The Messenger 09.11.08

Co-founders of the Chicago Cabaret Professionals, Claudia Hommel and her musical partner Bob Moreen, will present “Women of Paris” at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 17 in the Harriet Fulton Theatre in the Fine Arts Building on the University of Tennessee at Martin campus.
In “Women of Paris,” Hommel celebrates female singers of Paris — among them Paulette Darty, the creator of the 1905 song “Fascination;” Mistinguett, for whom was written “My Man”; African-American entertainers adopted by Paris as its own, Josephine Baker and Bricktop; the icon of post-war Left Bank “beat,” Juliette Gréco; and the superstar of French chanson, Édith Piaf.
They will give a pre-concert presentation at the theatre at 7 p.m.
Hommel is a national touring and recording artist. Born in Paris, raised in Detroit, seasoned in New York and a longtime resident of Chicago, she draws her repertoire from 20th century popular French chansons, the American songbook and international art songs. In addition to Parisian cabaret shows, her acclaimed Jazz Fauré Project, “where French impressionism meets American jazz,” toured in Paris in spring 2008 by invitation of the University of Chicago Paris Center.
Moreen has been featured in virtually every type of entertainment venue as soloist, accompanist and ensemble member. He has worked with name entertainers such as Gisele McKenzie, Peter Palmer, Greta Keller, the incomparable Hildegarde and Shirley Jones and is sought after as music director, accompanist and coach by Chicago’s favorite cabaret singers. The Chicago Sun-Times calls him “a special, eclectic piano player.” In The Chicago Tribune, Howard Reich describes him as “an impressive singer in his own right — the complete entertainer.”
Moreen’s theatrical credits include work at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre and the former Body Politic.
Organizers of the event said guests may not speak a word of French but will understand the nuance of every song. Hommel and Moreen have distilled the energy of Parisian music-hall with a dose of intimate Chicago-style cabaret to create a theater piece that will transport listeners to Paris.
The production is sponsored by the Department of Music, the Department of Modern Foreign Languages and the Center for Global Studies and International Education.
Admission is free and the event is open to the public.
For more information, contact Dr. Amy Yeung, associate professor of music, at (731) 881-7408.