Madeleine Peyroux at the Parkway Theater (04-24-2024)

Parkway Theater marquee Tour Dates Fri, APR 26 Englert Theater Iowa City, IA Sat, APR 27 City Winery Chicago, IL Sun, APR 28 City Winery Chicago, IL Wed, MAY 1 Kent Stage Kent, OH Thu, MAY 2 Cbus Columbus, OH Sat, MAY 4 Avalon Theater Easton, MD Sun, MAY 5 Birchmere Alexandria, VA Tue, MAY 7 The Ridgefield Playhouse Ridgefield, CT Fri, MAY 10 Sony Hall New York, NY Sat, MAY 11 Sony Hall New York, NY Read More Madeleine Peyroux After a short break, and the two carpets being whittled down to just one, jazz-pop singer songwriter Madeleine Peyroux entered with her own trio, accompanied by guitarist Jon Herington (who plays with Steely Dan) and standup … Jill Sobule Jill Sobule is best known for her "I Kissed a Girl" song. She wrote a tribute song to Bobbie Gentry, naturally called "Bobbie Gentry". But unlike Beth Orton's song (which is misspelled as "Bobby Gentry"), Sobule's version stole the music and rhythem from "Ode..." … It was a sold out show at the Parkway Theater with Madeleine Peyroux offering a sneak peek to her latest album. Jill Sobule Singer-songwriter Jill Sobule opened the evening with a solo set, sporting a pixie hairdo and traveling guitar. It was my first time seeing such an instrument, and it brought unsolicited questions from the audience as to who made it. Sobule said it came from Kevin Smith and he was in the process of making her a customized one. Soluble has been performing since 1990 with eight studio albums, coming to national prominence with her self-titled sophomore album with songs like “I Kissed a Girl” and “Supermodel.” Like a lot of singer-songwriters, Sobule was quite talkative between songs and had the audience laughing throughout. She even asked the audience if they wanted to hear a happy or sad song. Overwhelmingly, the answer was happy. So Sobule played a rather uplifting song about the apocalypse, “A Good Life.” At the end of her set she asked the audience if they wanted a song about anorexia or taking mushrooms in high school. Of course, mushrooms, “Cinnamon Park.” She even played a “freakout” solo on her traveling guitar that brought resounding applause. Madeleine Peyroux next took the stage with a trio of musicians, creating a scene that would have been better in a smoky lounge with a few tables, a sullen waiter and a short distance from that voice, a voice that has been described as a descendant of Billie Holiday, a voice, fleeting yet flowing, dusky and lyrical, “... a small distinctive thing with all the weathered charm of a flea-market antique.” So said the New York Times when reviewing her album Bare Bones. Peyroux was born in Athens, Georgia, but moved to Paris at age thirteen when her parents divorced. By age fifteen she was out on the streets living life as a vagabond, joining jazz bands and touring Europe. She soon caught the eye of a rep at Atlantic Records and in 1996 released her debut album, Dreamland, backed by an all-star list of jazz performers like Marc Ribot and Vernon Reid on guitar, James Carter on tenor sax, Marcus Printup on trumpet and Cyrus Chestnut on piano. With eight studio albums Peyroux has put her own take on jazz, country and pop standards while sprinkling in a few originals. Her latest, Let’s Walk, out June 28th, is all original songs. And she spent most of the evening highlighting the new album with: “Showman Dan” a wonderful ode to Dan William Fitzgerald, leader of the Lost Wander Blues and Jazz Band and personal mentor to Peyroux. “Me and the Mosquito” an ode to living in New York and being haunted by a pest filled with a Caribbean-sounding breeze. “Take Care,” an ode to Peyroux’s mother with a laid-back reggae vibe contrasted by a worrying list of things to be worried about. “I know it sounds insane but take care of yourself.” There were also fan favorites like “J’ai Deux Amours” and “Don’t Wait Too Long.” And for the end, “La Vie en Rose,” a song made famous by Edith Piaf, but for those brief moments, Peyroux made it her own. weheartmusic ♥ twitter dave