Belle du Berry’s Paris Combo ready for first-ever İstanbul gig

The group released its first album through the indie label Boucherie in 1997, which became a phenomenal success throughout Europe. Having released five albums so far, the five-piece ensemble is currently working on a new studio album, again in their signature jazz-pop style, set for release sometime in 2012.

The group is led by singer-songwriter and accordionist Belle du Berry and Australian-born trumpeter, pianist and composer David Lewis, who have also performed as a duo since 2007. They first collaborated on the song “İstanbul,” which du Berry wrote for Paris Combo’s debut album.

Paris Combo is set for a live appearance in İstanbul later this month in what will be their first appearance here as a group. Before the group takes to the stage on Feb. 16 at İş Sanat, du Berry spoke about her ensemble, their new projects and İstanbul in a recent online interview:

Paris Combo was first seen as a retro-swing band but your music is certainly more than that. Can we say it’s more contemporary jazz?

There are certainly “historical” influences in our music like Django Reinhardt, Billie Holiday, but the jazz element also enables us to navigate around different musical influences and try some unlikely musical combinations. I would prefer to say we are a jazz-influenced pop group.

Will we hear that same sound in Paris Combo’s upcoming album?

Yes. We are now also writing more as a group and are very conscious of the sound we create when we play together.

You performed in İstanbul in 2010 with your alternative project with David Lewis. How was your visit to İstanbul?

We really enjoyed the concerts, the city and the great hospitality of the people, even after the concert some people from the audience spontaneously offered to show us around the city.

You took a little break from Paris Combo and now you’re back. Have there been any changes in the band?

The most obvious change is our new bass player Emmanuel Chabbey. Also we are now tending to co-compose all the new material. Our desire is to write new songs but also to revisit our older songs that we love playing.

The guitar is a powerful element in Paris Combo’s music, but what about the lyrics?

The lyrics are free in a similar way to the music; they are playful and sometimes they are surrealistic; they sometimes combine with or contrast with the music.

Contemporary jazz musicians often have an attitude of not listening to pop music at all, what about you?

Well, as I said, I think we are a sort of pop band but with a very broad conception of the word “pop.” Up until the ’60s, jazz was also considered pop music and today most of the so-called “world music” is also popular music. So I think it’s important to include all types of musical expressions [in your music] and as Paris Combo members we combine a lot of different musical experiences in our work.

As a songwriter what inspires you most?

Love, dreams, daily life! The music I hear Potzi, David and François play also inspires my ideas for lyrics, especially as we tend now to create the music first.

Paris Combo is going to perform its first-ever gig in İstanbul on Feb. 16. Can you give any hinta about the concert’s repertoire?

The concert will be a mixture of our old songs like “Living-room” and “Senor” and our new songs that we are presently recording for our next album.

You wrote a song called “İstanbul” for Paris Combo’s debut album using only your imagination without actually seeing the city. How did that happen?

Actually David Lewis had already visited İstanbul before and seen people dancing in a disco to 9/8 rhythm. He also told me his sound impressions of the city, like ships on the Bosporus, prayers from the mosques…

That was the first song on which you collaborated with David Lewis. So it must be special for the band.

Absolutely! And it seems we have a good following in İstanbul.