December 1997
Music Review:
Rachid Bahri and Hart Rouge at L'Air du Temps
A jazz performer from Algeria and a folk group with French roots from Saskatchewan may seem to be an unlikely double bill, but pianist and vocalist Rachid Bahri, and Hart Rouge, a five-person band performed on the same program Saturday November 15 at Paine Hall, Harvard University.
hey were brought to the stage by L'Air du Temps, a festival of music from the French-speaking world, held October 7-16, at venues in and around Boston. The production was organized by Prof. Brian Thompson of the Modern Languages Department.
Bahri played a jazzy set, improvising expertly with soprano saxophonist Philippe Chrettien. Instead of the blues influence usually found in jazz, Bahri's music has a middle eastern influence and a touch of cabaret.
He performed mostly original compositions, one of which he wrote and dedicated to his native Algeria, where a state of civil war has resulted in the deaths of thousands. Between songs, he created an intimate rapport with the audience speaking in both French and English.
At the nucleus of Hart Rouge are three siblings, Paul, Suzanne and Michelle Campagne, whose striking vocal harmonies are the core of the band's sound. Davy Gallant, who plays a variety of instruments from guitar to ullian pipes, and percussionist Michel Dupire round out the group.
They sang in French, English, and Micmac, a Native American language of Canada's Maritime Provinces. A stunning rendition of James Taylor's "Millworker" was one of a variety of songs performed by the band.
Other performances were scheduled at venues as varied as Johnny D's Music Club in Somerville and the French Library in Boston. School concerts were scheduled at Leominster, Norwell, and Brookline high schools and at the Boston Latin School.
For five years, L'Air du Temps has brought the music of the French speaking world to as wide an audience as possible, supporting the teaching and learning of French to the area's young people. Unfortunately, L'Air du Temps founder Thompson is not optimistic about the Festival's future prospects. "One of the meanings of 'vivre l'air du temps' is 'living on air," says Thompson, who lost two major festival underwriters this year. "Unfortunately, I'm not assured of being able to produce the festival again."