Nice Jazz Festival — Wikipedia

The Nice Jazz Festival , called to the origin The Jazz Festival , is a music festival organized in Nice in France for the first time in 1948, then every year since 1971. It is sometimes considered as “The first jazz festival to have acquired international importance” ^{[ 2 ]} .

The 2020 edition, initially scheduled from June 17 to 21, is canceled by local authorities on April 25, due to the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, the 2021 edition is programmed from July 12 to 17, with an interruption on July 14 ^{[ 3 ]} .

The first edition of the Nice International Jazz Festival, organized by Jacques Hebey (co -creator in 1960 from Jazz to Juan) under the artistic direction of Hugues Panassié, president of the Hot Club de France, takes place from 22 to February 28, 1948 ^{[ 4 ] , [ 5 ]} . Louis Armstrong and his group The All Stars and Django Reinhardt are the main stars ^{[ 6 ] , [ 7 ]} .

The festival takes place at the Nice Opera, and at the Municipal Casino in Place Masséna.

During the festival, several artists were present: Louis Armstrong, Barney Bigard, Francis Burger, Sidney Catlett, Suzy Delair, Baby Dodds, Challain Ferret (of) , Stép, Gropllie, Earl Wars, Jean Schmes Mener, Claude Lénai, R, Folze, Joseph Rainrhas, andbel Sharehard, and Maggown Celliers, Arvell of Shaw (in) , Jimmy Skidmore, Emmanuel Soudieux, Rex Stewart, Jack Teagarden and Louis Voala.

On February 28, 1948, Suzy Delair sang It is so good At the Negresco Hotel during this festival. Louis Armstrong was present and loved the song. On June 26, 1950, he recorded the American version of the song (English lyrics by Jerry Seelen) in New York with the Sy Oliver Orchestra. When it was released, the disc experienced worldwide success and the song was then taken up by the greatest international singers.

The festival only resumed in 1971, organized by the city of Nice in the Albert-Garden I ^is At the Théâtre de Verdure, following the suspension of the Antibes Jazz Festival-Juan-les-Pins.

1974-1979: The great jazz parade [ modifier | Modifier and code ]

In 1974, the organization of the festival was entrusted to the American producer George Wein, creator of the Newport Jazz Festival in 1954, alongside Jean-Louis and Simone Ginibre. The festival is renamed Grande paired you jazz , and finds his predilection place at the Cimiez arenas on the heights of Nice. The concerts take place simultaneously on three scenes (arenas, Matisse, gardens) around a large olive park dedicated to catering, stalls, which lends itself to the reception of a family audience.

The configuration of the premises allows organizers to simultaneously accommodate several styles of music (Bebop, Blues, Jazz Fusion, New Orleans, etc.), with different generations of musicians, local artists and international stars. The spectators, many of whom discover jazz, wander from one scene to another depending on the programs, which change every hour; They can lie on the lawns in front of the garden scene, they can dance on the boards in front of the Matisse scene, they sometimes meet musicians who also enjoy shows. The festive atmosphere and the scenic concept attract an audience that is both local and international. The streets of Nice also participate in the party with each day parades and improvised concerts. The musicians meet in the evening at the hotel Beach Regency Where the show continues in JAM sessions late at night.

The notoriety of the great jazz parade is still developing with the recordings of Jean-Christophe Averty broadcast on television. The great jazz parade remains for amateurs the golden age of the festival.

Cimiez arenas

Cimiez Arena Park The gardens The arenas

1980-1993 : JVC Nice Jazz Festival [ modifier | Modifier and code ]

With the arrival of patronage, the festival became in 1980 JVC Great Jazz Parade Then JVC Nice Jazz Festival In 1992. JVC was then a partner of several major jazz festivals around the world, including that of Newport or London.

The search for a financial balance by the increase in attendance requires the opening of programming to other musical currents: World Music, Reggae, Rock, always alongside great figures of jazz and blues.

Since 1994: Nice Jazz Festival [ modifier | Modifier and code ]

In 1994, the town hall of Nice had to separate from the management of the festival, and entrusted its organization to a private company:

• 1994-1996: Association Les Alizés , Nice Jazz Productions SARL
• 1997: Viviane Sicnasi (Head of Communication and Press Relations for the Grande Parade since 1974)
• 1998-2000 : Michel Leeb
• 2001-2007: Viviane Sicnasi Production (Public Service Delegation)
• 2008-2010: Gérard Drouot Production (public service delegation) ^{[ 8 ]}

In 2011, the city took over the management of the festival, subcontracting the artistic direction:

• 2011: Resumption of municipal management with Harry Lapp as artistic director, abandonment of the Cimiez site and return to the Albert gardens first ^{is [ 9 ]} .
• 2012 : Harry Lapp
• 2013: Sébastien Vidal, association Jazz from The Duke ^{[ ten ]} .
• Since 2014: Sébastien Vidal, association The Duke of Lombards ^{[ 11 ]} .

