by Jeanni Ritchie
CenLa residents got a true treat on April 26 when this year’s ‘Springtime Pops’ at Red River Bank Headquarters brought together the Rapides Parish Symphony and the touring company Jeans ‘N Classics to perform “The Music of Elton John and Billy Joel.”
This free event was a BYOC (Bring Your Own Chair) with VIP table seating available for pre-purchase. Spotted in my lawn chair in the back, I was dragged to a table by friend Manli Teng and enjoyed the concert with several friends including our beloved Ball mayor Gail Wilking.
I had a chance to interview headliner and longtime Jeans ‘N Classics member Jean Meilleur prior to his arrival in Louisiana. Over the last 20 years Meilleur has performed with scores of major North American orchestras, lending his distinctive voice to some of the greatest popular music of our time.
Originally from Madison WI, Meilleur moved to Detroit MI at a young age, shaping his penchant for the Motown, Soul, and R&B sounds of the early ’70s. He is also a prolific songwriter.
I learned about Meilleur’s 30-year professional singing career through research. HIS focus during our interview was on Jeans ‘N Classics creator Peter Brennan and the group’s efforts to build younger audiences with what’s often deemed art rock. By pairing beloved tunes with full orchestras (and sometimes choirs as well) the resulting symphonic masterpiece is astounding.
“There’s something so powerful with fifty people onstage performing a well-known tune,” Meilleur shared.
The Canadian-based Jeans ‘N Classics has over 35 shows. In addition to the Elton John/Billy Joel tribute, they have a country classics and 80’s edition I’d travel to see! There are several different casts and many of the performers do multiple shows that best match their vocal range.
Each symphony receives the charts pre-show. There’s usually one rehearsal with both groups the day of the performance.
And what a performance!
Despite the song, we were okay with the sun going down on us in the Red River Bank parking lot. The show grew hotter as the temps got cooler. I sang along to every word, maybe just a little louder to the lyrics of My Life.
Though for someone relishing the single life as much as I do, I sure let myself imagine skipping town with the band a time or two while Meilleur was performing!
You may be right; I may be crazy…
While Meilleur channeled Elton and Billy, John Regan was on piano, Jon Paul on bass, Dale Ann Brendon on drums, and Kathryn Rose and Katalin Kiss singing background vocals.
It was an amazing evening with Jeans ‘N Classics and Rapides Parish Symphony performing some of my all-time favorites: Always a Woman, You May Be Right, Tiny Dancer, Rocketman, and the aforementioned My Life!
I hope they come back to Alexandria soon. In the meantime I’ve cross-referenced my travel assignments with their upcoming tour dates. I might just become the world’s first ever orchestra art rock groupie!
Jeanni Ritchie is a music-loving freelance journalist and travel writer from Central Louisiana. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.
