Bon Chic Bon Genre
Greenwich, Connecticut, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2018
Music
Press
French-born singer Valerie Ahneman provides the vocals for the band Bon Chic Bon Genre, based in New York City…..[The album] provides a change-of-pace ambiance from the usual cabaret sound evoking French flavors….she has a different and insistent quality. Edith Piaf trademarks are here. With a rock beat that some will find anathema to tradition, “Non, je NE regrette rien” is adamant in an oddly casual way rather than melodramatically insistent. “La vie en rose” is relaxed and easy to take.
It’s not all French flights of fancy … Things get sultry and Valerie switches to English with the Patsy Cline hit “Crazy” and gets a bit feisty with Tina Turner’s chart-topper, “What’s Love Got to Do with It?” Part lounge, part modernizers, part throwback, Bon Chic bon Genre mixes genres – this is hybrid time. - Rob Lester
Joyeux Noel. Parisienne chanteuse Valerie Ahneman has released a Christmas album collaborating with her talented rock band Bon Chic Bon Genre. This recording is consistently interesting on many levels. For starters, how often does one hear Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” sung in French? With a driving, pop-flavored beat, she pulls this off with flair, for a more cheerful delivery than usual. In fact, Ahneman’s spin on these familiar holiday classics is anything but usual. She brings less fire and brimstone to most interpretations than we might be used to. Instead, she repeatedly leans toward a more casual, laid-back approach. But, that is her strength and she knows how to work it……
While some of these songs have enjoyed a wide currency around the globe for decades, hearing new interpretations is welcome. Her vocals are mostly upbeat and, while not recalling the natural darkness of a Piaf or Morreau, retain a sense of whimsy that works just fine. At times, more depth might be called for, but she has her own style that is compelling sans drama.
Other cuts worth noting are “Christmas Time Is Here” and the debut of a fine new song, “I Believe in Christmas Eve” by Jay Sweeney. He gets credit as arranger for the disc as well as piano and keyboard duties. Hansen does an excellent job on guitar, bass, and drums (and is also the producer), and Meo is on saxophone and flute. - John Hoglund for Cabaret Scenes Magazine
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
Bon Chic Bon Genre Formed in 2008. They are composed of outstanding musicians from the NY Tri State area.
Bon Chic Bon Genre offers a repertoire of French and American Signature Songs from the 20th century and has performed at libraries, colleges, outdoor festivals, on radio and TV shows, on boats, at private parties and more. They love to come out and entertain audiences.
Bon Chic Bon Genre recently released “Christmas with a French Twist”, including 10 Holiday Classics sung in either French or English or both. They also have recorded an earlier album entitled “A La Mode” with unique twists on well-known songs, whimsically mixing a range of musical styles including Pop, Jazz, Funk, Latin, Soft Rock and Reggae.
Both albums are available on itunes, CDBaby, Amazon and streaming outlets.
Band Members
Links
