Fête de la Musique with Yannick Noah, Coralie Clément & Mayra Andrade June 21, 2009

SummerStage joins the global Francophone community in celebrating chanson française (French song) with a line up representing the diversity of French contemporary music.

Presented in association with the Cultural Services of the French Embassy.

Since retiring from professional tennis in 1996, Yannick Noah has developed a career for himself as one of France’s most highly-regarded pop singers. Creating upbeat dance music heard throughout Europe, Asia, and North America, Noah can bring audience members to their feet and put a smile on their faces. In possibly his most famous moment, Noah made an entire stadium sing his track "Saga Africa,” off of his debut album Black or What after coaching France to a win in the 1997 Davis Cup final.

Building on the styles of classic '60s French vocalists like Jane Birkin and Francoise Hardy, Coralie Clément uses her velvety voice to bring together familiar sounds of chanson and bossa nova music with the rhythm and flair of French pop. Releasing her first album Salle des Pas Perdus in 2002 with the help of her brother, producer/singer Benjamin Biolay, Clément received world-wide recognition for her talents. Clément was later hired for movie soundtracks, writing and performing the songs "Dorénavant," used as the theme of the film L'Idole by Samantha Lang starring Leelee Sobieski, and "Samba de mon cœur qui bat," used in Something's Gotta Give starring Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson.

Mayra Andrade’s ascension to the world music stage has been swift. In June 2001, the young sixteen year-old Cape Verdean singer won the Gold Medal in a singing contest at the Francophone Games. In July 2002, Andrade was invited to participate in the Nantes Jazz Festival “Rendez-Vous de l’Erdre,” where she was given the opportunity to perform for thousands of people. As an advocate of Cape Verdean culture, Andrade establishes her unique style on stage. Carrying her warm and deep voice, she switches with remarkable ease from Morna to Funana and Coladeira to Batuque ascribing a unique jazzy touch. Her charming personality and talent bring a true breath of freshness to the music of the Cape Verde islands.

Now in its third year, Make Music New York, “the largest music event ever to grace Gotham” (Metro New York), is a unique festival of more than 800 free concerts in public spaces throughout the five boroughs of New York City, all on Sunday, June 21st, the first day of summer. MMNY takes place simultaneously with "Fête de la Musique" festivities in more than 327 cities around the world — a global celebration of music making. From 11 in the morning to 10 at night, musicians of all ages, creeds, and musical persuasions — from hip hop to opera, Latin jazz to punk rock — perform on New York's streets, sidewalks, stoops, plazas, cemeteries, parks and gardens. From high school bands to marquee names, MMNY is open to anyone who wants to take part, enjoyed by everyone who wants to attend.

Official Website: http://www.summerstage.org