“Helen Gillet and her cello are a love story for the ages. Whether it’s just the two of them on stage or they are joined by the dizzying roster of collaborators she’s worked with over the years, there’s no anticipating what direction the music will take. If an Ornette Coleman mood strikes she leans into it, her vigorous bow sliding every which way. Afterwards she might play a French chanson, the lilting tune as sweetly restrained as her improvisations are textured and wild. Such range is growing increasingly rare, and she earned hers the old-fashioned way: by playing absolutely everything with anyone she thought was doing something interesting—and she has the stories to prove it. Gillet studied Hindustani cello playing with the legendary Nancy Lesh, has her master’s in classical cello performance from Loyola University, and spent decades proving that both women and cellos belong in jazz bands. Gillet’s music is driven by a burning, ever-evolving curiosity. She loves to play, but she also loves to listen, and her discerning ears have secured her place as one of New Orleans’ finest improvisers. Though her stage presence can be intimidating, Helen Gillet also happens to be fun—her solo performances are never self-serious, and are always well-seasoned with rambling stories and silly jokes translated from her French songs. I was delighted to sit down with her at St. Coffee to catch up about artistic evolution, self-romance, and her new album.‘
Holly Devon - Full Article and Interview Here: