Videos. We saw Alain Chamfort in conversation-concert at Captieux

The room is packed: 350 people to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the cultural season and quite a headliner for the town of 1,300 inhabitants. Mayor Christine Luquedey is at the ticket office, municipal councilor Pascal Calderon tears the tickets, the first deputy (and president of the Departmental Council) Jean-Luc Gleyze serves the coffee. “Alain Chamfort in Captieux, I couldn’t miss that,” smiles Micheline who brings her cane and her 82 years to the front rows. Sébastien and Nicolas, the artist’s sound and lighting engineers, can’t believe it: “The reception is incredible. »

9:08 p.m. A soberly sequined jacket and smoked glasses, Alain Chamfort sits down at his keyboard, the impeccable Christophe Cravero at the grand piano. “Exist as we could / Then leave as we came / Like a grain of an autumn night”, intones the artist before continuing with “Manureva”, a hit among his hits. A friend of 40 years (“Iced Secrets” era), singer Valli arrives to chat with Chamfort who has signed autographs for young girls, mothers and grandmothers over a 60-year career.

Modesty and rigor

The bubbly blonde has lost none of her cheekiness and her American accent. Two hours of conversation, from the beginnings of the musician-performer at 15 within the Mods then behind Dutronc until the symbiosis on three last records with the author Pierre-Dominique Burgaud (royal “Impermanence” released in March). Modesty and rigor over six decades: departure from the Claude François stable to find his own identity, 25 years of writing with Jacques Duvall (“The Enemy in the Ice”, “The Fever in the Blood”, “Sinatra”… ) through the two albums with Gainsbourg becoming Gainsbarre (“Bambou”, “Chasseur d’ivoire” and of course “Manureva”).

Sober and classy is also the Chamfort in Captieux. The conversation sometimes doesn’t have the same fluidity but that doesn’t matter. After “SourisSince it’s Serious” and the divine “Grace” from the last album, the artist comes to sign at the edge of the stage. Surreal and natural at the same time. “350 people: we did better than in Agen yesterday,” laughs an elected official putting away the chairs. Culture assistant Jackie Vanbrabant and her husband will bring Chamfort and Valli back to Langon station this Sunday at noon.