LULU’S JAZZ CLUB
in Whelan’s – Every Tuesday
‘A NIGHT OF FRENCH CHANSON’
with
LIZA MICHAEL & FRIENDS
Ken Whelan, accordion – Tom Mulrooney, double bass – Michal Kruszewski, drums
Little Whelan’s • Tue 2nd May 2023
Oh La la! Jazz and Rhythm ’n’ Blues singer, Liza Michael, goes back to her native roots for One Night of Chanson Française…
Re-discover in their original language legendary standards like “Autumn Leaves”, “The Good Life”, “I Wish You Love”, etc… because, well… C’est Si Bon!!
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LIZA MICHAEL, voice
After a Jazz dance background as choreographer for the “Profil” company, the French native English graduate Liza Michael met jazz pianist Pascal Palamidessi (owner of the Funambule Jazz Club in Strasbourg, France) who introduced her to All That Jazz.
She then started touring Europe with the Glen Miller Memorial Orchestra with which she stayed In The Mood for 4 years. Her multi-tasking aptitudes were quickly noticed by Alfredo Arias, the multi-awarded Argentine director of “Fous des Folies” who was looking for a triple threat who could incarnate the likes of Billie Holiday, Josephine Baker as well as Michael Jackson in his revival revue of the Folies Bergère. Liza Michael definitively left her native Alsace to settle down On The Sunny Side Of The Street in Paris.
Constantly refining her repertoire, she lent her voice to the Marc Goldfeder’s big band, the Rhythm ‘n’ Blues Chance Orchestra & the James Brown’s Tribute, created the 1st live mashup band Hot Couture, while spicing up international stages in shows like “Cabaret Coconuts” in Montreal Canada, “La Revue Genevoise” in Geneva Switzerland, “Simenon & Joséphine” for the Liege Opera in Belgium, “Hair” in Paris & Toulouse, “Creatures” in Paris & Dublin Ireland where despite the Irish Stormy Weather, she found L.O.V.E & stayed In A Sentimental Mood since then.
Liza had the pleasure to work with composer Michel Legrand, jazz guitarist & crooner Sacha Distel (The Good Life), Jazz singer Henri Salvador (Syracuse, Jardin d’Hiver, …), guitarist Bireli Lagrene, bassist Linley Marthe (Soul Connection), drummer Thierry Arpino (Rose Tango), French singers Zazie (Sol En Cirque), Johnny Halliday, Herbert Leonard and Sylvie Vartan. She was chosen by Francis Lai for the rendition of his “Folies Bergere” and “Un Homme, Une Femme” on the album “13 Jours en France”.
Jazz scenes includes “Jazz Festival of Tabarka”, “Abidjan Jazz Festival’, “Park Hyatt Tokyo Jazz Club”, “Petit Journal Montparnasse”, Paris, “Olympia” Paris, “Hot Brass” Orange, etc…
Acting completes her triple threat profile – on TV (French TV series “Chante!”, “Ethnik Stars”, 5-year Bouygues Telecom Diva national campaign, etc…) or on stage (“Scenes of a Sensual Nature”, London) – Coaching Actors (co-founding Momentum Acting Studio, Meisner Technique Dublin) – Directing Plays (“One Night Stand” Galway Comedy Festival, “The Great War/Lovely Head” Dublin – “The Importance of Shoes” Edinburgh & London, “The Double Bass” Fresnes, …) & Corporate Events (Nespresso, Philips, Cartier, … ) – Translating Plays English to French (L. Wilson’s “Balm in Gilead”, E. Bogosian’s “Wake Up & Smell the Coffee”, N. LaBute’s “Shape Of Things”, …)
After launching the musical revue “Metropolita(-i)n” by Broadway composer Barry Kleinbort & authors K. Bloom & C. Mirambeau on 42nd Street in New York New York, Liza has been starting a long Tokyo Blues musical relationship with Japan, where she will be returning this summer for a 6th Jazz Residency.
New to the Dublin Jazz scene, this Sophisticated Lady is delighted to share with you her native roots and her artistic warmth & passion at Lulu Jazz’s Club.
