Clubs, Salons and Restaurants

Claudia specializes in French chanson, with a sprinkling of American jazz standards.

Joe Hannan for New York Native: A soprano with bright, silvery voice and sharp, clear diction, Hommel sang with great verve, savoring each poetic nuance.
Paul Edson for Detroit Center News: Petite Claudia Hommel was the evocation of every French chanteuse from those painted by Toulouse-Lautrec through Yvette Guilbert and on to Edith Piaf.

For over 2 years, Claudia Hommel was the full-time weekend entertainment at the former Sofitel's Chez Colette in Chicago, developing her repertoire by customer request, building her extensive fan base and honing her signature Chicago-Paris sound.

With a mix of fantasy, interaction, and soul, Claudia's act is perfect for an intimate dinner as a main dish, palette cleanser or underscore. Her unique mix of Jazz, Classics, and Original songs blending French, English, and sometimes another language or two bring class and spice to any room.

She plays often at her favorite restaurants like the Cabaret Room at Cyrano's, the Little Bucharest Bistro, and the Cliff Dwellers Club. Other rooms she frequents in the Midwest include Cliff Bell's Supper Club in Detroit and Nighttown Club in Cleveland Heights. Whenever she's in Paris, she can be heard one night Au Lapin Agile, the oldest extant cabaret in the world.


Recent and Historic Club, Salon and Restaurant Performances

So many clubs and restaurants, so many towns�in alphabetical order!

BARRINGTON, IL: the Barrington Country Bistro. For many years, at each grand fÊte—New Year's Eve, St. Valentine's Day, "April in Paris", the Bistro's anniversary in May, Bastille Day, Beaujolais Nouveau in November— regulars were treated to strolling serenades by Claudia and accordionist Don White.

CHICAGO: Chez Moi, the former Café Bernard, squeezes in an accordion and Claudia on occasion.

CHICAGO: Cliff Dwellers Club, so-named for overlooking the lakeshore from its penthouse height, was established in 1907 to support the arts and artists. So it's no surprise that Claudia's become a favorite performer for special Friday night dinner shows.

CHICAGO: The Club at Symphony Center: Initiating and coming back again and again during the run of Cabaret Nights at the Grainger Ballroom. "Be enchanted by the Cabaret Night favorite, Claudia Hommel and her poetic renditions of French 'chansons' and romantic cabaret classics."

CHICAGO: Cyrano's. Whether called Cyrano's Bistrot or Farm Kitchen, the Cabaret room has been a favorite haunt for New Year's Eve, special events, private parties, field trips, and Claudia's songs accompanied by piano or accordion.

Toast (410K)

CHICAGO: Davenport's hosts the Chicago Cabaret Professionals series and Claudia, along with her Songshop participants, presents and participates in several cabaret shows.

CHICAGO: The Hothouse presents the premiere of "The Jazz Fauré Project" to an overflow crowd.

CHICAGO: Jazz Showcase: Claudia's CD release concert of By the Riverbank leads to the monthly series of Sophisticated Ladies featuring Claudia Hommel, KT McCammond and Elizabeth Doyle.

CHICAGO: Little Bucharest Bistro launches a run of Friday night cabaret, including First Fridays are French.

CHICAGO: Maxim's fine restaurant (inspired by the Parisian original), while serving as The Nancy Goldberg International Center for the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, brings "Meet Me at Maxim's: a Bastille Day celebration" featuring Claudia Hommel with violinist Johnny Frigo and "Women of Paris" with Elizabeth Doyle.

CHICAGO: Morse Theatre (now the Mayne Stage) presents Eric Vincent and Friends for a francophonic evening with Claudia Hommel, Bob Moreen and Greta Pope to open, and special guest French Consul Jean-Baptiste Main de Boissière and Haitian Consul Lesly Condé

CHICAGO's Park West: The Chicago Cabaret Professionals annual gala. Bob Moreen music directs and Claudia Hommel joins a remarkable lineup of premiere Chicago cabaret talent.

CHICAGO: Polo Café: Claudia Hommel joins violinist Johnny Frigo and his trio at the elegant southside venue.

