Johnny Hess

Johnny Hess is a French singer-songwriter who first gained wider attention with his 2009 album 'Des Fleurs pour Salinger.' The album included 'Augustine et Augustin,' a song that became his most recognized work. He had been releasing music since at least the mid-1990s, with an earlier album called 'Le Piano Rouge.'

His songs, like 'Je suis swing' and 'Colombe,' often have a straightforward, melodic quality. He works with a small band that has included guitarist Pierre Vatinel and bassist Matthieu Borgne.

Hess's music doesn't fit neatly into grand narratives about French music. It's more the kind of thing you might hear in a small club or on a local radio station, built around simple piano or guitar and his direct vocal delivery. He put out another album called 'Le Jardin des Silences' in 2018.