Friday, November 13, 2009

Jazz in Paris


Last evening (Thursday) I went to the opening of a photo exhibit by Alain Bellone, but I felt a bit lonely as no one would speak to me (did you notice how people look very inspired in art exhibit openings, but don't dare talking to each others?!). So I left pretty quickly, without a photo (I had planned to take my photo du jour there...). On the way out - near Le Méridien hotel in Montparnasse - I came across a Paris institution that I never showed to you: Le petit journal Montparnasse. It's THE place to go to if you're desperate to listen to some jazz in Paris and don't know where else to go.

27 comments:

  1. Love that you went from a neon photo gallery exhibit to a neon sign!
    mammie

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  2. love learning and seeing places I never heard of before.

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  3. This is great to know about and I love the Paris at night vibe! Thanks for all you do, Eric. : )

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  4. This photo is very cool and has lots of jazzy energy -- appropriate for the subject. I'm sure Coltrane will make a note of this place, if he hasn't been there already.

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  5. PHX - you haven't heard of Le Petit Journal? And you're practically a Parisian! An absolute must-do in Paris. If you'd rather, there's an even more petit Petit Journal near the jardins du Luxembourg as well. We'll have to go one time when you are here. I'm sure since there's no smoking indoors anymore, it will be even more enjoyable for the spectators and musicians.

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  6. Oh Eric,
    Shame on them. How could they blow off our King?? That is a disgrace.
    V

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  7. Eric, the only imaginable reason for people not speaking to you at a photo exhibit is that they were intimidated by your reputation as a photographer!

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  8. Oui, Rimabirdgirl is correct. BTW...I'm listening to Clifford Brown/Max Roach "Parisian Thoroughfare" as I write this. Quite timely, non? How could I not sound my barbaric jazz yawp in my most Whitmanesque fashion? LOL Paris and jazz go together like "pain" et "au chocolat". Indeed, JAZZ is truly an American art form that we musicians take much pride in. It is cool to see you covering such a noteable jazz club, Eric. Definitely a place I'd gladly check out; I'm sure Jeff would dig it aussi. When last I was in Paris, I noted swing music was quite popular at Le Caveau de la Huchette located in a building dating back to the 1600s. Of course, I'm a bit more contemporary than that in my musical tastes. ;-) Nevertheless, I am raising the glass to you on this one Eric and hope to see more coverage of JAZZ in the future on PDP. Another superb shot of Parisian ambiance, and I do certainly thank you.

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  9. When I saw today's photo, I immediately thought : "this post is for Coltrane"!!
    I'v never been to Le Petit Journal, though I know it's a must-do for jazz lovers. But, as Coltrane, I have a lot of good memories of le Caveau de la Huchette! It's in le Quartier Latin, and not far from Notre-Dame, one of my favorite places when I was a student....

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  10. For once, you followed my steps
    - unvoluntarily - but enough pleasant to be said ;)

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  11. It's interesting that nobody mention Friday the 13th.

    Friday the 13th occurs when the thirteenth day of a month falls on Friday, which superstition holds to be a day of good or bad luck. In the Gregorian calendar, this day occurs at least once, but at most three times a year. Any month's 13th day will fall on a Friday if the month starts on a Sunday. In 2009 this applies to the months of February, March, and November. The next instance of this appears on the calendar for the year 2015.

    FRIDAY THE 13TH - how is fear of the number thirteen demonstarted?
    More than 80 percent of high-rises lack a 13th floor.
    Many airports skip the 13th gate.
    Airplanes have no 13th aisle.
    Hospitals and hotels regularly have no room number 13.
    Italians omit the number 13 from their national lottery.
    On streets in Florence, Italy, the house between number 12 and 14 is addressed as 12 and a half.
    Many cities do not have a 13th Street or a 13th Avenue
    In France, socialites known as the quatorziens (fourteeners) once made themselves available as 14th guests to keep a dinner party from an unlucky fate.
    Many triskaidekaphobes, as those who fear the unlucky integer are known, point to the ill-fated mission to the moon, Apollo 13.
    If you have 13 letters in your name, you will have the devil's luck . Jack the Ripper, Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer, Theodore Bundy and Albert De Salvo all have 13 letters in their names.

    Jazz in Paris

    By the way nice photo Eric, but really jazz is great wherever you find it, especially if it's tunes by Miles Davis. (Happy Anniversary Jake - your always in my heart)

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  12. Remarkable.
    In 2009, Friday the 13th of February, I had a few seconds - I remembered it clearly - of good luck but far too short.
    +1

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  13. Where else can one find a true jazz/vocal jazz bar in paris? The last time I was there, i was hard-pressed t find one!

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  14. Le petit Journal montparnasse?.. I've never heard about it! Michael, PHX, I'm in next time you want to go! (is the restaurant good?! ;) )

    Eric, nobody spoke to you... You gotta be kidding me. That's because they didn't recognize you, no other explanation. ;)
    But I've to admit that when I'm really into an exhibition, I don't pay attention to the other people around me.

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  15. Michael and Guille--aim for January--I'm in, let's go !!! Coltrain will be in our hearts, unless he has a ticket to Fr. as well as" Fr." who wrote above me.. If Eric is around, it will be our lucky day!

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  16. 'Eric slowly realised that leaving his helmet and goggles on at the exhibition probably wasn't one of his better ideas'.

    Perhaps you should have worn your PDP badge Eric.
    Look on the positive side, I've sometimes struck up a conversation with someone and then regretted it - at length!

    Love to listen to live music and must give this place a try, although not so keen on eating dinner at the same time.

    Don't suppose anyone knows any Paris bars that have live rock/blues/soul music?

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  17. I hope you didn't get your feelings hurt. I would speak to you anywhere. Lovely photo. Valorie

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  18. Their loss, Eric. With your keen eye, I bet you could have pointed out some nuances. If I am ever lucky enough to see you at a Paris exhibit, I will not only talk to you, I'll buy you a cup of coffee.

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  19. We actually just walked by here on Friday coming back from dinner in the Montparnasse area at our favorite Moroccan place....we said it looked worth checking out next trip, as that Algerian wine we had with dinner would have made our music appreciation skills, um, a little questionable!


    Sean

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  20. Lovely to read your warm messages. Of course.
    we never know how many sister souls, we miss because of not talking. Glad they didn't speak to you as it leaves me one more chance to rob you definitely for me only, one day ;-) Just a few minutes, ok. Relax :)

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  22. Guille "Eric, nobody spoke to you... You gotta be kidding me. That's because they didn't recognize you, no other explanation. ;)"

    Sometimes I'm just shy (I know you probably don't think I am).

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  23. Eric Tenin, "Sometimes I'm just shy (I know you probably don't think I am)." Oh yes, since the day I met you, I thought you were shy. Although, you do not look it. But, in your student photo that you showed us, you really looked shy.

    Guillemette, "...when I'm really into an exhibition, I don't pay attention to the other people around me." I am exactly the same way.

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  24. Thanks for sharing this place. now I CAN'T wait to return to Paris!!

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