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Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris: beautiful theater and great people

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On Thursday I had the pleasure of performing with a group at the venerable and beautiful Théâtre du Châtelet in the heart of Paris, and it was a marvelous experience. All of the audio engineers and stage crew were friendly, helpful, efficient, and massively competent, resulting in some of the best stage sound I've ever experienced and an easy, enjoyable performance for the band.

The group was an electric jazz quartet: the keyboards were run direct and the bass was DI'd as well as miked with a Beyer M88. The drums were miked with three Schoeps MK4 (what utterly luxurious overhead/cymbal mics for a live performance!!), and then some usual suspects: SM57 on snare, and what appeared to be the normal Audix choices for kick and tom. I was playing saxophone and flute, with an RE20 on tenor and a Beta 58 for flute – I was skeptical of that choice at first, but in the hands of these engineers it really ended up being a good choice. The concert was broadcast on the French national jazz radio station, and I'm hoping a recording of it exists somewhere too. If I find it I'll post a link.

After our set, we got to hear Tigran Hamasayan's phenomenal trio. I was listening from a comfortable dressing room backstage, and even on the piped-in sound it was absolutely stellar. I'm not sure how they miked the piano but I'm assuming it was more Schoeps, and the instrument was a gorgeous Yamaha that sounded perfect.

All in all, it was a career highlight for me and a thoroughly exciting and pleasant experience. I hope to be back there one day, whether to play or listen, I don't really care!

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On Thursday I had the pleasure of performing with a group at the venerable and beautiful Théâtre du Châtelet in the heart of Paris, and it was a marvelous experience. All of the audio engineers and stage crew were friendly, helpful, efficient, and massively competent, resulting in some of the best stage sound I've ever experienced and an easy, enjoyable performance for the band.

The group was an electric jazz quartet: the keyboards were run direct and the bass was DI'd as well as miked with a Beyer M88. The drums were miked with three Schoeps MK4 (what utterly luxurious overhead/cymbal mics for a live performance!!), and then some usual suspects: SM57 on snare, and what appeared to be the normal Audix choices for kick and tom. I was playing saxophone and flute, with an RE20 on tenor and a Beta 58 for flute – I was skeptical of that choice at first, but in the hands of these engineers it really ended up being a good choice. The concert was broadcast on the French national jazz radio station, and I'm hoping a recording of it exists somewhere too. If I find it I'll post a link.

After our set, we got to hear Tigran Hamasayan's phenomenal trio. I was listening from a comfortable dressing room backstage, and even on the piped-in sound it was absolutely stellar. I'm not sure how they miked the piano but I'm assuming it was more Schoeps, and the instrument was a gorgeous Yamaha that sounded perfect.

All in all, it was a career highlight for me and a thoroughly exciting and pleasant experience. I hope to be back there one day, whether to play or listen, I don't really care!

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Nice Schoeps.
Wonderful, I wish I knew I could have been in the public. Was it live on TSF Jazz?
Nice Schoeps.
Man. Yeah. I was jealous. I wanted one on my flute REAL bad but I trusted those engineers, they were as pro as it gets, and they were right in all their calls. But one day, one of those will be mine... they're some of the greatest.
Wonderful, I wish I knew I could have been in the public. Was it live on TSF Jazz?
Yes indeed, it was on TSF! I'm not sure if they broadcast the entire festival, but I know they broadcast our set and Tigran's on Thursday. It was an honor to be heard by so many fine French folk, I had a wonderful time there – my first time in Paris!
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Congratulations and lucky you. We live in neighboring Switzerland, and listen to TSF Jazz quite often. I've heard ads for this festival, but didn't pay real attention. Shame...
On Thursday I had the pleasure of performing with a group at the venerable and beautiful Théâtre du Châtelet in the heart of Paris, and it was a marvelous experience. All of the audio engineers and stage crew were friendly, helpful, efficient, and massively competent, resulting in some of the best stage sound I've ever experienced and an easy, enjoyable performance for the band.

The group was an electric jazz quartet: the keyboards were run direct and the bass was DI'd as well as miked with a Beyer M88. The drums were miked with three Schoeps MK4 (what utterly luxurious overhead/cymbal mics for a live performance!!), and then some usual suspects: SM57 on snare, and what appeared to be the normal Audix choices for kick and tom. I was playing saxophone and flute, with an RE20 on tenor and a Beta 58 for flute – I was skeptical of that choice at first, but in the hands of these engineers it really ended up being a good choice. The concert was broadcast on the French national jazz radio station, and I'm hoping a recording of it exists somewhere too. If I find it I'll post a link.

After our set, we got to hear Tigran Hamasayan's phenomenal trio. I was listening from a comfortable dressing room backstage, and even on the piped-in sound it was absolutely stellar. I'm not sure how they miked the piano but I'm assuming it was more Schoeps, and the instrument was a gorgeous Yamaha that sounded perfect.

All in all, it was a career highlight for me and a thoroughly exciting and pleasant experience. I hope to be back there one day, whether to play or listen, I don't really care!

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Amazing!
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NICE!
Man, so after our set, we got to hear Tigran's utter Tigranification of all those standards, from his new record... broke our brains clean open. Along with Jonathan Pinson and Rick Rosato, total beasts! Hung afterward with Pinson for a good long while, phenomenal drummer and guy. I'd never gotten to hear him before.
So great!!
Man, so after our set, we got to hear Tigran's utter Tigranification of all those standards, from his new record... broke our brains clean open. Along with Jonathan Pinson and Rick Rosato, total beasts! Hung afterward with Pinson for a good long while, phenomenal drummer and guy. I'd never gotten to hear him before.
Amazing band! I know Rick quite well. He’s one of the best in NY.

sounds like an amazing experience. I’m happy for you.
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I remember playing concerts there when on tour with a Glenn Miller band about 30 years ago (judders at repressed memories of GI uniforms, scary management, and lots of wine).
Lovely place!
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