Orbit | Updated: September 6, 2026
Born: April 10
Marie‑Paule Franke is a Belgium‑based jazz singer‑songwriter with German roots. Her music moves between improvisation and intimate, narrative songs. Her voice is defined by subtlety, spaciousness and emotional clarity — a place where silence carries meaning and expression unfolds in small, deliberate gestures.
Early projects
Her debut album Tales from a Lonely Room, with pianist Erik Vermeulen and bassist Jouni Isoherranen, marked the beginning of her recording career. It established the foundations of her open, lyrical and atmospheric style.
With the EP All Is Love her vocal and artistic language became further refined.
International work
For Clouds Franke worked in New York with bassist and arranger John Benitez (a.o.w. Chick Corea), drummer Francis (Steve) Benitez, pianist Jim Ridl, and woodwind players Fred De Cristofaro and Norbert Stachel. The album was recorded in the Mozart Studio (New York) and engineered by Kostadin Kamcev.
Her latest album Through the Cracks the Light Is Born marks a new artistic phase.
For the first time, Franke wrote all the arrangements herself. She collaborated with pianist Dongfeng Liu (a.o.w. Gonzalo Rubalcaba), drummer Mathias Künzli (a.o.w. Regina Spektor), bassist Marcos Varela (a.o.w. Billy Hart) and tenor saxophonist Amir Mankovski.
The recording was produced, recorded and edited by Marc Urselli at Confidential (New York). Urselli is a three‑time Grammy Award‑winning engineer and producer known for his work with U2 and Laurie Anderson.
Franke creates a musical space where vulnerability and strength coexist. Her melodies whisper rather than declare, and light appears through small details. Her work invites listeners into a place of quiet attention — gentle, honest and unhurried
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Articles Across the Web
...or were mentioned in an All About Jazz article.
Tim Larsen-Jazz views, July 9, 2026
Jonathan Widran-JwVibe, April 12, 2026
Anne Carlini- Exclusive Magazine
"The songs surround love, pain, loss and freedom, as Franke’s diverse pipes align with rhythmic moments, balladry and no lack of melodies and mysterious bouts", Tom Haugen, Take Effect-September 01, 2026.
"Marie-Paule Franke sings with the sensitivity of a poetess on this album, George Harris, Jazz Weekly-July 13, 2026.
"Plenty of singers can tell a story. She makes you feel like she means every word of it, whether she’s whispering it or shouting it. Few sound this much like nobody else", Tim Larsen, Album Reviews International-July 9, 2026.
Contact
Publicist
Management and booking
MariPosa Records (independant label)
