Guitarist Ron Affif plays hard and thrills the soul
Saxophonist Sedric Choukroun invites guitarist Ron Affif for a “fast and funky” duo this Saturday. Ron Affif is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. “He is the son of boxing welterweight and middleweight fighter Charley Zivic who being a jazz fan initiated him in music. His mother is Marlene, sister of renowned jazz guitarist Ron Anthony.
Affif studied with Jerry Conderata and Joe Negri before heading to the West Coast in 1983 to study under maternal uncle and musician Ron Anthony. While in Los Angeles he also took lessons from the jazz guitarist Joe Pass. He moved to New York City in late 1989, and currently lives in Brooklyn.
In the late 1990s, he recorded five albums under the Fantasy record label, of which the best known is “52nd Street”. In 1998, he formed the Ron Affif Trio alongside fellow musicians bassist Essiet Okon Essiet and drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts.
Affif’s style is reminiscent of Wes Montgomery and George Benson, and Benson once described Affif playing as his “favorite type of guitar player, one that plays with fire.” http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/musician.php?id=3281
Tatiana and Adrien turn Brasserie Julien into the hippest “Jazz Bistrot” in NYC
Avalon Jazz Band offers a ride in a time machine, and brings you back to the Parisian « zazou » era of the forties. It’s a bridge between the old world and the new, between Parisian charm and American glam, with just a pinch of burlesque and a spoonfull of swing… the best medicine for you troubled sleepers out there. Tatiana Eva-Marie was born in a musical family, her career began at age 4 and she describes herself as a “recording studio rat”. At age 16, she moved to Paris, where she performed as a Gypsy singer and dancer in cabarets across the city, barefoot on tables with the Eastern mafia drinking vodka out of her shoes.
Also a talented actress and stage director, she performed in some of the most renowned Parisian theaters.
After violinist Adrien Chevalier played for the Pope at the Vatican on his 15th birthday, he had a revelation: dumping his classical training for the love of syncopation and hot jazz. He left his beloved South of France for the decadent streets of Paris, jamming every night with Gypsy Jazz musicians. He studied with the greatest jazz violinists of our time and his music is directly inspired by Stéphane Grappelli.
Also this week, saxophonist Sedric Choukroun invites:
-Vocalist Myriam Phiro, guitarist Ron Jackson and saxophonist Johnny Lippiett on Thursday January 26, 7:30pm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X87PTsIkn2Q
-Guitarist Ethan Mann on Saturday January 28, 7pm http://ethanmann.com/
Thanksgiving joyful acoustic music and Saturday post-big-feast-party … at BJ!
Don’t worry if you eat too much Pumpkin pie on Thursday – you can dance it off on Saturday with singer Michelle Walker’s trio. Michelle has been making music all over the world and has opened for Jazz Stars such as George Benson, Chris Botti and Wynton Marsalis.
Acoustic guitarist Jason Ennis has the music you want to hear on Thanksgiving: a mix of audiences favorites and well-loved melodies.
Two eminent, gifted vocalists shine at BJ: for music gluttons only!
As long as there is wine, there will be beautiful French songstress like Floanne to accompany your “degustation” of 2011 new Beaujolais. And Saturday night Brasserie Julien is excited to feature the BET’s Jazz Discovery Vocalist of the Year: Eve Cornelious. It is a double-fun weekend of monumental acoustic music and brilliant wine tasting.
Avalon Jazz Band is a very prolific French trio that features bohemian singer Tatania Eva Marie, sublime violin player Adrien Chevalier and equally talented guitarist Adrien Moignard. They’ve been delivering audacious new renditions of old French songs with charismatic improvisations all over New York City. The three young performers make their Upper East Side debut at Brasserie Julien, this weekend.
Parisian-NewYorker most ebullient singer on the scene pays homage to Piaf, Brel and Aznavour with guitar phenomenon Ron Jackson and saxophonist musical-entertainer Sedric Choukroun.
The genius playing of guitarist Roni Ben-Hur demonstrates a haunting vintage sound expanded by soulful melodies and impeccable grooves. Be ready for another utterly toe-tapping evening at Brasserie Julien.
As the years go by, we have been fortunate enough to witness the numerous proposals of marriage at our restaurant, Brasserie Julien. We have felt the joys of their hopes for a happy future realized right here at our tables. Friday night, we were able to assist in creating yet another wedding proposal into a romantic evening to remember. Rated most romantic restaurant in New York.
A proposal to remember…
Last Friday night, with the help of Brasserie Julien’s cheerful staff, Philippe was able to set the scene for the romantic wedding proposal that was joyfully accepted by his soon to be fiancee.
