Chante Piaf

by Alex Henderson The most revered French vocalist of the 20th century, Edith Piaf continues to influence French artists long after her death. A soulful, moving singer with an impressive range, Mireille Mathieu pays tribute to Piaf 's legacy on the superb Chante Piaf . As great as Piaf 's influence is on her, the singer projects an impressive identity of her own on familiar songs ranging from the dramatic "Exodus" and the haunting "Jezebel" to the confident "Non, Je Ne Regrete Rien." Quite appropriately, this fine CD opens with Piaf 's signature song, "La Vie en Rose." Atlantic could have easily come up with a Piaf clone, but instead, the company wisely chose a vocalist who salutes the legend on her own terms.