Stacey Kent Sings the Language of Romance

It's probably not often that a South Orange native receives a prestigious honor from the French government. But that is what happened to American jazz vocalist Stacey Kent when she was awarded the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (National Order of Arts and Letters) by France's culture minister in 2009. It's a recognition given to those who have made a special impact on the arts.

"This was the greatest honor and such a surprise," Kent recalls a year later. "I had no idea that the Minister of Culture had her eye on me and wanted to thank me for sharing their music for the rest of the world. The ceremony was also so personal and very touching. This was a great day."

Kent, who currently resides in Europe and Colorado, continues to solidify her special bond with France, where her prior album had done very well, through the release of her second Blue Note record "Raconte-moi..." (translated as "Tell me..."). Released last Tuesday in the States, it's Kent's first album to be sung entirely in French and showcases her lovely, intimate singing and graceful musical arrangements.

"I grew up speaking French with my grandpa, who taught me to speak French as a little girl and introduced me to the poetry," Kent says. "This album is not a new concept to me. It was just a matter of picking the right time to make the album and also giving myself a chance to do the research, to find the songs that were perfect for me, and the songwriters who write the originals."

"Raconte-moi...", a romantic collection of  standards and originals, evokes moods that are upbeat-sounding ("Les Eaux De Mars", "Le Venus Du Melo") and subdued ("Jardin D'hiver," "Desuets"). In making the album, Kent says that she didn't have a specific criteria when it came to choosing the material but that they "fit" her.

"I listened to a ton of French music," she explains. "I devoured the music over a couple of years. I just wanted to find the poetry that spoke to me... I was able to listen to these songs without preconception."

Kent, who has performed in French before, says that the act of singing in a language that uses a different part of one's face feels distinct. "The words feel different," she describes. "The words feel different in your mouth. The sensation is different. Yes, it is very different and wonderful to have the ability to incorporate both languages into my repertoire."

Of its 12 tracks, the album's title song is Kent's favorite. "It is exactly the universe I hoped to create with this album," she says. "It is so tender and intimate and I love the metaphors in the songs. The idea of 'tell me,' talking intimately with the person you love—the person who, when they speak, you love to hear the song of their voice.

"There is a lovely line in the song: 'Even if the sun rises, tell it we won't care'—two loves are locked away in their world, the exterior world remains outside. I love the melody and the rhythm of this song, that it goes from the floating sections to the more propulsive sections. I love to sing this song!"

The songs' romanticism and Kent's mastery of the French language are certainly conveyed by "Raconte-moi..." "I just want to share my passions with people who want to listen," says Kent. "My connection to this album and these songs are profound and I guess my enthusiasm is contagious. What is interesting is that all over the world... I find that people share this love of French with me."

For this former South Orange resident (one memory from her time in the Village was time spent at the Orange Lawn Tennis Club, watching tennis matches), music has been always been part of life. She recalls the times when, as a little girl, she would return home after school and listened to music in her room.

"I remember hearing [opera vocalist] Maria Callas for the first time and how she immediately made me cry (singing "Casta Diva"). I was so moved by Maria and how powerful and yet how fragile she was all at the same time."

Kent later graduated from Sarah Lawrence College with a degree in comparative literature, which may seem far away from the musical career she would eventually pursue. "I am glad about what I chose as my major in college," she says. "It is still relevant today and has enriched my life." She adds: "I always sang as a kid, but I didn't think about being a singer professionally. That happened much later."

A turning point came when Kent met saxophonist Jim Tomlinson while in England to attend Guildhall School of Music and Drama; Tomlinson would become Kent's husband as well as her musical collaborator and producer. He has put out several albums, including "The Lyric," a collaborative effort with Kent.

In 1997 Kent released her debut album "Close Your Eyes," which was later followed by other records including "Love Is...The Tender Trap" (1999), "Let Yourself Go" (2000), "In Love Again" (2002) , "The Boy Next Door" (2003) and "Shall We Dance" (2004). Along the way she has racked up jazz awards and toured parts of the U.S., Europe and Asia.

Kent's most recent record,  the Grammy-nominated "Breakfast on the Morning Tram," was released in 2007 by Blue Note Records, the legendary jazz label whose releases have included works by Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Cannonball Adderley. The relationship began when the record company caught Kent's performance before an audience of 10,000 people at the Paris Jazz Festival.

"They understood me and never tried to make me into somebody I am not," says Kent of Blue Note. "I am very proud to be a part of this label. They have a passion for music."

Currently Kent is touring and was scheduled to play a five-night residency at New York City's famed jazz venue Birdland last week. She will perform more dates through December in the UK, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, South Africa and of course France.

"I think we share a sensibility," she explains about her relationship with France. "We get each other. But I wouldn't say that it's exclusive to France—I find like-minded people all over the world."

Stacey Kent's new album "Raconte-moi..." is now available. For information, visit her website.