Cyrille Aimee

Let’s Get Lost

Mack Avenue Records

Cyrille Aimee was born in Fontainebleau, France to a French father and a Dominican mother. She grew up nearby in the village of Samois-sur-Seine, the same village where gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt lived. Every June the village would host the Django Reinhardt Festival and a young Aimee would sneak out of bed to sing by the fire with the descendents of Reinhardt. She fell in love with gypsy music.

Aimee auditioned for the French version of American Idol but when they wanted her to sign a contract that comprised her gypsy spirit she decided to quit. In order to avoid the French media she sought refuge in her mother’s homeland of the Dominican Republic.

Aimee attended SUNY Purchase on a scholarship but in her sophomore year discovered Manhattan. She traveled Europe and busked the street corners. Her group targeted jazz festivals and on a whim she entered the Montreux Jazz Voice Competition. She won and the prize included the financing of her first album “Cyrille Aimee and The Surreal Band”. In 2011 she released “Just The Two of Us” her second recording with Brazilian guitarist Diego Figueiredo. In 2012 Aimee won the Sarah Vaughan Int’l Jazz Competition. That same year she released “Live At Smalls”. In 2013 Stephen Sondheim cast her in an Encores Special Presentation at New York’s City Center alongside Bernadette Peters. Also in 2013 Aimee released “Burstin’ Out!” with The Chicago Jazz Orchestra.

In August of 2014 Aimee released her first recording for Mack Avenue Records. “It’s A Good Day” received critical acclaim and helped to further ignite her career. The album featured originals and classics with a band including bass, drums and three guitars; Brazilian, gypsy and jazz. Her upcoming April performance dates include Tennessee; France, Italy and Tokyo.

On her new album Aimee reveals a bittersweet depth as she is accompanied by guitarists Adrien Moignard and Michael Valeanu. Valeanu is also her primary co-writer, arranger and co-producer along with herself and senior producer Fab Dupont. Rounding out the tight-knit ensemble are bassist Sam Anning and drummer Raj Jayaweera.

Aimee opens the cd with the Sondheim composition “Live Alone and Like It”. Aimee’s vocal timbre is delightful. Valeanu takes a fabulous solo on his nylon stringed guitar. “Estrellitas y Duendes” is based on a poem by Dominican superstar Juan Luis Guerra.

“Three Little Words” features Jayaweera’s tasteful drumming. “T’es Beau Tu Sais” was first recorded by Edith Piaf. The lyrics are “an ode to beauty as perceived by a blind woman”. “Let’s Get Lost” is the title track written by Frank Loesser and Jimmy McHugh.

Included also are four original tunes from Aimee. “Samois A Moi” is co-written with Figueiredo. “Nine More Minutes” and “Each Day” are written with Valeanu. “Words” was composed with David Theisen.

Aimee is the newest and brightest jazz artist to emerge in the last several years.

Richard Ludmerer