The evening started off with the lingering element of surprise as the staff set up the private chef’s table for two. Curious clients watched on as a bucket of champagne was placed on the table and rose petals were scattered around it, and all over the floor around the table. As the photographer set up his lights and umbrellas, it looked like a scene from a movie was about to take place. In anticipation for the arrival of the bride to-be and her future groom, the staff bustled around busily to the beat of the resident saxophonist’s smooth jazz beats. When the couple arrived, owners Phillip Feret and Frederic Legrand were at the door to meet them. As Frederic took X to the table, Y stayed with Phillip in the front. It must have come to her utter surprise when Phillip proceded to blindfold Alexandra and to lead her to her table, where X was waiting for her on one knee. When her blindfold was peeled away, 50 staring eyes were anticipating her next move, her answer to the age old question- ‘will you marry me?’
The entire restaurant fell dead silent for the few minutes that seemed like hours as everyone watched on. As the photographer snapped away, capturing each precious moment of the engagement, the photos were instantly uploaded to facebook before we even knew the answer. The voice of a man in love echoed throughout the restaurant, screaming “she said yes!” as the diners of Brasserie Julien cheered and clapped for the happy couple. Their moments of joy were shared with their friends and family as the pictures captivated the entire event. The mood throughout the restaurant embodied sheer bliss and hope for a bright future as the diners returned to their seats. The curtains of the private dining room were lowered to give the newly engaged a private dining experience fit for kings.
The evening was ended with the sound of champagne glasses clinking and the air of happiness overflowing around Brasserie Julien.
SINGER TATANIA AND VIOLIN PLAYER ADRIEN AT BRASSERIE JULIEN
TATANIA EVA MARIE, who describes herself as “a bohemian singer and actress”, met violin player ADRIEN CHEVALIER while studying and performing Jazz music in Paris (France). They moved to New York about 8 months ago and create the “Avalon Jazz Band” which features old and new swing american and French standards. The band also plays jazzy version of French traditional songs from Legends such as Edith Piaf, Jacques Brel, or Yves Montand. They have been welcomed by New York City audiences and have been performing “all over town”, especially in the French Restaurant/Bistro circuit in Brooklyn and Manhattan.
Brasserie Julien is happy to introduce “Avalon Jazz Band” to the Upper East Side music lovers. The band will be playing at the restaurant in November – please check out our calendar for the exact date and time.
A new tradition at Brasserie Julien is an appearance on the first Friday of every month by the New York-based French chanteuseFloanne. Elegant, animated, and lovely, the young singer Floanne carries on the grand tradition of French music-hall and variety tunes long performed by such world-famous singers as Edith Piaf, Charles Aznavour, Charles Trenet, Mireille Mathieu, Juliette Greco, and even Yves Montand before he became better known as an actor.
During her most recent appearance on Friday September 2nd, backed by resident saxophonist Sedric Choukroun and accordionist Benjamin Ickies, Floanne sang such classic French tunes as Aznavour’s “La Boheme” and “Emmenez-moi,” the Piaf classics “Milord” and “Johnny tu n’es pas un ange,” the Serge Gainsbourg-Juliette Greco song “La Javanaise,” “Le Tourbillon” from the Francois Truffaut movie “Jules et Jim,” Michel Legrand’s “Les Moulins de mon Coeur” (“Windmills of Your Mind” in English), “La Maladie d’Amour,” “L’aigle Noir,” and even “Are You Lonesome Tonight.”
The combination of Floanne’s clear, resonant voice, the poignant French lyrics, and the accordion accompaniment all combined to create a delightfully entertaining and modernized version of a French music-hall sound dating back more than half a century. It is rare in New York City to find singers who perform these classic tunes so authentically, and with the elegant and upbeat atmosphere of Brasserie Julien it is natural that the restaurant’s motto is “Paris Around the Corner.” Floanne will be back at Brasserie Julien Friday, October 7th.
For the past 2 years, Brasserie Julien has been welcoming guests to bring their own wine on Sunday and Monday nights. For some restaurants, it sounds strange to offer free corkage fee, and others won’t allow you to bring anything, even for a low fee. I think this is not only unprofessional but also anti-social. It also discourages people from
experimenting with newer labels and greater vintages for a reasonable price. I remember 2 years ago I was reading about one of the most successful marketing ideas that Amazon.com ever had: FREE deliveries. As a result, people ended up buying more than they had originally wanted. Since then, we have had a greater variety of regulars and new patrons coming back because they were finally able to taste some of their favorite vintages without paying $500 for it. As a result, we have been developing the B.Y.O. concept and offering a glass of sparkling rosé to every new couple who comes on their first date…Bring Your Own Date! And ever since, we have had many new couples and blind dates from Match.com, Jdate.com, and more from other social networks…
Don’t forget to watch the innovative new show on Food Network, “Cupcake Wars”.
Our great friend and talented pastry chef, Florian Bellanger, is one of the judges who will be making participants break down in tears or jump for joy. You can visit his site, www.madmacnyc.com. Chef Florian has a wide variety of macaroons ready to be shipped wherever you are. Macaroon desserts are some of the most difficult and expensive to produce or teach to a pastry chef, and Chef Florian exceeds everybody’s expectations with his little macaroons.
Saturday February 11 @ 7pm
