Benoit's World News #2 - May 2023

 

 

Good morning ladies and Gentlemen,

I have just writen the second issue of my monthly newsletter. In a world where we have time for nothing and for nobody if it doesn’t pay, I feel proud of my achievement. I hope you will enjoy the read. Please don’t hesitate to email me to correct my grammar.

 

Weather Forecast

May: (Etymology: Saxon word, month of the year describing the British spring: It may rain, may snow, may get hale, may get thunder, may be hot, may have the heating on, may be sunny, may be...).
Advice: Don't risk it, stay home an listen to some music.

 

Current Affairs: "Caught on Film"

Are you ready for the new sex tape scandal: 
"Benoit Viellefon Hot Club “Caught on Film”
Learn all about it below...

 

 

Every celebrity, and especially politicians, needs some press to build their profile and sell, and there are only three avenues for guaranteed coverage: drug scandals, tax scandals, and sex scandals. National champions sometimes cumulate them all to remain popular among the masses for extended period of time. In the old days undesirable politicians, telling the truth most likely, would get assassinated; but fortunately, we live in an advanced civilization and they get ridded of with a finely crafted sex scandal instead. Drugs scandals and tax scandals obviously don't work on politicians as we expect them to behave so badly, but sex scandals to the exception of world beating champions will terminate their career on the spot. I'm sure you can think of many fine specimens. For artists it's very different, they absolutely need the scandals to break in and exist in the public eye. Getting some press as a matter of life or death.

With this in mind, being desperate to increase the press coverage of my music, I have tried to apply this PR technique rigorously, and I could find no better marketing angle but to call my new album consiting of 10 songs and 9 videos: "Benoit Viellefon Hot Club “Caught on Film".

Swing in Britain Review: ​
"As suggestive as the title is, it is hot, swinging hard, impressive, packed with action, incredible stunts and acrobatics, and even subtle vocalisations. The cast is oozing with seduction and skills, and when it comes to tension and release it is a masterpiece. The whole experience will alert your senses."

You should definitely go to investigate it there:

https://benoitviellefon.bandcamp.com/album/caught-on-film-live-at-oriole

Only £7. Buy it.

 

Horoscope

If you are single your love life will be a disaster because you won't have any money to go out dating for the foreseeable future. If you are in a relationship, it will be even worse as your partner will ambush you daily with the refrain "Where is the money?". Still, you could turn this into a sentimental opportunity. Follow the influence of Venus and use this month constructively to attract your love interest to your bed by doing some serious spring cleaning, and that means behind the furniture and under the bed too! I’ve tried it myself and dusted off my website www.benoitandhisorchestra.com, I hope it will attract the love it deserves.

 

Economy: BV PLC Shares plummet

The shares of Benoit Viellefon PLC on the streaming markets nosedived again this quarter for the the 9th consecutive quarter. The board was forced under investors and shareholders pressure to liquidate some assets to fix their balance sheets. Consequently Bandcamp just acquired “Benoit Viellefon Hot Club Live at the Quecumbar” for a song, and are selling it rather successfully on https://benoitviellefon.bandcamp.com/music. Since then, the album has been withdrawn from all streaming platforms unilaterally. Rumours have it that Bandcamp will soon acquire the lion share from the BV PLC publishing portfolio. We’ll have to wait and see how the markets react.

 

Benoit Viellefon Hot Club - Live at the Quecumbar - Album - Available on Bandcamp

 

 

Culture & Entertainment

May is a busy month for me. The Londoners will be delighted to see my Quartet playing some new Latin tunes during an intimate performance at the excellent "Toulouse Lautrec Jazz Club” on the 12th of May. Book now: there are only a handful of tickets still available.

For the rest, we’ll venture in the country with festivals appearances in Oxford on 26th, then Beaumaris (Anglesey) North Wales on 27th. We’ll then head to South Devon for the Sidmouth International Jazz Festival on the 29th, where we’ll be headlining along Curtis Stigers, Brand New Heavies and Courtney Pine.

MAY
12
Benoit Viellefon Quartet live at Toulouse Lautrec
London, United Kingdom
MAY
19
Nightjar Carnaby (Trio)
London, United Kingdom
MAY
20
NIGHTJAR - (Quartet)
London, United Kingdom
MAY
26
Hot Spring Jazz - Dance Event
Oxford, United Kingdom
MAY
27
Gwyl Beaumaris festival 2023
Beaumaris, United Kingdom
MAY
29
Sidmouth International Jazz & Blues Festival 2023
Sidmouth, United Kingdom
JUN
09
Nightjar Carnaby (Trio)
London, United Kingdom
JUN
10
NIGHTJAR - (Quartet)
London, United Kingdom
JUN
11
RONNIE SCOTTS - (Hot Club)
London, United Kingdom
JUL
07
Nightjar Carnaby (Trio)
London, United Kingdom
JUL
08
NIGHTJAR - (Quartet)
London, United Kingdom
JUL
15
The Brewery Yard Club (Hot Club)
Rye, United Kingdom

Obituary

As you have probably noticed, most jazz musicians only make the deadlines when they die. They work all their lives mostly ignored, and barely paid, until this pinnacle of attention: their obituary with a couple of lines in the press.

Last month, Ahmad Jamal (R.I.P) died. He was truly one of the greatest pianists of the last century, if you don’t know his music you should investigate here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmad_Jamal

From the Editor

I hope that you enjoyed reading all this. I had pleasure writing it for the second time. I'll try to publish monthly so you get a chance to catch the good gigs and new music releases. Please email me if you have any feedback or questions. I will be delighted to reply and maybe publish your reviews if you write one.

A bientot. (French: meaning "See you soon")

Benoit Viellefon

 

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