KEN WHELAN, accordion
Ken Whelan is a professional accordionist with a Masters Degree (Hons) in Music and Media Technology from Trinity College, Dublin. He continues to hone his musical talents and has studied conducting with Eímear Noone and in 2021 completed a Jazz Improvisation Adv. Certificate with Technological University Dublin Conservatoire.
Recent appearances include The Music of John Williams with Ulster Orchestra in the Waterfront Hall in Belfast and the acclaimed Northern Ireland Opera production of Cameron Menzies “La Bohème” as a featured soloist.
Ken recently collaborated with Irish National Opera on the groundbreaking opera “Out Of The Ordinary / As An nGnách” at the Kilkenny Arts Festival and the Dublin FringeFest. The accordion part was written specifically for Ken by composer Finola Merivale.
As a composer, Ken recently completed the score for the new play “Breaking Deep” by Creatrix Theatre that premiered at the Scene and Heard Festival in Smock Alley Theatre.
Ken has also worked as Musical Director for “Jesus Christ Superstar”, “Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and “Godspell” with the Now and Then Production Company.
and has just been appointed Musical Director for Lucan Concert Band.
Ken is also the co-founder of the Diamond Ensemble, an All-Ireland winning group of classical accordionists all of whom studied with the renowned Paddy Kavanagh Accordion Orchestra. Ken recently conducted Lucan Concert Band in their competition performance at the South of Ireland Band Championship and for a concert performance at Farmleigh.
As a recording artist he joined Irish folk group Caliban on its album X:AM, Eamonn Dowd and the Racketeers on the critically acclaimed album “Songs From The Fever Ship” and toured Europe with them. Other recordings include albums with Don Baker, Gemma Hayes, Peter McVeigh, Shane O’Fearghail and Eamon Carr.
As a freelance musician, Ken spent many years touring European music festivals including arena appearances at Festival Interceltique, Hangar Des Celtes, Aufgetischt St. Gallen.
He is a regular guest with blues legend Mary Stokes and folk sensation Emma Langford.
With a series of sold out concerts in The Civic Theatre Tallaght, Five Lamps Arts Festival and Arthur’s Blues and Jazz Club, Ken is currently playing and recording with The Tolka Hot Club, a gypsy jazz septet based in Dublin that performs music from all over the world including its own original material. featured regularly on RTE Lyric FM.
In addition to performing and conducting, Ken is presenter of the classical music show Classic Sunday on Dublin South FM and featured in the Craol award winning radio documentary series Meeting Through Music.
TOM MULROONEY, double bass
Tom Mulrooney initially studying classical bass with Bryan Quigley at Maynooth University, where he obtained a BA in Music. He later went on to study with bassist Dan Bodwell. His introduction to jazz playing came with being bassist to various ensembles at New Park Jazz college as an exterior student player, where he also received tutorship in jazz theory.
In recent years, Tom has become a long-term member of the Tolka Hot Club, who have built to become a regular on the Irish jazz scene. In the past, he has been bassist for Lisa O’Neill; making television appearances and performing live with Lisa. He currently records and appears live with other acts such as World/Trad group The Nomadic Piano, led by renowned pianist, Antonio Breschi. He is also currently part of a jazz trio headed by jazz pianist, Matteo Cullen. In addition, Tom has recorded on numerous sessions and been live bassist to numerous acts as a session player.
MICHAL KRUSZEWSKI, drums
Polish native, drummer Michal KRUSZEWSK is delighted to make his official Dublin debut at Lulu’s Jazz Club. Inventive, open and eclectic, he revisits this French Repertoire with gusto and completes this trio with bounce and… je-ne-sais-quoi.
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TICKETS
€11.10 Student / €14.97 Early Bird / €18.34 General Admission – Fully Seated
Tickets are available online from Whelan’s – 50c per ticket service charge applies
Strictly over 18′s, I.D. may be required
AFTER THE GIG
Whelan’s Silent Disco from 10:30pm – 2 DJs, just pick the one you like best (€5 cover charge), plus Late Bar.