Michael Franks was in concert yesterday evening in Paris (La Cigale hall) for a great concert of more than 80 minutes in a Jazz and Cool Westcoast Music mood. The amazing artist has not been played live in Paris since so many years (Casino de Paris, Jardin de Tuileries). Michael Franks band: Charles Blenzig (Piano, Keyboards) - Mark Egan (Bass) - David Mann (Sax & Flute) - Willard Dyson (Drums) - Veronica Nunn (Vocals).

Let's see our exclusive gallery of photos of this concert (40 pictures) at this address on the official Westcoast Rendez-Vous Facebook fanpage.

And let's write what you thought about this concert of Michael Franks!

Michael Franks will be in concert with Gino Vannelli on July 12, 2010 at the Sporting de Monte-Carlo ; a great hall for concerts and events.

Photo credit: Westcoast Rendez-Vous.

"California Groove 2" a 4 CD Box-Set of great Westcoast Music/AOR featuring 69 songs (released by Rhino - Warner France) will be available on July 5, 2010 in France exclusively at first at Virgin stores, Starter record stores and Cultura stores, so at first for the french domestic market and later this year available outside France.

Here is the cover of this 4 CD Box-Set. More promotion and publicity for this release will be developed in September. Since last january, Westcoast Rendez-Vous staff has been very active in suggesting Classic tunes as rare and never released before versions of amazing songs. For example, we can reveal that "California Groove 2" will include very rare versions of "The Good Life" (Bill LaBounty), "Moonlight Over Paris" (PM) and a exclusive version of "All For A Reason" (Alessi Brothers) among others.

Stay tuned on Westcoast Rendez-Vous blog and Facebook fanpage for more details about this great project coordinated by David D. at Warner France.

Here is the official tracklisting of "California Groove 2":

CD 1  
1. Robert Lamm - Love Song (Hip Hop shuffle instrumental)
2. Michael Franks - Jealousy
3. Bill LaBounty - The Good Life
4. Nielsen Pearson - Don't Let Me Go
5. Sanford & Townsend - Moolah Moo Mazuma (Sin City Wahh-Hoo)
6. Bobby Caldwell - What You Won't Do For Love
7. Rickie Lee Jones - Young Blood
8. Marc Jordan - Marina Del Rey
9. Larsen Feiten - Further Notice
10. Ben Sidran - Hi-Fly
11. Michael McDonald - I Gotta Try
12. Lauren Wood - Nothin' But A Heartache
13. Robbie Dupree - Steal Away
14. Twennynine & Lenny White - Best of Friends
15. Lee Ritenour - Is It You
16. John Klemmer - Magnificent Madness
17. Peter Cetera - On The Line

CD 2   
1. Boz Scaggs - Lowdown
2. David Sanborn - Let's Just say Goodbye
3. Debra Laws - Long As We're Together
4. Chicago - Streetplayer
5. John O' Banion - If You Love Me
6. Doobie Brothers - South Bay Strut
7. Ambrosia - Dancin' By Myself
8. Player - Baby Come Back
9. David Roberts - Wrong Side Of The Track
10. Greg Guidry - Over The Line
11. Jerry Corbetta - Between A Rock And A Hard Place
12. Narada Michael Walden - I'm Ready
13. Yellowjackets - Matinee Idol
14. Steve Kipner - Knock The Walls Down
15. Stephen Bishop - City Girl
16. Pages - Listen For The Love
17. Alessi Brothers - All For A Reason

CD 3   
1. Doobie Brothers - Takin' It To The Streets
2. Andrew Gold - Lonely Boy
3. Robert Lamm - A Lifetime We
4. Little River Band - Reminiscing
5. Maria Muldaur - Midnight At The Oasis
6. Sergio Mendes - Davy
7. Jonathan Edwards - Carolina Caroline
8. Michael Johnson - Rosalee
9. Turley Richards - You Might Need Somebody
10. Fifth Avenue Band - One Way Or Another
11. Leblanc & Carr - How Does It Feel (To Be In Love)
12. Jimmy Webb - Mixed Up Guy
13. The Marc Tanner Band - Elena
14. Danny Kortchmar - Lost In The Shuffle
15. The James Gang - Alexi
16. Ides Of Marc - Vehicle
17. The Dukes - Hearts In Trouble
18. Patrick Simmons - So Wrong
19. Fiona - Talk To Me

CD 4   
1. Christopher Cross - Sailing
2. Pieces Of A Dream - Warm Weather
3. Mr Mister - Broken Wings
4. PM - Moonlight Over Paris
5. King Of Hearts - King Of Hearts
6. Sven Larsson - This Is Not The Right Time
7. Jack Wagner - Island Fever
8. The Jeremy Spencer Band - Cool Breeze
9. State Cows - Lost In A Mind Game
10. Smooth Reunion - Video Band
11. Jay Gruska - Which One Of Us Is Me
12. Tom Scott - Sure Enough
13. Nightshift - Right Before The Dawn
14. Deodato - Just This One Night
15. Brenda Russell - New York Bars
16. Michael Franks - Monkey See Monkey Do (Live 1980) with Crossfire

"California Groove" (Warner Music France) is the title of a new digipack compilation of 4 CDs (75 songs) that will be released April 6, 2009 exclusively in France for the following French records shops: Virgin and Starter retail chains (Cultura, Gibert Joseph et Chapitre).

