And All That Jazz

JUAN-LES-PINS/ANTIBES Jazz à Juan

On the Riviera, where France’s Jazz Age began in the Roaring Twenties, Europe’s oldest jazz festival, launched in 1960, is still among its very best. On the bill on the big outdoor seaside stage this summer: headliner Sting, festival faithfuls Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock and John Dejohnette, rising star of baroque-classic fusion Ibrahim Maalouf and more. July 12–July 21. www.jazzajuan.com

NICE JAZZ FESTIVAL

The Nice city council is organizing the festival from 8th to 12th of July, promising five summer evenings of pure immersion in all things jazz. Last year, some 35,000 visitors from all over the world made their way to the Riviera capital to witness the spectacular event, and even larger crowds are expected this time around.

It was Nice that held the first ever world Jazz Festival in 1948, and it’s Nice that continues the tradition today, welcoming international and national jazz talents to the Placa Massèna stage for five contrasting musically themed nights: trance, tempo, energy, breath and vibration.

Local star André Ceccarelli, an undeniable fixture of the jazz world, is particularly proud of the local festival, “Nice is my city, my roots and my culture. Jazz is my life, my soul and my passion. The festival is every colour, and music bursts out of it.”

Tickets costs 35 euros and more information can be found on nicejazzfestival.fr.

The Programme:

Monday 8th: It’s trance night with performances from Guillaume Perret, Christian Scott, Jon Baptiste and Eric Legenini. Highlights include performances from Earth, Wind & Fire and André Ceccarelli.

Tuesday 9th: This night will bring the tempo with Stéphane Belmondo, Lianne la Havas, Ben Harper, Nice Jazz Orchestra, Manu Katché Quartet and international wonder Robert Glasper Experiment, who has just won the 2013 Grammy Award for best R&B album.

Wednesday 10th: For an evening of energy, don’t miss Wednesday – with Kellylee Evans, J, Stéphane Chausse, the Gerald Clayton Sextet and the Youn Sun Nah quartet. Exciting performances included from the appropriately named John Legend, who’s just 25 years old and already has nine grammy awards, as well as C2C, four-time champions of the world Disco Mix Club.

Thursday 11th: For the intriguingly titled ‘breath’ evening – José James, Raphaël Gualazzi, Etienne M’Bappé, Omer Avital Band of the East and Chick Corea & the Vigil will take the stage. Musical legend Maceo Parker, king of the groove genre, will also make an appearance.

Friday 12th: To finish on a high note, the last evening will follow the theme of ‘vibrations’ with artists Tigran – Shadow Theatre, Pedrito Martinez, Vainqueur for the Tremlin Off and Shai Maestro Trio. Esperanza Spalding, up and coming American talent with two Grammies already to her name and George Benson, winner of 10 Grammy Awards, are the main highlights for the grand finale.

“COME ON BABE, WHY DON’T WE PAINT THE TOWN… &

ALL THAT JAZZ !?”

Source/credit:  France Today and Riviera Times

The Riviera Woman

And you thought I was talking about myself, right?!

Well....sort of…..since I am A Riviera woman, and am featured in THE Riviera Woman, an online magazine, as the author of “Solitary Desire – One Woman’s Journey to France.  Watch book trailer HERE.

A big merci to Anna Fill, the e-zine presenter and promoter, who I met a few years ago at one of her events.  Anna started the magazine to “develop a platform that allowed (her) to meet inspirational women and men on the Riviera who are part of the community, giving (her) the chance to raise their profile and hear their story.  (She) also wanted to have a website that promoted art and artists of all kinds.”

The Riviera Woman magazine’s slogan is: “Talk to us because we’ll talk about you. It’s what women do.”  And Anna certainly does it very, very well – Bravo!