Sacha Boutros: Sacha: Paris After Dark

With Sacha: Paris After Dark, vocalist Sacha Boutros, delivers an elegant and lovingly crafted tribute to a century of French and American song, drawing on the enduring traditions of both genres with the care of someone deeply familiar with their roots. Recorded with a seasoned Franco-American ensemble including trumpeter Stéphane Belmondo, pianist Franck Amsallem, guitarist Hugo Lippi, bassist Thomas Bramerie, and drummer Tony Rabeson, the album reminds us that timeless material, presented with sincerity and respect, can still sound fresh.

Boutros switches easily between French and English (interspersing a few Italian words), in selecting works by composers who have shaped musical life in Paris over the past century. Her programs are renowned for their diversity, and this one is no exception. Gilbert Bécaud, Jacques Brel, Sidney Bechet, Sacha Distel, Joe Dassin, Cole Porter, Dalida, and Serge Gainsbourg are all featured. Rather than viewing the material as mere museum pieces, she employs a warm, relaxed phrasing style that draws equally from jazz, blues, pop, and classic swing. There is no attempt to reinvent for effect; instead, Boutros subtly reshapes each song, preserving its original character while adding a personal touch.

The program opens with Gilbert Bécaud's "Je Reviens te Chercher" (I Returned to Find You), featuring Boutros in a warmly expressive performance that preserves Bécaud's romantic style while subtly incorporating a jazz touch. Sidney Bechet moved to Paris in 1950, and two years later, composed the jazz-blues "Si tu Vois Ma Mère" (If You See My Mother). Boutros delivers a sultry, gently swinging interpretation of the piece with Belmondo's horn tracing the melody's nostalgic contours, and Lippi providing some slick fretboard work. The medley of Jacques Brel's "Ne Me Quitte Pas" and Frank Sinatra's "I'm a Fool To Want You" is an evocative pairing handled with restraint and emotional clarity, revealing 

The shared vulnerability of both songs. Belmondo's fluid trumpet supports Boutros' interpretations.

Tapping into one of the most iconic examples of French chanson, Boutros immerses herself in Serge Gainsbourg's 1963 hit "La Javanaise,." Performed with subtle elegance, Boutros captures the romantic spirit of mid-century Paris without descending into nostalgia. Both Amsallem and Lipi deliver solos that align perfectly with the finest French jazz tradition. The unique Cole Porter penned "In the Still of the Night." Backed by Bramerie's deep bass tones and Lippi's harmonies, Boutros offers a haunting, heartfelt rendition that emphasises the song's natural sophistication.

The finale is "La Belle Vie" (The Good Life), which swings lively as Boutros sings in both French and English, showing a cheerful optimism matched by the ensemble's polished interplay. The album is a thoughtful tribute, delivered with grace, by an artist who understands the long journey of the music she performs.

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