Paris (AFP)

Confined but combative: the jazz star Melody Gardot recruits musicians on networks, to "continue to create", even from a distance, and not to forget the orchestras reduced to silence by the pandemic.

For the American star stranded in Paris, where she resides "half the time - well it will be more than half this time ..." - it is first to alarm about the situation of artists.

"I have money aside, but for many musicians around the world, times are uncertain," she told AFP. If they don't have concerts or activities until September, October, November, December or 2021, how will they survive? "

"We had the idea of ​​this digital world orchestra, to reach as many people as possible. Give them a job, with arrangements that have been adapted: it has to work with everyone recording on their own. It could help some , deprived of their profession or their passion now, to get better psychologically ", she continues, talkative.

This united impulse will be reflected on multiple levels. The players of string and wind instruments selected at the end of this digital casting will be paid by the singer's record label, Decca, a subsidiary of Universal Music. And in this context of health crisis, the rights of the title thus accompanied, "From Paris with Love", will be donated to the association "Aide ton Caregiver" to support hospital staff.

To participate in the musical project of Melody Gardot - who was preparing an album, "we had to go to Abbey Road", a famous London studio - each registered candidate receives score and instructions to send a video of instrumental interpretation (www.melodygardot.com).

Applicants are assessed by the interpreter - "I feel like a CEO and putting my personality in a handbag (laughs)" - Larry Klein, his producer (who worked with Herbie Hancock, Joni Mitchell, etc.), Vince Mendoza, arranger (who collaborated with Bjork, Robbie Williams, Elvis Costello, etc.) and Al Schmitt, legendary sound engineer (Sam Cooke, Frank Sinatra, etc.).

"It's a challenge, we're a bit of a laboratory (laughs), we're breaking the codes of the orchestra, but music is a universal language", breathes the artist. There will also be a clip integrating musicians but also fans that the singer requested. Meanwhile Melody Gardot continues his "quarantine" with humor: "it's such a bizarre moment, I'm trying not to become a huge blini (laughs)".

© 2020 AFP