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Europe is in my blood and Texas is in my soul, so they come together in my music.  The journey began in 1992 when we put a band of musicians together in Austin and recorded "Texafrance".  What could have been a one time musical experiment took on a life of its own and "Texafrance-Encore!" was released in 2003.  They say the third time's a charm, so voila!

Merci beaucoup to my mother, Betty Albert, for her help with translations and comprehension; to Lisa Rolke, Mark Turner and the army of people who helped us create the new MoonHouse Studio; to the musicians who played with such "je ne sais quoi"; and to Chris Gage, who knows how to coax music, love , life and passion out of me every single day.

1. Swing Troubadour    (3:39)
(Charles Trenet, Leon Chauliac; English translation by Christine Albert)
     Charles Trenet was a prolific French music icon known for his eccentric and spirited songs, and a true “singer/songwriter” who only performed his own songs - which was unusual for his time.

2. I Shouldn't Care /
               J'M'En Fous Pas Mal    (2:38)
(Michel Emer; English lyrics Rick French)
     I love the slinkiness of this song and it was a perfect fit for our 110 year old grand piano.

3. When You’re Away /
               Quand T’es Ailleurs    (3:33)
(Michael Austin, Roy Eisenstein; French translation by Christine Albert)
     Our friend Michael Austin’s song has always had the beauty and vibe of a French song and holds its own next to Piaf and Trenet. (Special thanks to David Gershater for kick starting the translation process.)

4. The French Song    (3:27)
(Harry Pease, Larry Vincent)
     Recorded in 1963 by Canadian artist Lucille Starr with Herb Alpert in the producer’s chair, this was a surprise international hit. I couldn’t resist its mountain chanson charm.

5. Chante-Moi    (3:50)
(Edith Piaf; English lyrics Mack David)
      Although I just recently discovered this Edith Piaf song, I know it will stay with me for a lifetime. 

6. L'air de la Louisiane    (3:18)
(Jesse Winchester; English translation by Christine Albert)
      Post-Katrina, Jesse Winchester’s song has an even more profound beauty.

7. Don't Cry /
            C'est D'la Faute À Tes Yeux    (3:16)
(Edith Piaf, R. Chauvigny; English lyrics Eddie Constantine)
     Piaf recorded the English version of this in New York on December 1, 1950.  I can imagine her blowing away those American musicians in the studio that day. 

8. French Waltz    (3:24)
(Adam Mitchell)
      I heard this in the 70’s on Nicolette Larson’s first album and it felt like “my” song. I pictured my French grandmother sitting at her window in Paris, waiting for me to visit (which I eventually did, many times). 

9. Un Prince en Avignon    (3:00)
(F. Thomas, J.M. Rivat, J.P. Bourtayre)
     A friend in Austin gave me a live recording of Walter Hyatt singing this with Uncle Walt’s Band at Waterloo Ice House in Austin in 1980. Walter moves through my heart every time I sing it. 

10. Y’a de la Joie    (2:50)
(Charles Trenet; English translation by Christine Albert)
      Trenet’s lyrics contain images verging on psychedelic as he sings about joy in the face of life’s harsh realities. Writing the translation for his one-of-a-kind song was a joyful challenge.

11. Hymne a l'amour /
                   Hymn To Love    (4:31)
(Edith Piaf, Marguerite Monnot; English lyrics Eddie Constantine)
     This is more than a song to me, it is a prayer. Edith Piaf wrote it after her lover perished in a plane crash, transforming her grief into a masterpiece.