CD Review by Andrew Poretz . . . .
Margot Sergent is a marvelous French performer I’ve caught a couple of times, including her Edith Piaf show at Birdland (reviewed HERE). As a jazz harpist, singer and songwriter, Ms. Sergent is a solid triple threat. She is celebrating her ZOHO debut release, Douce France (Sweet France), this month at Birdland.
Douce France is a very good, even delightful album, in no small part thanks to the excellent trio of guitarist Patrick Brennan, clarinetist/saxophonist Linus Wyrsch and bassist Alec Safy. On those cuts where Ms. Sergent plays harp, her gorgeous playing adds an ethereal, almost otherworldly element. The eleven songs are ordered in sets of Ms. Sergent’s original compositions followed by covers of chanson standards written by French composers. The six originals hold up well among such significant songs as “L’Hymne a l’Amour” and “I Wish You Love.”
With a haunting harp solo, the album kicks off with Ms. Sergent’s original, “Keep the Moon in Mind.” Though this jazz chanteuse’s first language is French, several of her songs are in English. Ms. Sergent runs into some trouble with enunciation in English, making it difficult at times to discern lyrics.
On “Douce France” (Charles Trenet), Linus Wyrsch’s clarinet makes its first appearance. Wyrsch is one of the finest reed players this reviewer has encountered in New York jazz clubs, and his presence elevates every song in which he plays.
“The Apartment Next Door” is a fetching composition that could have been written for The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, with a cheery and very French countenance that belies the song’s somewhat profound message of found family. Ms. Sergent has performed this live, with a story to set it up. (If only that story were included here, though Will Friedwald’s liner notes do reference it.)
The jazz standard “I Wish You Love” (“Que reste-t-il de nos amours”), composed by Léo Chauliac and Charles Trenet, has French and English lyrics by Trenet and Albert Askew Beach, respectively. With Ms. Sergent’s rhythmic harp playing, Vitor Goncalves’ accordion gives this song a feeling of sitting at a café along the Seine.
The poppy “Little Miracle” is filled with marvelous changes in tempo, and is a strong number for drummer Ben Silashi. While I’m not sure whom the singer is addressing – is it a lover? A baby?– it may not matter, and this song has the potential to be covered by many performers.
La Boheme (Charles Aznavour) is one of the most recognizable French songs on the album. Backed only by the guitar, bass and accordion, the deceptively simple arrangement is perfect, and Ms. Sergent is at her best here vocally.
Several fine originals and French standards make up the remainder of the album. Ms. Sergent’s “Silent Steps” is a light swinger, sung in French, with just guitar and bass accompaniment. The penultimate track, “L’Hymne a l’Amour,” is one of Edith Piaf’s most powerful songs. The unique arrangement puts the guitar and the harp front and center, with Ms. Sergent providing her sole accompaniment on the bridge. The guitar and harp sounds intertwine divinely. The album closes with a (too brief) Sergent original harp instrumental, “Saudade,” best listened to with eyes closed.
Overall, this is a satisfying album. Ms. Sergent is a solid songwriter with serious jazz chops on the harp. She is backed up by world-class musicians, and has sweet, zippy arrangements. Her singing is good, her voice quite pleasing, though her intonation is occasionally shaky. Crisper English enunciation would be welcomed. The inclusion of her stories that set up her original songs, as she does in live performances, would be helpful. Still, Douce France has grown on me in multiple plays prior to writing this review, and with a hearty Oui!, I highly recommend giving it a listen.
Margof Sergent: Douce France/Sweet France can be found on the usual streaming sites, Amazon, etc. For more information about Ms. Sergent, visit www.margotsergent.com.
