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You Said

Dear Sister Baptiste:
I saw the production of "At Last" a few weeks ago, and I have a newfound appreciation for Etta James.
I see why the play has been extended numerous times. I might even check it out again. All of the actors did a superb portrayal
of Ms. Etta's life, but I thought you were absolutely astounding. Your voice is wonderful, and I would love to continue to
support your performances - just let me know when and where.
Peace,
Adrian Sky
And while four of the Ettas — Carrie Abernathy, Desla Epison, Melanie McCullough and Dawn Mitchell
— are quite decent singers, the fifth version of Madame James reaches far beyond that.
Etta James sang blues
to the bone, and when you listen to the terrific France Jean Baptiste, you can hear all those tough-but-vulnerable harmonies
crunch anew in your ear.
By Chris Jones Tribune arts critic
for At last, Etta James' music comes alive in well-sung revue April 2005
Fortunately for Taylor ( and more importantly, for the audience ) , we have five absolutely amazing
voices to thrill and touch us. When this show rocks, it’s hard to sit still. In fact, if you can sit still, you better
check your pulse. France Jean-Baptiste, Desla Epison, Dawn Mitchell, Carrie, and Melanie McCullough are not only gifted actresses;
they are dynamite in interpretation and vocal pyrotechnics ( James knew how to belt out a song ) . We’re treated to
about two dozen songs over the course of the show, and every one of them is a slam dunk.
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At Last: A Tribute to Etta James by Rick Reed 2005 | | |
In Chicago at The Black Ensemble Theater from April 16th thru April 23rd, "At Last" a tribute
play to Etta James will take place on stage. I'm hearing these singers are out of this world and can sing, sing, sing up a
storm
Along the way, we're treated to stellar performances, from the twitchy, young, strung-out
Etta (McCullough) to the earthy, centered, eldest Etta (Jean-Baptiste).
Time Out Chicago issue 10: May 5–May 12, 2005
name: Rick - the sound guy at Ballydoyle
comment: Hey France,
I really enyoyed you and SBD. One of the best bands I've seen at
Ballydoyle. Hope we can do it again soon.
Check out Frankie's Blue Room in Naperville. In my opinion, the best
venue in the west suburbs (after Fitzgerald's).
Til the next time, and I can't wait,
Rick - the sound guy at Ballydoyle
WHAT YOU SAID
Great grooves, soulful vocals, smokin' guitar. Hope to hear more.Maybe we can gig together.
Raven Desmond
Dear France Jean-Baptiste and The Screaming Bluedogs,
Just
wanted to drop you a line to let you know how much Ann and I enjoyed your show the other night at Chiava. Was kind of
different lounging on a sofa. Would much rather be up dancing , but thats ok. We enjoy the mixture of blues, rock,
soul, jazz, and most especially the FUNK. We will not be able to see you at the Pioneer Lanes next month, but look forward
to hearing you again sometime soon. I guess the Cigar Bar is out. Hopefully I can drag some more friends along with me.
You guys deserve a greater audience, hopefully with happy dancin feet. Keep the music goin. I will keep checking your
website. Please feel free to email me with any future dates. Thanks again.
Bob & Ann
"There are lots of singers
who can mimic the melismatics of the great ones and they all sound good-maybe great to some ears. I am thinking of someone
like Mariah Carey--if you like her and this offends you please forgive me but I would trade every song she ever made for Bob
Dylan howling out one good long vowel. Now a lot of people are turned off by Dylans voice, but that's where you have
a great gift. You have a technically great voice, but you can get down to the "yowl" where all the pain is--and that
is where the greats get to...
--- Chris, Bass
Player from the Screaming Blue Dogs
It was so great to hear your songs drifting up from Depaul's
lower level today. It was just what I needed to hear on a chilly Windy City afternoon. You are someone who can really sing,
and who knows how to pick heartfelt material. Your phrasing was right on, with muted emotion rather than distraught pyrotechnics...exactly
right for these tunes. I think you would sing the heck out of "I Can't Get Started", an old thirties lounge standard
popularized by Bunny Berrigan. Perhaps your accompaniest knows it...very soulful melody and lyric. Hope to see you in another
show. More power to you... Feel free to use my comments with my name.
--Terri, a fan about a performance at Muscimart. For more
info on these performances check out my Upcoming Show Page
Loved your Depaul Music Mart
concert today! Put me on your mailing list, please....
Signed Richard K.--about a performance at Music Mart-. For more info on these performances
check out my Upcoming Show Page
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
Five seconds of fame
January 4, 2004
BY BOBBY REED
Extras, extras, read all about them!
George Bailey runs through the snow-covered streets of Bedford Falls, screaming "Merry Christmas!" to holiday
revelers. Boxing enthusiasts cheer as Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed slug it out in a grueling match. A doomed luxury liner,
carrying Rose DeWitt Bukater and Jack Dawson, leaves port while hundreds of well-wishers wave to the ship's passengers.
These scenes from "It's a Wonderful Life," "Rocky" and "Titanic" all feature the talents of extras -- those
unheralded, often unnoticed actors who populate the silver screen. Whenever a script calls for a bustling sidewalk or a crowded
airport, extras are called into service. Extras do occasionally get speaking parts, but their main job is to create ambience.
Robert Altman's film "The Company," which was shot in Chicago in fall of 2002, required dozens of extras to
portray audience members. This engaging drama -- starring Neve Campbell, James Franco and Malcolm McDowell -- focuses on the
onstage and backstage workings of the famed Joffrey Ballet of Chicago.
Several of the movie's dance productions were filmed at the Auditorium Theatre. Through the magic of camera
angles and editing, Altman creates the sense that the venue was filled with appreciative ballet patrons, even though he was,
at times, working with as few as 35 extras.
On a typical day of shooting, the extras' tasks were simple: They donned formalwear (provided by the wardrobe
department), they watched the dancers perform and they applauded on cue. Then they changed clothes, moved to another section
of the auditorium and repeated the process.
This work is often tedious, but it provides aspiring actors with a resume line and the instructive experience
of being in a major motion picture.
"I don't like the term 'extras' because it often has a negative connotation," explained David Levy, one of
the film's producers. "Some people use terms like 'background artists,' but in this context, I prefer 'spectators' because
they are audiences watching the ballet."
Local talent agencies, independent casting directors and open casting calls are three tools that filmmakers
use to gather extras. Levy, who has worked on nine Altman films, said, "We try to go through organizations that are already
linked to the subject matter in the film, or who have a particular interest in participating, rather than just using people
who are coming in purely to get the paycheck."
Like many of the extras in "The Company," France Jean-Baptiste
of Rogers Park got the gig through Ambassador Talent, a Loop-based agency. Jean-Baptiste has been an extra for many Chicago-based
productions, including episodes of "ER" and the 1995 film "While You Were Sleeping."
The 38-year-old professional vocalist admitted, "My first
experience as an extra was devastating. Everybody wants to be the star. You want to be in front of the camera, but you have
to realize that you're just the background. I stopped doing it for a while because I couldn't take that."
Jean-Baptiste enjoys steady work as a singer -- performing
frequently at the Chicago Music Mart and other area venues -- but she returned to acting as an extra in order to supplement
her income. For her work in "The Company" she earned $55 for the first eight hours on set per day (along with overtime pay
for additional labor).
Being an extra is obviously not a path to immediate riches,
but Jean-Baptiste had no complaints about her job of watching the Joffrey dancers. "That was the most fun of all the extra
work I've ever done."
Bobby Reed is a Chicago free-lance writer.
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