The American jazz greats have died and risen again, only this time they’re coming in the form of a young French duo.
PeyodelO is the fusion of singer Elodie Noutaïs and
pianist Pierre Cherbero, who take listeners on a
seamless voyage back in time when Ella Fitzgerald,
Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday and Otis Redding reigned.
Exuding a passionate energy, the duo transmits a
powerful, reminiscent soul sound.
Since its formation in
2003, the Périgord group
has played with Eddie Bo,
Red Morgan, Betty Harris
and the Cool Bones, and
other modern jazz artists.
With a CD entitled
‘Instant’ out in 2005,
another one on the way
and concerts lined up for
the next several months,
PeyodelO brings the
American soul/funk/jazz
world to the Dordogne
and beyond.
The duo first met at a
recording session of
Elodie’s group at the time,
Lou Gospel, where Pierre
was called in for his piano
skills. “It came out so
naturally, even though we’d
never played together
before,” says Pierre. Soon
after, Pierre sent Elodie,
who had up until then
been primarily a gospel
singer, a few CDs of Ella
Fitzgerald and Billie
Holiday and the results
were astounding. “When
she sang, I got goose
bumps,” Pierre smiles.
From there, they
incorporated Roberta
Flack, Marvin Gaye and
Nina Simone into their
repertoire, and PeyodelO –
a name which comes from
‘Peïo’ (‘Pierre’ in Basque)
and ‘Elo’ for ‘Elodie’ – got
off the ground.
While their music is
based much on jazz
improvisation and
composition, both artists
have a core knowledge
that goes back to their
youth. Pierre began
playing the piano at six,
landing at the Périgueux
conservatory at the age of
14. After working as a
piano teacher there, he
was signed at the age of
26 to AYC Musiques (Paris-
New York) where, two
years later, he set up his
own production label.
Elodie began her career
singing and dancing for
the nationally touring
company La Clack at age
12. At 17, she joined Lou
Gospel as the soloist,
which led to performances
at major events, such as
the jazz festival in
Andernos where she sang
to audiences of 5,000.
With American
influences driving their
soulful sound, it’s no
surprise that the English
language and culture have
played large roles in
PeyodelO’s music. “Yes, I
speak English and have
had the opportunity to
meet several Anglophone
artists, such as during the
MNOP festival,” says
Elodie. “I’m more at ease
with an English
repertoire.”
Pierre comes from
Campagne, a village near
Le Bugue of 220 souls, of
which about 100 are
English or Dutch. “They’ve
always been my good
friends,” says Pierre. “I also
had a great English
teacher in school who got
me to love Shakespeare.
Now, I find it easier to sing
and write music in English
than in French.”
Although Pierre and
Elodie have found their
groove with PeyodelO,
both play with other
groups in the area. Elodie
sings with the funk music
band Soul Circus in Paris
and features on the
Weedbrothers’ rap album.
Pierre is currently part of
at least seven different
projects, from the
Weedbrothers to Peyotl’s
smooth rock sounds, to
preparing his own record
of indie tunes. He also has
a stint with painter and
friend Pablo Corréa of
Colounieix-Chamiers, who
paints while Pierre plays
the piano. “It’s amazing
because we never know
what’s going to come out
of it before we begin.”
PeyodelO performs
regularly in Paris and the
Aquitaine, and appear at
the Musique Nouvelle
Orléans in Périgueux
festival (MNOP), Festival
Jazz in Andernos, and the
Festival Cours et Jardins in
Morsang-sur-Orge.
In August, the duo has
planned concerts in the
Périgord:
August 7 with Lou Gospel
and other artists, at 8pm at
the Place Saint-Silain for the
MNOP, in Périgueux;
and tentatively on August 29
at the Jardin des Milandes
near the castle at
Castelnaud-La-Chapelle
at 8pm. See more on
www.myspace.com/peyochanchanmusic
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