This new great project has been made possible because of the talent and hobby of David Dutreuil (Warner Music France). It features some rarities... What a great 4 CDs set that every fan of Westcoast Music / AOR can obtain! A must have! A truly gift!

Don't miss it!

Westcoast Rendez-Vous is a mediapartner of the release of "California Groove".

California Groove: tracklisting: 4 CDs - 75 songs

CD1

1. America - Ventura Highway

2. Daryl Hall And John Oates - Las Vegas Turnaround (The Stewardess Song)

3. Nicolette Larson - Lotta Love

4. Bread - Dismal Day

5. Orleans - Dance With Me

6. The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band - Border Town

7. John David Souther - Some People Call It Music

8. Seals & Croft - Summer Breeze

9. Carly Simon - You're So Vain

10. Wendy Waldman - Long Hot Summer Nights

11. Rickie Lee Jones - Chuck E's In Love

12. Linda Ronstadt - Easy For You To Say

13. Firefall - It Doesn't Matter

14. Boz Scaggs - I'm Easy

15. Danny O'Keefe - Junkman

16. Todd Rundgren - I Saw The Light

17. Little Feat - Willin'

18. Terence Boylan - Suzy

19. Poco - Ghost Town

20. Joe Walsh - Life's Been Good (Original Long Version)

CD2

1. Alessi Brothers - Oh Lori

2. Barnaby Bye - Damn You Girl

3. Jim Messina - Break The Chain

4. Gino Vannelli - Mama Coco

5. Felix Cavaliere - Future Train

6. Frankie Valli - Swearin' To God

7. Crackin' - Too Young

8. Warren Zevon - Nighttime In The Switching Yard

9. Ned Doheny - On The Swing Shift

10. The Doobie Brothers - What A Fool Believes

11. Marc Jordan - Survival

12. Vapor Trails - Night People

13. Kenny Loggins - This Is It

14. The Wilson Brothers - Ticket To My Heart

15. Andrew Gold - Genevieve

16. Dane Donohue - Casablanca

17. Bill Champlin - Gotta Get Back To Love

18. Jay Ferguson - Thunder Island

19. Christopher Cross - Ride Like The Wind

CD3

1. Bill LaBounty - Livin' It Up

2. Robbie Dupree - Hot Rod Hearts

3. Michael McDonald - I Keep Forgettin (Every Time You're Near)

4. Ambrosia - You're The Only Woman (You & I)

5. Roger Voudouris - Get Used To It

6. Larsen-Feiten Band - Who'll Be The Fool Tonight

7. Paul Davis - Cool Night

8. England Dan & John Ford Coley - I'd Really Love To See You Tonight

9. Leblanc and Carr - Falling

10. Peter Allen - Fly Away

11. Larry Carlton - Nite Crawler

12. Christine McVie - Got A Hold On Me

13. Con Funk Shun - California 1

14. Leon Ware - That's Why I Came To California

15. Chaka Khan - What Cha' Gonna Do For Me

16. Patti Austin - Stop, Look, Listen

17. George Benson - Please Don't Walk Awa

18. Al Jarreau - We're In This Love Together

19. Toto - 99

CD4

1. Michael Franks - When Sly Calls (Don't Touch That Phone)

2. Eye To Eye - Nice Girls

3. Chris Rea - On the beach

4. Nightshift - Ocean Bay

5. Michael Ruff - More Than You'll Ever Know

6. Randy Newman - I Love L.A.

7. Maxus - The Higher You Rise

8. Jay Graydon of Airplay - She Waits For Me (Early Airplay demo)

9. Peter Cetera Where - There's No Tomorrow

10. Stephen Bishop - The Big House

11. Michael Sembello - First Time

12. Lee Ritenour - Countdown (Captain Fingers)

13. Geyster - Sister's Beautiful

14. Chicago - Hard To Say I'm Sorry

15. David Pack - My Baby

16. Jar - Cure Kit

17. Week End Millionnaire - French Music Par Excellence

Congratulations to Arnaud Leger (from Westcoast Rendez-Vous staff) who has designed the frontcover of David Roberts new album entitled "Better Late Than Never" just released on Vivid Sound label in Japan. It's David Roberts first LP since his legendary album "All Dressed Up" back in 1982 considered as a Westcoast Music/AOR masterpiece.

