GIGI AT PEEL FRESCO

Genevieve Martiennete, more popularly known as Gigi, is kinda the Grande Dame of all those singers who are slotted into the “Jazz” box and from where they do the usual hotel gigs, the one-off private functions and then do their own thing at venues like Backstage, Joyce Is Not Here and Peel Fresco.

(Source: Open Rice)

On Monday, Gigi performed at Peel Fresco backed by a keyboard player and drummer- and, first of all, she looked sensational.

That’s just one of the things I admire about Gigi: her dress sense and the care she takes in looking like the star onstage she is.

People pay money to watch performers and they are owed something glamourous. Gigi gets this.

Watching her onstage with a stunning multi-colored long dress and flower behind her ear, I couldn’t help thinking how perfect she would have looked singing with the Count Basie Band or The Glenn Miller Band and when music was great music with also great style and singers like Lady Day, Miss Ella, Peggy Lee, Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughn.

(Source: Brookly N Brand)

A musical chameleon whose music I have heard on a CD, then more free-form singing at The Blue Bar and Adrenaline with The Good Life, quasi-Rock at the Beer Garden at the Happy Valley Racecourse and torch songs at her current regular gig at the Ritz Carlton, this night it was a far more commercial and accessible Gigi and in great voice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6ID8E9KJuQ

There were a few good originals, some theatrics when she sang Bacharach and David’s Walk On By with her back to the audience and other songs that ebbed and flowed with the filming of a music video taking place.

The question is, And now what?

Over the years, Gigi has left Hong Kong for good a few times. But like many of us who have done the same, this whacked out and safe world city is part of our DNA though for musicians the opportunities are limited.

(Source: Facebook)

What’s next for Genevieve Martiennete? I really don’t know. But while she’s here, while other musicians are here, I just hope to see the day when an entire “concept” record about this city is made.

Making records that can be from anywhere and only add to all the other generic love songs out there in one downloadable clutter can easily fall through the tracks.

(Source: Aramblers Ramble)

I’ve seen way too many very good young singers from the UK to Sweden to Germany and New York via Japan and Indonesia disappear into that void called cyberspace. Why?

(Source: Hasebetuj)

The TITLES of their songs didn’t stop many in their tracks- those who fast track their way through iTunes knowing the artists music they wish to purchase, but needing something special to make them listen to an unknown artist.

(Source: Wiki)

And though Damon Albarn wrote a song called Hong Kong for the Gorillaz which had nothing to do with the city, a great song about this city is needed for the HKTA, a movie and various sync deals. Someday soon, this WILL happen.

#Backstage #GenevieveMartiennete #JOYCEISNOTHERE #PeelFresco