Cyrille Aimée
Cyrille Aimée grew up in a multilingual household full of music where dancing was an everyday activity, soundtracked by the Afro-Caribbean sounds of her mother’s native Dominican Republic. The family home was in Samois-sur-Seine, the location of the Django Reinhardt Festival, and the teenage Cyrille would climb out of her bedroom window at night to mingle with the players, igniting a passion for jazz.
Moving to New York City, her talents quickly gained her a reputation among her peers as a matchless interpreter of song. She performed and recorded with Roy Hargrove and stole the show in front of the notoriously hard-to-please crowd at the Harlem Apollo. Steven Sondheim invited her to star in a tribute at New York’s City Centre, backed by Wynton Marsalis. Her 2019 album Move On featured versions of Sondheim’s songs which received praise from Sondheim himself, and her version of "Marry Me a Little", was nominated for a 2019 Grammy Award.
At the height of her New York success, new horizons beckoned. Visiting Costa Rica, she fell in love with the energy and diversity of the jungle and built a home from scratch. Linking back to New York to connect up all the dots, she teamed up with producer/multi-instrumentalist Jake Sherman, and together they have created her latest album, "A Fleur de Peau" to be released in March 2024 on a new label, the London-based imprint Whirlwind Recordings.
Cyrille Aimée's debut Whirlwind release, "À Fleur de Peau," marks a significant milestone in her career. The album showcases Cyrille's original compositions and arrangements, co-crafted with New York's Jake Sherman. Known for her jazz prowess and unique interpretation, this album unveils a new side of Cyrille, delving into her Dominican heritage and personal narratives. The creative genesis of the album, born in the forests of Costa Rica, signifies a rebirth in Cyrille's songwriting journey. Collaborating with Sherman, they infused live performances with layers of arrangements, resulting in a diverse yet honest sound.
The tracks range from soulful guitar ballads like "Again Again" to bilingual paeans like "Beautiful Way," creatively produced with unconventional percussion. "Back to You" explores separation with a Nu-Soul touch, while "For the Love of You" brings a joyous Yacht-Pop vibe. The album encompasses a variety of styles, from children's choir-infused positivity in "Here" to reimagined French chanson in "Ma Préférence." It concludes with heartfelt Spanish "Historia De Amor," a two-chord love song dedicated to nature.
Cyrille aims to inspire women through her music, crafting an album that's deeply personal yet universally relatable. "À Fleur de Peau" represents a pivotal chapter in her artistic journey.
Cyrille Aimée's debut Whirlwind release, "À Fleur de Peau," marks a significant milestone in her career. The album showcases Cyrille's original compositions and arrangements, co-crafted with New York's Jake Sherman. Known for her jazz prowess and unique interpretation, this album unveils a new side of Cyrille, delving into her Dominican heritage and personal narratives. The creative genesis of the album, born in the forests of Costa Rica, signifies a rebirth in Cyrille's songwriting journey. Collaborating with Sherman, they infused live performances with layers of arrangements, resulting in a diverse yet honest sound.
The tracks range from soulful guitar ballads like "Again Again" to bilingual paeans like "Beautiful Way," creatively produced with unconventional percussion. "Back to You" explores separation with a Nu-Soul touch, while "For the Love of You" brings a joyous Yacht-Pop vibe. The album encompasses a variety of styles, from children's choir-infused positivity in "Here" to reimagined French chanson in "Ma Préférence." It concludes with heartfelt Spanish "Historia De Amor," a two-chord love song dedicated to nature.
Cyrille aims to inspire women through her music, crafting an album that's deeply personal yet universally relatable. "À Fleur de Peau" represents a pivotal chapter in her artistic journey.
Á Fleur de Peau - 2024
I'll Be Seeing You - 2021
Just You, Just Me - 2020
Move On: A Sondheim Adventure - 2019
Live - 2018
Let’s Get Lost - 2016
It’s a Good Day - 2014
Live at Birdland - 2013
Live at Smalls - 2010
Just the Two of Us - 2010
Smile - 2009
The Surreal Band - 2009
“Cyrille Aimée is a jazz alchemist who can create new sounds and songs on the spot, and wordlessly direct her musicians to produce the magic she's conjured. She expresses a tremendous, visceral joy when she is singing and even when she is watching her band play, and this energy was infectious.”
— Birdland NYC
“Brand new band, brand new life, brand new music… truly moving on, as only Aimée can.”
— Carol Banks Weber, Festival Peak
"Cyrille is an artist who is not afraid to take chances with her voice. To stretch it out way past where it’s comfortable, and to scat these intricate scales with the precision of a clarinet. Her range goes way up there where the air is thin, all the way down to the alto range. It’s like butter would sound if it could sing."
— Greg McGee, The StankenRose Gazette