Concordia Parish Library and Concordia Bank are planning a special evening of classic jazz for local citizens at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 18. Come and enjoy a complimentary ticket event of Jaimee Paul Trio. She will be the guest vocalist accompanied by trumpet and keyboard. Jaimee Paul’s repertoire will be those familiar songs people know and enjoy with a few James Bond movie tunes added.

Jaimee is a fair-haired Southern Illinois native whose parents were both musical and encouraged her music in school and church.

In the 1980’s Jaimee was listening to the likes of Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart while adding a flavor of Sinatra, Crosby, and even Aretha Franklin. She moved to Nashville, Tenn., and completed a degree at Belmont University in music business and not voice. While studying music in Nashville, Jaimee had several unique opportunities for performance. “I was selected for Belmont University’s Best of the Best showcase, held at the historic Ryman Auditorium,” Jaimee said.

Well, the best of the best was the launching pad. She continued to pass out hundreds of demos, performing live at several of Nashville’s hotspots, when Jaimee Paul finally found her niche … jazz. “I guess I should have realized this several years ago, since I would always list Ella Fitzgerald, Natalie Cole, and Etta James as my top female influences,” says Jaimee. “My love for Jazz standards has always been there, I just never really thought that I’d be given the opportunities to explore it.”

From concert background vocals for Barry Manilow and Dolly Parton, to studio work for Radney Foster and for Lyle Lovett for the movie score for “Dr. T and the Women,” the stage is where Jaimee has really shown her talent. “There’s something special and invigorating about connecting with the audience. I even like to visualize a crowd when working in the studio.” She has garnered credits that include the latest American Idol video game release, jingles for the Ford Motor Company, CBS-2 Chicago, WSM-AM in Nashville, as well as many independent artist recordings.

When touring with Wynonna Judd, she met Bill Gaither who called and instructed her to present herself to Green Hill Productions. This led to producing her album “At Last”. This reached No. 1 on the iTunes Jazz charts. Several more albums have since followed. Her solo career still continues with great momentum and also great music. She has had the opportunity to play throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and also Japan.

This concert is free and open to the public through the partnership of Concordia Parish Library and Concordia Bank as well as supported by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council, and as administered by the Arts Council of Central Louisiana. Funding has also been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, Art Works and made possible because of a “block Booking” through The Louisiana Partnership for the Arts’ Presenters Network

You will have the wonderful opportunity to listen to Jaimee Paul Trio perform some classic jazz such as “Summertime,” “Georgia,” as well as Bond film music like “Nobody Does it Better” at 7 p.m. on Thursday at the Concordia Bank Lobby in Vidalia. This is a great venue for our Miss-Lou residents to enjoy beautiful music in a familiar, friendly place here at Concordia Bank, Vidalia Lobby.

 

Pat Biglane is the president and CEO of Concordia Bank and Trust and a supporter of the Concordia Parish Library.