Pardon My French!

ArtYard and the Frenchtown Bookshop are excited to welcome New-Orleans-based vintage French jazz band Pardon My French! Saturday, March 4 to perform at ArtYard’s McDonnell Theater.

NYC swing guitarist Pete Roze’ and Memphis-born actress/singer Caroline Fourmy started Pardon My French! inspired by the sound of Edith Piaf and Charles Trenet tunes, as well as by Serge Gainsbourg, Eartha Kitt, and Pink Martini favorites. With the addition of New Orleans native and traditional jazz star Joshua Gouzy on bass and classical composer, accordion, and world music aficionado Michael Ward-Bergeman on accordion, the quartet began playing house concerts and intimate venues throughout New Orleans. An album and video later, they found themselves touring — and having to learn French.

​After a pandemic hiatus, Pardon My French! made their New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival debut in 2022.