Recipient of the BC Governor General Queen’s 70th Jubilee Award in Arts and Culture
A Cabaret ~ Joëlle Rabu in Concert
“Rabu is Edith Piaf, Bette Midler and Carole Burnett all rolled into one extraordinary performer. Her passion-filled voice is spine-tingling and her stage presence electric.”
“Her performances are timeless in genre and ageless in delivery.”
In her new concert A Cabaret, Joëlle brings to the stage an honesty and candor that reflect her decades of performing, living, travelling, and loving. On stage, she carefully crafts a musical journey based on experiences: from her early beginnings, interpreting her cultural upbringing with the songs of Edith Piaf, to the daunting steppingstones leading to performances in musical theatre, recording studios and with orchestras, to the discovery of the mature voice who sings unabashedly about the reality we live in with thought-provoking songs that mirror the thoughts of so many people.
In concert, Joëlle transports her audience into many worlds. Whether breathing new life into songs like Irving Berlin’s What’ll I Do?, or John Prine’s Hello In There, or strutting through classics from Cabaret, or pushing the nostalgia button with La Vie en Rose or Harvest Moon, or simple having fun with a medley of tunes she is ‘not allowed to sing’, Joëlle gives herself completely to the music and her audience. Singing primarily in English and French, Joëlle also includes her love of Spanish with powerful songs such as Cucurucucu Paloma and Melodia Desencadenada (Unchained Melody).
A highlight for Joëlle when performing in concert, is the freedom to switch things up: to insert an old song by request or introduce a new one fresh out of the studio or asking the audience to join her in song. She delights in getting to know and hear her audience for they are part of her voyage, and the music is all about the journey.
Well-known for her ability to delve into several musical styles, Joëlle’s interpretation of classic European cabaret-style tunes and jazz melodies; her rich vocal timbre and engaging stage presence; her heart wrenching torch songs and comedic moments have left audiences spellbound and on their feet. A two-time Jessie Award winner and Juno nominee, Joëlle has won international critical acclaim for her theatrical portrayal of the Parisian chanteuse, Edith Piaf, the iconic singer whose recordings were heard throughout Joëlle’s French upbringing. Joëlle has toured throughout 5 continents and won numerous accolades for her torch singing style and International charm. Singing in several languages, she has starred in numerous theatre productions, performed for royalty and has made several guest appearances with major symphony orchestras across Canada and the USA.
“One of the most outstanding performances I have had the privilege to attend in many many years. Mother and Son have found their groove and compliment each other so well. Please return again soon! Chuu”
“Nico Rhodes’ musical ability is nothing short of stunning with breathtakingly fresh sounds and style radiating from this young musician whose hands effortlessly fly across a keyboard leaving us in utter amazement and jumping to our feet at the end of a solo!”
Nico is a gifted arranger who uses his extensive piano skills to frame and enhance the intimate power of his mother’s superb vocal interpretations. A rising star in his own right, Joëlle’s son, Nico was raised on tour with his singer mom and lighting designer dad and a trio of musicians who nurtured his musical upbringing ‘by osmosis’. By the time Nico was 16 he had already won several classical piano and jazz saxophone competitions. At 17, he was introduced to musical theatre and he has since directed, arranged and performed in more than 2 dozen stage shows across Canada, and by the time Nico was 25 he had already orchestrated two symphonic shows, one being his mother’s nationally treasured musical drama ‘Tonight…Piaf’. He has received several Ovation Awards nominations for innovative music direction in Vancouver’s theatre community, and in 2019, Nico was presented with his home-town’s highest art’s honour “Nanaimo’s Emerging Cultural Leader Award”. His career also included performing with his local Jazz Trio or being the other half of Roots & Grooves with the iconic Rick Scott or writing and orchestrating Broadway-style musicals for the Canadian theatre companies. Joining his mother, Joëlle, on stage is a highlight as he revisits the music he heard from a young age. As Joëlle quipped with an audience after a breathtaking solo, “He constantly challenges me, daring me to the precipice of musical adventure.”
The connection that these two versatile performers have on stage is electric. The humorous banter that can only stem from their inter-generational points of view; their life’s paths that have caused heartache and laughter; their vulnerability is the fodder that creates musicality and theatricality into an unforgettable evening of lively entertainment and lush musical moments.