Eric John Kaiser playing guitar

Eric John Kaiser, billed as “Portland’s French Troubadour,” delivers a modern pop-rock sound fusing rock, hip-hop and reggae wrapped in sophisticated French lyrics. (Think Manu Chao meets the 1969 Rolling Stones.)

He arrived to the creativity-soaked environs of Portland, Oregon, from his native Paris three years ago with more than 350 performances to his credit (including the Solidays Festival, La Scène Bastille and Fête de la Musique) in addition to a successful career as a documentary filmmaker and Parisian radio personality. Since landing in America, he has released two full-length albums – the first, “L'Odyssée,” was recorded at the Paris studio of Philippe Baïa (producer for Sony Music/V2 Music), and the second, “French Troubadour,” was recorded in Portland at Type Foundry Studio (The Decemberists, Spoon, M-Ward, Jolie Holland).

In 2009, he opened for multi-platinum selling UK supergroup Stereophonics at Portland’s Wonder Ballroom. In 2010, he played at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC and the deYoung Museum in San Francisco. That following October and November he did a two week solo tour in France. 2011 brought him on the roads of of Idaho, Utah, Montana, Washington and Rhode Island and New York to celebrate the release of his latest CD "Portland Rendez-Vous". Eric John Kaiser is currently working on the recording of his next full length album to be released early 2012.


CRITICAL PRAISE
“Like über-producer/recording artiste Daniel Lanois, he's adept at seamlessly blending French and English lyrics with tasteful, sun-dappled sonics.”
-- Barbara Mitchell, The Portland Oregonian

“Seeing as we've managed to snag these continental talents, let's enjoy 'em!”
-- Cary Clarke, The Portland Mercury

“Eric John Kaiser's 2009 CD release 'French Troubadour' contains a full spectrum of great old style pop/rock songs, expertly written and delivered with engaging storytelling.”
-- Zaph Mann, OPB Music

"Kaiser's smoky singing voice is full of rich, throaty vowels of his native language"
-- Amy Atkins, Boise Weekly

"Eric John Kaiser, whose music bridges the lyrically focused storytelling traditions of French Music with the modern singer-songwriter vogue of his adopted home in Portland"
-- Nickellbag, The Missoulian

Eric John Kaiser was also featured in radio and TV interviews on Virgin Radio, France Inter, Direct 8 TV Network, Radio Campus Paris, Kink FM, Radio Boise, Radio Spokane. He was featured in magazine articles and had a 4-page interview in Guitar Unplugged (March 2010), and France Amerique.


MUSIC
* 2010 – “Portland Rendez-Vous” (Ep) Recorded at 8 Ball Studio in Portland (Scott Fisher, Kate Mann, etc…)
* 2009 - “French Troubadour” (full-length CD) Recorded at Type Foundry studio (The Decemberists, Spoon, M-Ward, etc.), produced by French film & TV composer Alain Gandit and features platinum-selling French musician Tété.
* 2008 - “L'Odyssée” (full-length CD) Recorded at the Paris studio of Philippe Baïa (producer for Sony Music/V2 Music), produced by Alain Gandit and features Feniksi from the Saïan Supa Crew (million-album selling French hip hop band) as well as acclaimed French folk artist David Tétard and Rio Taxi.
* 2007 - Song “L'Odyssée” included on the compilation CD “PDX Pop Now! 2007”.
* 2006 - EP “Comme à la Maison”
* 2005 - EP “Paris Acte I, Scène 1”
* 2005 - Contributed to the album “Robots Après Tout” by French artist Katerine.


TOURS
* Oct - Nov 2010 - CD release Tour for "Portland Rendez-Vous" in France
* June - July 2010 - “Pardon my French” tour – San Francisco (deYoung Museum), Los Angeles, San Diego, Seattle * March 2010 - “French Troubadours” tour with Tété in Canada (Calgary, Winnipeg), Louisiana (New Orleans, Lafayette, Arnaudville), Washington DC (Smithsonian Institute)
* Nov - Dec 2009 – “Let's Go East” tour in Eastern Oregon (La Grande, Baker City), Idaho (Caldwell, Boise), Utah (Salt Lake City, Park City), Colorado (Denver)
* June 2009 - “La Fête de la Musique Comes to America Again!" from Los Angeles to Vancouver with French Star Tété.
* May 2009 - CD release tour for “French Troubadour” in Oregon.
* March - April 2009 - CD release tour for “French Troubadour” with Tété in France and Belgium.
* December 2008 - Solo tour in Québec.
* September 2009 – Opened for Stereophonics at Wonder Ballroom, Portland.
* June 2008 - “La Fête de la Musique Comes to America” from San Francisco to Seattle with Tété and Scott Fisher.
* April 2007 - CD release tour of “L'Odyssée” in France and Ireland (Paris, Marseille, Dublin, Belfast)
* December 2007 - Solo tour in Québec
* November 2007 - Solo tour “If You're Going Down to San Francisco (And Back!)”