Karen Akers returned to Birdland Jazz with her evocative show Come with Me to Paris!—an evening steeped in romance, nostalgia and musical storytelling. Her deep affection for the works of Édith Piaf, Jacques Brel and other celebrated composers resonated in every note she sang. Akers painted a vivid, romantic portrait of Paris as it once was, when artists and writers flocked to the City of Lights, and gathered in little bistros and cafés. Through her carefully-curated selections, she evoked a world where writers and dreamers shared ideas and passion late into the night. Singing in both French and English, she bridged cultures with elegance and ease.
Highlights of the evening included “Try to Remember” from The Fantasticks, as well as Sheldon Harnick’s English lyrics for Piaf’s beloved “L’Accordéoniste.” Each number was delivered with emotional clarity and a sense of lived experience. The audience’s enthusiastic response spoke volumes—there was a palpable hunger for these timeless songs, rarely heard on today’s airwaves. Karen Akers proved herself a true chanteuse; drawing on her rich acting background, she didn’t simply sing the songs—she inhabited them, bringing each story to life with authenticity and grace.
