Contact: Kit Eakle, 510-237-5551; 415-419-7090
kit@prjazz.org
PRESS RELEASE
Headline: Point Richmond
to Introduce Young Prodigy,
SOLÈNE LE VAN to Bay Area Audiences on BLACK FRIDAY!
When: Friday, November 25, BLACK FRIDAY at 7:30 pm
Where: 201 Martina St. Richmond, 94801
Point Richmond Jazz is proud to introduce the Bay Area to an exciting 18 year old French-born
singer and violinist, Solène Le Van. As both a violinist and singer, Solène Le Van is already widely
regarded as an exceptionally prodigious, versatile, and sensitive musician. She was born in Colmar,
France in July, 1997 and moved to the U.S. at age five. At fifteen years old, she was accepted into
Princeton, and is now in her Junior year there.
Solène has given over 300 concerts ranging from a Jazz Festival in Munster, France, to Carnegie Hall;
from the Spazio Jazz Club Series, to her orchestral debut at the age of five with the Cypress Pops
Orchestra. In 2012, she was invited to perform with her family in the Vianden Castle in Luxembourg
under the patronage of the US embassy.
She recently recorded her debut recording as a classical soprano at the internationally renowned
Mechanics Hall in Massachusetts. ( http://www.shevacollection.it ) But her musical interest and
ability also embrace jazz. As an improviser, she has performed with vibraphonist Michel Hausser,
jazz veteran Shep Shepherd, and shared the stage with Manu Dibango and the Count Basie Orchestra.
Ms. Le Van hase attracted the attention of composers and arrangers, including Grammy award
winner Bill Cunliffe, Kuno Schmidt, and Michel Hausser, each entrusting her with the world
premieres of their works.
At home in a great variety of styles and genres of music, she performs not only as a violinist and
singer, but also as a pianist, guitarist and mandolinist. From the age of five, she has been a soloist
with The Le Van Family Musicians, an ensemble featuring her father, pianist Eric Le Van, her sister,
violinist and singer Sarah Le Van, and her brother, pianist and singer Sean Le Van, performing
internationally in America and Europe to great acclaim. Ms. Le Van has been featured on FRANCE3
TV, the Disney Channel, NBC TV, KDOC TV, PAX TV.
What better way to spend BLACK FRIDAY, the evening after Thanksgiving, than listening to a bright
young talent ready to burst out on the world! A truly unique, not-to-be-missed series, Point
Richmond Jazz tickets are now available for this and ALL the concerts online at at http://prjazz.org.
Advance Tickets are $18 online or $25 at the door.
The series is sponsored by Point Richmond Music, STRINGS magazine, Ifshin Violins, The California
Jazz Conservatory, and the SF local of the American String Teachers Ass’n., and produced by Point
Richmond’s own jazz violinist, Kit Eakle. Point Richmond Jazz Concerts takes place at The Point
Richmond United Methodist Church at 201 Martina St. on the fourth Friday of every month,
September through April. Here is the list of the remaining concerts in the 2015-16 series:
Fri., Nov. 27, 2015 – Solène LeVan — a young 18 year old phenom from France.
Fri., Dec. 26, 2016 – Berkeley Choro Ensemble — PR Jazz traditional BOXING DAY concert.
Fri., Jan. 22, 2016 – Tarika Lewis fine jazz electric violinist from Oakland.
Fri., Feb. 26, 2016 – Tony Corman and 5 Play w/ PR Jazz’s own PR JAZZ String Quartet.
Fri., March 24, 2014 – Sara Caswell and 9 Horses from New York City.
Fri., May 30, 2014 – TIM KLIPHUIS from The Netherlands.