Petra Magoni will pay tribute to the Beatles with Bojan Z. Photo: Paolo Soriani

Les Ongles Noirs at the El Alamein: With hearts as big as the Père Lachaise cemetery and twice as spooky, the Ongles Noirs love music and love playing. The hippie boat El Alamein is a great place to catch them, and you can go up on deck to enjoy the fine weather that’s finally beginning to arrive.
Bateau El Alamein: Quai François Mauriac, Paris 75013. Métro: Quai de la Gare.
Wedsday and Thursday, May 14 and 15 at 8:30 p.m. €8.

“A quoi pense-t-telle?” wonders Yvan of the Ongles Noirs:
Bojan Z trio and Petra Magoni’s homage to the Beatles at the Alliance Française: Also part of the Saint-Germain Jazz Festival: the versatile jazz pianist – one of my favorites – is joined by the equally eclectic Italian singer Petra Magoni for a set inspired by the “The Beatles,” better known as the “White Album.” Opening for them is Inama, a jazz group fronted by a xylophonist, a flutist and a two-sax horn line.
Alliance Française: 101 boulevard Raspail, 75006 Paris. Thursday, May 15 at 8:30 p.m. €31. Link for tickets.

Petra Magoni and her musical partner Ferruccio Spinetti cover John Lennon’s “Come Together”:
“Louisiana Circus” at the Grande Halle: A mix of big-band jazz, dance and circus featuring the UMO (the Finnish acronym for “New Music Orchestra”) Jazz Orchestra and the Circo Aereo circus company from Finland.
Grande Halle, Parc de la Villette: 221, avenue Jean Jaurès, 75019 Paris. Métro: Porte de Pantin. May 15-18, 22-25: Thursday-Saturday at 9:30 p.m., Sunday at 6 p.m. €15.

Tift Merritt at the Java: Tift Merritt writes on her Web site that she wrote most of her new album, Another Country, while staying in Paris, so she should be in good form for her homecoming at the Java. At her last show in town, her great alto was much more bluesy and rough-edged than on her new record.
Java: 105 rue du Faubourg du Temple, 75010 Paris. Métro: Goncourt or Belleville.
Wednesday, May 21 at 8:30 p.m. €20.

Tift Merritt sings “A Good-Hearted Man” on PBS last year:
Perry Leopard

Perry plays music around town with his band Los Caballeros Simpáticos and other friends.

To listen to Perry’s personal radio station, click on the box below:

© 2007 Paris Update