung in French at least one song from each album

And the only requirement is that the songs are sung in French: I think the singer can be from anywhere

Being that Jazz is mostly considered to be an American invention maybe you can just let that one slide
posted by lilboo at 7:12 PM on September 11, 2006

Response by poster: Thanks for the answers everyone. I marked 'Carla Bruni' as a best answer, even though I've already got her album. I wish she'd make another one.

I've noticed a lot of the suggest music sounds like french versions of James Bond themes, which is ok, but if you've got more suggestions for slow sultry jazz, don't stop!
posted by blue_beetle at 6:41 PM on September 24, 2006

Hi,
I had a hard time to remember her name, since she's not really preminent in the medias and I haven't listened to her music for a while. But to me, she's great and has an original voice : elisabeth caumont.
posted by nicolin at 8:18 AM on May 21, 2007