By Nashauna Drummond, Staff Reporter
French singer, Bernard Lavilliers (second left), president of Alliance Francais, Pierre Lemaire and French Ambassador, Pierre-Antoine Berniard (first right back row), hanging out with the Carifolk Singers at a reception at the French Embassy following Lavilliers' performance at the Hilton Kingston Hotel as part of 'A Touch of France'. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
THE THIRD staging of the annual exhibition, 'A Touch of France', organised by Alliance Francais, in collaboration with the French Embassy, came to a climatic close last Wednesday. The three-day expo, which is an exhibition of French products, services and culture geared towards enhancing co-operation between both countries, had the added attraction this year of world renowned French singer, Bernard Lavilliers.
A fairly large contingent of French supporters and music lovers waited patiently and when they were finally graced with the presence of Lavilliers, he was well received. From the onset, he had the crowd's undivided attention as rifts of reggae beats echoed from his set. Though most of his lyrics were in French, those who were not fluent speakers of the language did not mind, they rocked in tune to a sound they knew very well.
Though his first performance in Jamaica, he had the crowd eating out of his hands. Interspersed with bits of humour related in a mixture of English and French, he had the audience singing and clapping along with him during a performance that was to a large extent storytelling. From his constant gesticulations, body language and the emotion expressed in his facial expressions, you could sometimes get an idea of the songs he was singing as he related his father's work in the factory, and the experiences he has had in Jamaica through both songs that he had recorded at Tuff Gong studios 'Kingston kill some' and 'To stand the ghetto'.
After his third song, he received audible oohs and ahhs from the ladies when he took off his jacket. Clad in a close fitting pair of leather pants, he mirrored a gypsy.
He strutted slick moves and jumps across the stage to sounds that could be best described as a world beat containing clear elements of his numerous musical influence. Accompanied with an accordion, along with his band consisting of base player, Pascal Arrayo, lead guitarist, Mark Papazian, Xavier Triebolet on keyboard and Jon Phillip Fant Fant on drums, they combined Latin, gypsy, jazz and reggae all combined to producing a unique sound that defines Bernard Lavilliers.
Minister of Education Youth and Culture, Maxine Henry-Wilson, could be seen constantly nodding in tune to the music. Russian Ambassador Edward Malayan, said he liked the mixture, especially when they mix local music with 'imported' sounds. As an encore he performed, 'Melody, Tempo Harmony' accompanied by Dean Fraser and other local artistes. Bernard said this meant a lot to him as it shows that after all these years they have not forgotten his work it also shows their respect for him.
At a private wine and cheese reception at the French Embassy following Lavilliers' performance, it was his turn to be entertained by the French Ambassador's favourite group, the Carifolk Singers. During their performance, they had Lavillier's undivided attention as he nodded in tune to the music and clapped the loudest. In essence, 'A touch of France' ended in a true display of the varied culture of both countries.
