Lucien Ginsburg (1928-1991) evolved from rebellious, job-hopping jazz musician and crooner in Parisian nightclubs to the widely known artist and provocateur Serge Gainsbourg. His songs infused with humor, eroticism, subversion and wordplay made him one of the most influential artists in the world.
Together with French singer Camille Bertault, the Brussels Jazz Orchestra pays tribute to this icon of French music. Original songs by the mythical Gainsbourg underlie new BJO arrangements.
Serge Gainsbourg is a figure who still inspires, fascinates, triggers and provokes. For this project, 12 songs by Gainsbourg were arranged by (friends of) BJO musicians, including the classics 'Je suis venu te dire que je m'en vais' and 'Couleur Café'. Brussels Jazz Orchestra was inspired by Gainsbourg's original songs, his much-discussed personality and the unparalleled influence he had on French music as a musical chameleon (with roots in jazz). This project leaves plenty of room for improvisation and does not shy away from elaborate arrangements.
The French singer Camille Bertault moves impressively and sensually over the musical playing field, between jazz, chanson and humour, making her the dream soloist to interpret Gainsbourg’s work with vocal virtuosity and enticing subtlety.
After the world was introduced to Bertault’s enchanting jazz talent in 2015 when she scatted along to John Coltrane’s ‘Giant Steps’ in a Facebook video, the albums ‘En vie’ (2016), ‘Pas de Géant’ (2018), ‘Le Tigre’ (2020) and ‘Playground’ (2022) with David Helbock followed. In between recordings she toured through Europe, the United States, Canada, Asia and Brazil.
“If you like words and naughtiness, you can't help but love Gainsbourg. I am very happy to have been asked for this project, which is not an obvious one: singing Gainsbourg with a big band and beautiful arrangements, and that as a woman. A fantastic challenge!”
The album Gainsbourg is available on all digital streaming platforms: Apple Music, Spotify, deezer, TikTok and Amazon Music.
Gainsbourg is a remarkable approach to the oeuvre of a versatile artist, impossible to categorize but always fresh and passionate.
Arrangements (album & live): Pierre Drevet, Dieter Limbourg, Nathalie Loriers, Gyuri Spies, Frederik Heirman, Dree Peremans and Frank Vaganée.
After finishing the jazz programme at the Paris conservatoire, Camille Bertault (b. 1986) released her first recording ‘En Vie’ in 2016 with the New York label Sunnyside Records. The mix of her own songs and interpretations (including Wayne Shorter’s ‘Infant Eyes’) was praised by the international jazz press, and her second album ‘Pas de Géant’ on Sony Masterworks was also enthusiastically received. Bertault is establishing a reputation as a rising star in jazz.