Since 1974, Nice Jazz Festival has taken place from 7 p.m. to 0 h 30 Every year in July for eight days, then it is reduced to only 5 days in 2011.

The Nice Jazz Festival presented since 1994 since 1994 a poster less and less marked Jazz (Leonard Cohen, Maxime Le Forestier, Julien Doré, Phil Collins, Jacques Higelin, Laurent Garnier, Earth, Wind and Fire …), wanting to be more eclectic to answer the Varied tastes of the public according to the organizers, and attract a greater number of spectators. In 2011, the programming was clearly returned to jazz and its current loved ones. But in 2014 she returned to concerts for the general public with notably Patrice (Reggae), Metronomy and Cassius (Electro), Deep Purple (Hard Rock), the Gipsy Kings or Iggy Pop.

2001 ^{[ twelfth ]} [ modifier | Modifier and code ]

July 21-28

• Samedi : Kool & the Gang, Solomon Burke, Syl & Jimmy Johnson  (in) , Gil Scott-Heron, Siedah Garrett, Ted Levy, Art of Four (Billy Cobham, Ron Carter, James Williams, Donald Harrison), John Ellison  (in)
• Sunday: Cesária Evora Evora, Omara Portuondo, Jerry González (in) & Fort Apache Band, Los Acereko, Chano Domínguez, Orlando Poleo, El Indio, Márcio Faraco, Jaleo
• Lundi: St Germain, Erik Tranzn, Brooklyn Funnials, MiA CAZAN, JACUOCOOO, JACAGA, JAKZOO, LES MAY MIES
• Mardi: Ray Brown, Brad Mehldau, Pink Martini, Eagle-Eye Cherry, Richard Bona, Mukta, Anja Garbarek, Esbjörn Svensson, Ex-Centric Sound System
• Mercredi : B. B. King, Van Morrison, Dr John, Bill Wyman, Marva Wright  (in) , Linda Honkin Serx, Apul Bocoum
• Thursday: Henri Salvador, Cheb Mami, Michel Portal, David Linx, Jean-Michel Pilc, André Persiany
• Vendredi: Dee Dee Bridgewater, Suzanne Vega, Bebel Gilberto, Lisa Ekdahl, Patricia Barber, Djura, Susana Baca
• On Saturday: Rokia Traoré, Baba, alasty Blakl, Benkenken Jara, Mariteyi Key, NGAYE, NGABANARE, STUBREA

Attendance [ modifier | Modifier and code ]

Number of entries :

• 2018: 40 100 ^{[ 13 ]}
• 2017: 38 400 ^{[ 13 ]}
• 2016: Festival canceled ^{[ 14 ]}
• 2015: 46,300 (paid) (+10.0%) ^{[ 15 ]}
• 2014: 42 000 (+10.0%)
• 2013: 38 000 (+17.0%) ^{[ 16 ]}
• 2012: 32 500 (+ 6.5%) ^{[ 16 ]}
• 2011: 30 500 ^{[ 16 ]}
• 2006: 41 000 ^{[ 17 ] , [ 18 ]}
• 2002 to 2007: around 44,000 ^{[ 19 ]}
• 2001: 55 000 ^{[ 19 ]}

Budget [ modifier | Modifier and code ]

• 2006: budget of 2.5 million including € 997,000 awarded by the City of Nice ^{[ 18 ]} .
• 2013: expenses 3 187 000 Euros HT , receipts 1 175 000 Euros HT ^{[ 16 ]}
• 2012: expenses 3 064 000 Euros HT , receipts 1 081 000 Euros HT ^{[ 16 ]}

• Jonathan Duclos–Arkilovitch, Jazzin ’Riviera, 70 years of jazz on the French Riviera , ROM Editions, Nice, 1997, (ISBN  2-9104-1012-9 ) .
• Daniel Chauvet, Gilbert d’Alto, Frédérica Raudrianome-Karsenty, Nice Jazz: the story of a festival , Gilletta Editions, Nice, 2018, (ISBN  978-2-3595-6112-8 )