CHICAGO: Uncommon Ground on Devon hosted the "Uncommon Cabaret Parisien" on Second Sundays.

CHICAGO: The venerable Union League Club's extravaganza for its Civic and Arts Foundation brings Claudia to make it "C'est si bon".

CHICAGO: In memory of the many clubs and restaurants that come and go: Bistro 110, Chez Colette at the Sofitel, Chez Paul, La Côte Rôtie, The Gentry, Toulouse on the Park, et al.

CLEVELAND: French Night at the Bratenahl Place with accordionist Walt Mahovlich and bassist Adam Tully is presented by Maison Française de Cleveland.

CLEVELAND: Hermit Club at Playhouse Square is a club in the grand old style and Claudia's stage production fits right in.

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO: Nighttown Club is the area's go-to jazz club, so we go to and sing there as often as possible, with pianist, with accordionist, with pianist and accordionist.

CliffBells (27K)

DETROIT: Cliff Bell's Nightclub and the Alliance Française of Detroit celebrate Beaujolais Nouveau with Claudia Hommel, singer-pianist Elizabeth Doyle and members of Hot Club of Detroit Julien Labro on accordion, Jordan Schug on bass, and Carl Cafagna on drums, clarinet and sax (not all at the same time!). For the special occasion, bassist Rick Robinson with the striking Detroit Symphony Orchestra, joins us on stage. Return engagements whenever we can.

EVANSTON: The acoustic jazz and roots venue called SPACE brings out the Jazz Fauré Project.

HIGHWOOD, IL: Claudia and accordionist Chuck Kopp squeeze between tables with the squeezebox at Froggy's restaurant.

MILWAUKEE: Hyatt Regency hosts The Jazz Fauré Project at a public performance presented by the American Association of Teachers of French annual convention.

MONTREAL: La Vielle France restaurant has a stage which we put to good use alongside Solange Sior.

NEW ORLEANS: Le Chat Noir—the perfect place to perform Paris in the Jazz Age for one set and Paris 1950 for another, with Johnny Rodgers at the piano!

NEW YORK CITY: the East Village jazz club Detour presents The Jazz Fauré Project.

NEW YORK CITY: The Copacabana stages Claudia's cabaret for the N.Y. Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences at the behest of an early fan, Martha Greenhouse.

NEW YORK CITY: Don't Tell Mama's presents Tony Villella's "Evil of Two Lessers", Claudia's foray into comedy revue, playing Connie Chung, Nancy Reagan, and other notables of the day.

NEW YORK CITY: Jan Wallman's place on Cornelia Street becomes Claudia's first professional cabaret home, presenting A Workingperson's Cabaret and inviting New York Times reviewer John S. Wilson who comes, and comes again!

NEW YORK CITY: Judy's Supper Club (inherited from Jan Wallman) hosts Claudia's New York release concert of her CD Paris/Paree

NEW YORK CITY: West Bank Café: Canciones a la vida, with John Walter at the piano, Dennis Charles on percussion.

NORTHBROOK, IL: Claudia and the late great violinist Johnny Frigo perform for the first Parisian Salon Concert, held monthly at the Northbrook Library ever since.

PARIS: Claudia becomes a regular performing guest at the historic Lapin Agile whenever she's in town.

PARIS: Souvenirs de Paris at the Swan Bar, with Agnès Gorda at the piano; she returns with pianist Denis Castelli and Annie Terramorsi (on clarinet, sax and vocals) to share From Chicago to Paris with Love.

PARIS: Patricia LaPlante's salon presents a concert with accordionist Don White.

PARIS: George Lepauw host two salon concerts, at his home in the 15th arrondissement and again at the Ile Saint Louis with the Seine at our window and Christopher Berg at the piano.

PARIS: President of the Paris-Chicago Sister City Committee hosts a salon at her home on New York Avenue overlooking the Eiffel Tower while we play excerpts from Jazz Fauré.

SAINT LOUIS: Cookie's Jazz & More with Bob Moreen and members of the Don Smith Quintet.

SUMMIT, IL: Grand Duke's Lithuanian Tavern serves up an occasional French night.