Live

Elsie Parker, the group's founder, first became enchanted with the voice and songs of Edith Piaf, and especially loves singing Piaf's early songs. Elsie also performs (in French) songs associated with Charles Aznavour, Hervé Vilard, Mireille Mathieu, Michael Legrand, Patricia Kaas, Axel Red, Jaques Brel, Leo Marjane, Eddy Mitchell, Vanessa Paradis, Gilbert Becaud, Serge Lama, Sylvie Bernard, and Charles Trenet, as well as performing her own original material. Elsie Parker has traveled to Paris, France to perform on French television's quot;La Chance aux Chansonsquot;. Pascal Sevran, the host of the show, dubbed her: quot;Une chanteuse originale...une vedette.quot; (quot;An original singer...a star.quot;) Elsie has also performed as vocal soloist and clarinet soloist with orchestras in Missouri, Illinois and Florida. Elsie owns an entire library of orchestrations for her songs in French and English. Elsie is an extra clarinetist for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra as well as a tenured member of the St. Louis Municipal Opera Orchestra (The MUNY) as clarinet/saxophone/flute doubler. Elsie is a member of the St. Louis FOX Theater Orchestra, the Kevin Kline Awards Show Orchestra, The Crusell Quartet, Trio d'anches, and Trio Eclectique. Since 2000 The Poor People of Paris has grown from a duo to a quartet with some personnel changes. Keyboardist Michael Carosello was introduced to the group bringing a fresh improvisatory pop/jazz approach to the ensemble while still retaining the charm of the more traditional French pieces. Further expansion includes master drummer/percussionist Alan Schilling, whose experience includes decades as a substitute with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Since 2006 The Poor People of Paris has welcomed the addition of former Ray Charles band member Wayne Coniglio on string bass. The current The Poor People of Paris performed for the Whitaker Music Festival at the Missouri Botanical Gardens in July 2008 with a crowd of ten thousand in attendance. Elsie Parker and the Poor People of Paris have become regulars at music festivals, concert series and private functions around St. Louis. ALBUM NOTES: 1 Nos sentiments (Sentimento) - G. Servillos / D. Ciaramella - G. D'Argenzio - F. Mesolella - M. Tronco - F. Spinette French adaptation - H.Vilard - Sugar SRL This song's purpose is to rejuvenate and rekindle our sentiments of passion we felt in our youth. 2 Boum!... - C. Trénet / Breton from the film 'La route enchantée' SDRM France Music Corporation Originally from the 1938 film 'La route enchantéequot;. When you're in love your heart goes quot;Boom!... 3 Manque d'amour (Lacking Love) - H. Spitz - ART Music France Trema Previously recorded by The PPOP, enjoy this new live version featuring great solos from Mike on keyboard and Elsie on tenor sax. 4 Le Temps - C. Aznavour / J. Davis SDRM Aznavour's up tempo and jazzy viewpoint of Time. Enjoy the amusement-park-like feel created by the band playing in 3/2 and 6/4 at the same time. 5 Last Tango in Paris - G. Barbieri, Dorey Previn EMI Unart Catalog Inc As sensual as the day it was written by the wonderful Gato Barbieri, this music from Bertolucci's notorious 1973 film remains a classic. Some cooking solos by Elsie on flute, Ken on piano and Mike on keys. 6 La foule (The Crowd) - M. Rivgauche/A. Cabral Bourne Co / Bourne Co. Sadaic Latin Copyrights, INC This song was a tremendous hit for Edith Piaf. She finds the love of her life in a crowd at carnival time. Just as quickly as this once-in-a-lifetime love ap