Eboni Fondren With Laurent Marode Orchestra – An American in Paris

Like her mentor, organist Everette DeVan, singer and actress Eboni Fondren is a Kansas City jazz icon.

His talent, evidenced by his participation in numerous projects with his group Eboni And The Ivories, earned him the opportunity to perform in France with pianist, organist and arranger Laurent Marode‘s ensemble.

Marode has chosen to capitalize on the success of her Parisian performances by concocting an album, aptly entitled “An American in Paris”.

For the occasion, the singer has selected a repertoire featuring standards (Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, Irving Berlin, Duke Ellington), a Nina Simone classic and Ain’t Nobody Like My Baby, one of her own compositions which appeared on her most recent collection, “The Journey: To Kansas City with Love”, released by Miss Wardine Records (2024).

All these tracks are representative of Eboni Fronden‘s vocal class, nourished by the most authentic jazz influences.

We discover a very personal way of highlighting a melodic line, an acute sense of interpretation and the charm of a full, deep voice whose generous inflections have not failed to arouse the admiration of her colleague Tierney Sutton.

Another highlight of the album is Laurent Marode’s superb arrangements, which masterfully reconcile the discourse of a jazz quintet and that of a string quartet, adorning the musicians’ playing and Eboni’s singing with a musical setting of great beauty.

An original achievement and a discovery.