Arts and Entertainment

French vocalist Cyrille Aimée to bring multicultural jazz to Schwab on Feb. 12

French-born jazz singer Cyrille Aimée, who incorporates influences from three continents in her music, will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 12 in Schwab Auditorium. Credit: Deborah Anderson. All Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Jazz singer Cyrille Aimée, winner of the Montreux Jazz Festival’s vocal competition, will make her Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State debut at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, in Schwab Auditorium.

Aimée’s voice is described as being “like a fine whiskey — oaky and smooth, with a hint of smokiness,” by a writer for the Washington Post.

The daughter of a French father and a Dominican mother, Aimée was raised in Samois-sur-Seine, the village where renowned gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt once lived. For decades, the Romani from across Europe have set up encampments near the village each June for the annual Reinhardt Festival. As a child, Aimée would leave home and explore the camps, where she fell in love with the visitors’ music and culture.

“I was hypnotized by this music, which made me want to tap my feet,” she recalled. “Swinging music makes me so happy.”

She later became fascinated by Brazilian guitar. Her singing reveals a thorough understanding of bossa nova and samba.

Aimée, who has lived in Paris, Cameroon, Singapore and the Dominican Republic, today calls Brooklyn home. Singing mostly in English, she has added an ever-expanding understanding of American jazz to her repertoire.

“It’s a Good Day,” her major-label album debut released last summer, includes a mix of originals and standards, such as “Where and When,” “Caravan” and the title track made famous by Peggy Lee.

Her concert band features two guitarists, a bassist and a drummer.

Watch Aimée perform “It’s a Good Day.”

Artistic Viewpoints, an informal moderated discussion featuring a visiting artist, will be offered in Schwab one hour before the performance and is free for ticket holders.

Spats Café and Speakeasy sponsors the presentation.

Tickets are available online or at 814-863-0255. Outside the local calling area, dial 800-ARTS-TIX. Tickets are also available at four University Park/State College locations: Eisenhower Auditorium (weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), Penn State Downtown Theatre Center (weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), HUB-Robeson Center Information Desk (weekdays 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and Bryce Jordan Center (weekdays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.). A grant from the University Park Allocation Committee makes Penn State student prices possible.

Find the Center for the Performing Arts on Facebook, on Twitter and on Instagram.

Last Updated January 26, 2015