Review: Champagne & Fries and Jazz

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Written by Bérengère Roure

Tonight I am at La Marche d’à côté, a bar near Laurier station. The place is small but very cosy. Nick Di Giovanny and Tyra Jutai are performing for the first time together. They met in October in a jazz club. At first the venue is a bit empty, but fills in quickly — a good start for their first concert.

The show begins. Tyra stands up, she wears a long black, semi transparent dress. She looks like a 20s pin-up. Nick sits with his guitar, wearing a white shirt. They stars with jazz standards, such as Duke Ellington. It is very intimate. It is like being transported in an old bar during the 20s or 30s. You have all the atmosphere, the dim light. They emanate something very special.

Then Tyra sing her own songs. They are very refreshing — love stories and her daily life. She is only 22-years-old but when you see her on stage you feel like she has been performing much longer. She has a beautiful, strong and fresh voice. She speaks with us between the songs, and makes us laugh.

When I met her last week, she told me Nick was a great guitar player, and she is damned right. He graduated Mc Gill University. He is a regular of Dièse onze jazz club. During the show he performs some inspired solos.

They initially didn’t plan to be a duo, but seeing them so connected, it is obvious they meant to play together. I know they are working on an album. I look forward to hearing it!

After three sets it is time to go home with jazz songs in my head, feeling relaxed and happy. Overall, it is a night with as much sparkle as a glass of champagne!

If you missed Champagne & Fries, there is another set in la Drinkerie St Cunegonde on Sunday April 23.