In early February 2008, Arnaud has imagined and designed the frontcover of Peter Friestedt "The L.A. Project II" LP for the Japanese release on Vivid Sound too.

Soon, new cover designs from Arnaud especially for another artistry in Westcoast Music. Stay tuned!

See here Arnaud's work in AOR/Westcoast Music.
You can contact him here: [email protected]

Here we are! Please find at this address our special gallery of pictures about the band Chicago in concert in Paris on July 29, 2008 at The Casino de Paris. Enjoy the band (Robert Lamm, Bill Champlin, Keith Howland, Jason Scheff, Tris Imboden, Lee Loughnane...) and the amazing audience... The band was amazing and this evening is a wonderful souvenir. More than 40 pictures of Chicago in this gallery!

Stay tuned here at The Westcoast Rendez-Vous blog. We will put online very soon two exclusive video interviews of Bill Champlin and Jason Scheff shoot in Paris!

Photos : Copyright J.-L. Raymond.

The concert of the band Chicago on July 29, 2008 at the Casino de Paris, Paris, France was quite exceptional although James Pankow and Walter Parazaider weren't in the band for this European tour (Nick Lane and Ray Hermann replaced them). In The Casino de Paris, the concert was sold out with a real great ambiance and a lot of blasts from the past as well as more recent material (80s, 90s and the latest years). More than 135 minutes for a great gig. Let's imagine Chicago hasn't played live in Paris since 1976!! The audience was fabulous and quite expressive!

If you have assisted to this concert or one of the Chicago concerts in Europe, please put your opinion and reviews in the comments of this message.

More to come : pics of the concert of Chicago in Paris and two exclusive video interviews : Bill Champlin and Jason Scheff

More to come on this blog, albums pics of the concert of Chicago in Paris and two exclusive video interviews of Bill Champlin and Jason Scheff shoot in Paris on July 29 in which they talk about Chicago (especially about the album "Stone Of Sysyphus"), their solo career, new collaborations and projects! Stay tuned!

A very special thanks to Bill Champlin and Jason Scheff for their friendship and for making these interviews possible!

Photos : Copyright J.-L. Raymond.

Bill LaBounty in Paris... The pics on his website... and new songs.

Bill Labounty has just posted a special photo gallery about the parisian concerts on his website: Casino de Paris...Bill and friends spend a glorious time in Paris. Casino de Paris photos by Pam Kidd........More to come!

Also, Bill LaBounty has added 3 more new songs in the music section of his website.

Robbie Dupree has sent us this message regarding the Parisian concerts (also feat. Bill LaBounty, Larry Hoppen from Orleans). Enjoy!

"The concert at The Casino de Paris was an inspiring night for me and all the members of the band. We began this project three years ago, and have travelled with the show to many exciting places. Paris was certainly the highlight. I am very thankful for your continued support. It was a joy to have my old friend Bill join us this year for shows in Tokyo and Paris. We will plan on doing again in the near future. Thanks to all the people who worked so hard to make the show a success.
Peace, Robbie

Robbie Dupree
[email protected]"

Here it is... A special comment written on this blog today by Bill LaBounty himself:

"All my thanks to everyone at the Casino de Paris on September 30! The feeling in the room was like a narcotic to me. So many soulful people in one place could have been dangerous. But we all handled it well. It is a night I shall never forget. As were my whole five nights in Paris. Thank you to so many who came from long distances. I hope we can return and perform nearer to you all.

My love to you. Bill"

Bill LaBounty and Robbie Dupree at The Casino de Paris past saturday: your reviews, your pictures and videos.

Boris Plantier has written a review in French about the Casino de Paris about the concert on this webzine Rock Highway: Robbie Dupree & Bill LaBounty.

French James Taylor fans website has put a thread here in french on their forum with the complete set-list of the concert, a review and two short videos you can show here at YouTube : Look Who's Lonely Now (1 minute) and Hot Rod Hearts (72 seconds).

Jean Agostini (HighwayFM, a website dedicated to New Country Music) has put on a gallery 43 pictures of the concert, in 3 pages : 1-15, 16-30 and 31-43 and has written a review in French of the concert.

TotoWeb french forum has also a thread about the concert here with a review of a fan named Nick.

More to come!

PS: In case, you had published pictures of the concert, please send us a message, we will add here links to pictures and reviews in English and French of the concert. And if you want to write an article about the concert, just drop us a line.
Our email box is:
[email protected]