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 Candlelight flickers on the dark walls of the cellar restaurant.
Conversation and laughter quieten as the first chords of a familiar jazz number cut
through the intimate atmosphere. Eyes turn towards the elegant woman perched high on a
stool in front of the piano. She starts to sing and the soft words of 'Autumn Leaves'
create a mood of cool relaxation. Caroline Nin is back at the Barracuda.
Caroline was born in the mid-sixties near the famous Marais quarter in Paris. Her parents
ran a tropical fish shop but both were artistically inclined. After studying at Lille
University she went to drama school and became a fan of film noir and the work of Marcel
Carne (Les Enfants dui Paradise), Dietrich and Garbo. The Tai Theatre in the
Marais, where she worked as a lighting assistant, was noted for its avant-garde
productions, including the work of Boris Vian, writer, jazz trumpeter and friend of
Jean-Paul Sartre.
Caroline tried her hand at film writing and was soon broke. A friend introduced her to the
manager at the fashionable Hollywood Savoy restaurant in the Place de la Bourse. This
musical venue, which specialised in American swing and jazz, was packed every night. As
the only French singer in the place, she was soon noticed. Her lifestyle then? She answers
by quoting the word of the Duke Ellington song, 'Sophisticated Lady'.
'Smoking, drinking, never thinkimg of tomorrow...'
Tomorrow came after three years at the restaurant and she did shows in Tenerife and
returned to Paris in 1991. She soon left because she couldn't stand the chauvinism of the
Gulf War.
Caroline decided to try her luck in London. It's not an easy place to make a living
playing or singing jazz - the music receives little support from the Arts Council or
lottery funding - and she had to supplement her income from club and pub gigs by working
as a life model at the Slade School of Art. The gay scene was thriving and she appeared in
cabaret at the Freedom Theatre in Soho. She met Skin the singer with Skunk Anansie, who
introduced her to her first backing musicians in London.
The French Institute, which promotes French culture in Britain, booked her for tours
around England in 1994/5 but a major turning point came when Vidal Sassoon spotted her. He
was organising world-wide hairdressing conventions which also featured musical shows and
cabaret. She toured Japan, China, Taiwan, Germany, Greece and Finland. In America she
produced and sang in the off-Broadway cabaret club Don't Tell Mama with her Piaf tribute.
At the Edinburgh Festival in 1998 her 'Last Show,' featuring Piaf, Dietrich, Minelli and
Jacques Brel numbers, was a sell-out, despite starting at 1.30 am. She won the 'Herald
Angel' award for excellence in cabaret. In 1999 her Festival appearance in 'Lush Life'
achieved a 5 star review and a photo on the front page of the Scotsman newspaper. This led
to even greater success this year. The Guardian said she was 'one of music's dark angels'
and that 'behind the imagery lies warmth and mischievous humour.' Last year, EMI offered
her a recording recording contract but this turned into a bit of a setback. Caroline had
recorded her version of 'Auld Lang Syne' but at Christmas Sir Cliff Richard launched his
best-selling, stomachchurning version of the Lord's Prayer, sung to the same tune. Her
contract was cancelled.
Undaunted, she carried on, often working with her own trio and Sean Hargreaves on piano,
at the Purcell Room, the Albert Hall, the Vortex, the Pizza on the Park and the 606 Club.
Lately she has returned to her early love - film - to coincide with her appearance at
Edinburgh 2000. Based on the song 'Love for Sale', which was once banned by the BBC, she
directs and sings in the film which features a Japanese actress 'wearing a very short
rubber dress' and with students from Goldsmiths College acting as Soho prostitutes. Fay,
who runs the Barracuda with her husband Teng, appears as the brothel madam. The Guardian
reviewer said that he 'half expected the show to be raided by the vice squad.'
Caroline, who lives in Stamford Hill, enjoys playing the Barracuda. Although it's known
for its excellent Pacific Rim food, she likes its 'creative approach.' Teng and Fay,
originally from Malaysia, are surely two of the friendliest business people on Church
Street and they know plenty of jazz musicians. As she says, 'ils sont differents.'
Caroline Nin is also different. Catch her next time she's around.
Caroline Nin was talking to Tim Webb. Caroline: www.carolinenin.com
Barracuda: 020 7923 7488
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