Sunday, May 01, 2005


Yes, we also have Gospel in France! Last Thursday I went to listen to one of the choirs (Gospel Dream) in Saint Germain church (6th arrondissement) the oldest church of Paris - opposite to famous Les deux magots café. Very nice evening: magnificent scenery, very good singers, outstanding trumpet player... And an incomparable change from television!

3 comments:

  1. Well, who's to say where Gospel can flourish? Let us not forget what great things happened when Jazz took root in Paris. Even today, there is some amazing hip-hop coming out of Paris. My current favorite is Orishas, a cuban rap group that has gotten help from MC Solaar.

    Eric, do you know if Gospel singers in France tend to be of a particular ethnic background? Americans? Africans?

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  2. Wahou, you know more than I do! (Well I know MC Solaar, of course, but not Orishas).

    As far as Gospel groups are concerned I don't know in general. I know this group has singers from the West Indies - I could tell from their accent when they talked between songs! - but some of them spoke English too. So I suppose they are a mix!

    Gospel is not very big in France anyway. 1) We are not very religious, 2) Slavery was abolished early in France: once in 1794 and a second time (Napoleon abolished the abolition!) in 1848.

    Sorry, I am not of great help!

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