Sal, Remi & Chris play at the Paris party.
We hosted the Paris edition of my 60th Birthday Bash at the Fifth Bar in the Quartier Latin. The evening was a tad more laid-back than New York, but great fun nonetheless. My friends Remi Jeannin & Chris Kenna of Moonray & The Bitch played, accompanied by harmonica virtuoso Sal Bernardi.
Christophe, Yazid, Marco, Nadine & Yvette.
The Paris Krew was well represented. A number of the Deadheads showed up, along with our pal Katy Jane & a few others.
Jean-Yves & Laurence. Michel burning one down. Jean-Michel in back.
It was the first time that Chris & his guys had played the cave at the Fifth Bar. It proved to be a cozy little performance space. Trevor, the owner of the club, arranged for free hot dogs. When his hot dog machine broke down, he improvised by using a hot water kettle.
Sal & Remi.
It's always a treat to hear Sal sit in with these guys. He's a superb musician, who adds just the right dollop of harp & percussion to the mix.
Marti with Christophe. With Michel.
We got to hang with some of our favorite people. All our friends are music freaks. They all seemed to appreciate being turned on to the bar & the tunes.
They even played "New York."
As a special nod to my transatlantic birthday celebrations, Chris played "New York," my favorite of his songs. Your eyes, they're like diamonds / Your skin's as soft as snow / Let me walk through your island / From your head down to your toes . . . Not long ago Chris, an Australian expat living here in Paris, confessed that he'd written the tune without ever having visited Maximum City. He & Sal are considering going to New York this year to play some bar gigs, so I brought him copies of Time Out & the Village Voice, which are replete with gig & bar listings.
Next time I decide to party down at B.B. King's on a Monday night, I hope these guys will come along & play for me.
