Home » Jazz Musicians » Paris Combo

Paris Combo

Five albums and two decades spent criss-crossing the globe, playing to enthusiastic audiences from Paris to Sao Paulo and Berlin to Istanbul, have enabled France’s Paris Combo to create a unique cosmopolitan sound, establishing the band as one of the most piquant, intriguing groups on the international music scene.

Fronted by the mischievous vocals of chanteuse Belle du Berry, the combo have struck a chord with critics and audiences alike for their fun-loving mix of jazz, cabaret, gypsy, French pop and Latino and Middle Eastern rhythms.

After 20 tours of the USA, including two sell-out concerts at the Hollywood Bowl, Paris Combo is on tour all over the world in 2015. Subtle, sophisticated, sassy yet seductive, Paris Combo is back with a new collection of songs, the aptly titled "5", as well as all their favorites, such as "Living Room," "Señor" and "Sous la Lune".

Belle du Berry, guitarist Potzi and drummer François first performed together in Paris as members of a quirky retro revue, “Les Champêtres de Joie” which went on to collaborate at the closing ceremony of the Albertville Winter Olympic Games in 1992. Du Berry and Australian-born trumpeter-pianist David Lewis met while performing together at the “Cabaret Sauvage” and with the arrival of bassist Mano in 1995 the group began to hone their sound playing in cafés and barges along the Seine under the name “Paris Combo”.

Du Berry, whose musical roots go back to post-punk bands, cites influences such as Arletty, the French singer-actress of the ’30s, but also the Surrealists and a panoply of more recent artists including the B-52’s. Potzi’s Django-influenced guitar often mixes with François’ ska or Latin grooves to create a fascinating blend. Lewis, who had previously played with a wide variety of French bands including Manu Dibango and Arthur H, attributes the group’s approach to Paris’ cosmopolitan atmosphere.

Awards

Nomination at the French industry awards

Paris Combo New Album 'Quesaco?' Is Out May 6, 2022 On Six Degrees Records

Source: Press Junkie PR
May 1, 2022

Paris Combo, the French quintet Variety describes as possessing “a seemingly endless supply of catchy hooks and imaginative lyrics,” is back with a new album, Quesaco? The full-length release is their seventh studio album, but also the last recorded with the group’s late singer/songwriter Belle du Berry, who died suddenly on August 11, 2020, aged just 54, following a brief battle with cancer. Stream their latest single “Seine de la vie parisienne" here. Hailed by Billboard as “a vocalist/accordionist and ...
read more

Recording

Paris Combo Set To Mark International Jazz Day With A Sold-out New York City Concert

Source: Great Scott P.R.oductions
April 30, 2013

French outfit is winning hearts and selling out shows on their U.S. concert tour in support of the quirky quintet’s eclectic “5” album New York, NY: Sublime timing places French 5-piece Paris Combo in New York City tonight, which is perhaps exactly the type of cultural exchange the United Nations had in mind when they designated April 30th as International Jazz Day. In the midst of a 12-city U.S. concert tour that has already produced five sold-out shows, it’s a ...
read more

Recording

With Love In Every Shade From Paris Combo

Source: Great Scott P.R.oductions
March 1, 2013

Eclectic global jazz quintet returns March 12th with their aptly titled fifth studio album, “5,” that will be supported with a U.S. concert tour New York, NY: Love is a universal language and Paris Combo confirms that music is as well. The five-piece French band that has garnered global acclaim and an immense following for its unique mélange of colorful cabaret, elegant jazz, multicultural world music and sassy alterna-pop will release their fifth studio album, the appropriately titled “5,” on ...
read more

Jazz Weekly

They’ve gone through a couple changes since they’ve last recorded over 6 years ago, but the Paris Combo finally got around to releasing their 5th album. The glorious mix of gypsy, jazz, cabaret and pop provided by Belle du Berry/voc, Potzi/g, Francois Jeannin/dr David Lewis/tp-fh-p and Emmanuel Chabbey/b is still exciting to hear. Ms du Berry’s saucy voice is in excellent form hear on buoyant pieces like “Je Te Vois Partout” and “Lux.” Potzi’s guitar mixes Depression Era two beat “Hot Jazzz” and Iberian rhythms with Left Bank sensibilities on “Morphee” and “Les Cailloux Blancs,” and Lewis’ growling jungle rhythmed horn work adds an extra dash of nighclub pop to the atmosphere. Celebratory and upbeat, they are still fun to have around the house!

Jazz Weekly

George Harris

World Music Central.org Paris Combo’s savvy sound

With recordings like Paris Combo, Motifs, Living Room and Attraction to their credit, Paris Combo is back with 5, out now on the DRG Records label. Fashioned from lead vocalist Belle du Berry, guitarist Potzi, drummer, percussionist and vocalist Francois Jeannin, trumpeter, pianist and flugelhorn player David Lewis and contrabassist Emmanuel Chabbey, Paris Combo is a sleek, contemporary listen into that dishy, delightful sound particular to the French. Part cabaret, part jazz and part pop, Paris Combo offers up a sassy, seductive series of tracks on 5 that will listeners swooning and exclaiming with an accent. Opening with the deliciously flirty “Je Te Vois Partout,” Paris Combo exudes a savvy sound replete with guitar, piano and some spine tingling brass lines fronted by Ms. Du Berry’s charming vocals. There’s plenty on 5 to please all kinds of fans, including the extravagant “Lux,” with its Middle Eastern licks and jazz soaked numbers like “Goodbye Pinocchio” and the silky “Morphee.” Ms. Du Berry’s vocals are so sultry on such tracks like “Les Cailloux Blancs” and “Fantome Adore” they’ll sneak up on and bite you on the neck … and you’ll enjoy it. Other delicious delights include the hopelessly catchy “Chaque Fois” and “Mediumisons.”

T.J. Nelson

Show less