Jazz

Becca Stevens Band at Nice Jazz Festival

Becca Stevens, singer, composer and multi-facetted guitarist has already earned her reputation and built up a following of faithful fans, both for her own creations and for her collaborations with artists from various backgrounds, among them the famous pianist Brad Mehldau. She brings fresh life to the prestigious Théâtre de la Verdure in Nice when she presents her latest album “Perfect Animals”.

Fat Freddy’s Drop at Sónar Festival

DJ Fitchie aka Chris Faiumu – MPC, Producer Joe Dukie aka Dallas Tamaira - Vocals Chopper Reeds aka Scott Towers  - Saxophone Tony Chang aka Toby Laing – Trumpet Dobie Blaze aka Iain Gordon – Keyboard Hopepa aka Joe Lindsay - Trombone Jetlag Johnson aka Tehimana Kerr – Guitar MC Slave aka Mark Williams – MC & Videographer

Greg Zlap - Air - Live at Jazz a Vienne

Grzegorz Szlapczynski, alias Greg Zlap, is a Franco-Polish harmonica player and singer originating from Warsaw. Szlapczynski arrived in Paris at the end of the 1980s with his little harmonica in his bags. He joined his first bands and discovered the clubs of Paris while still a student at Jussieu. Gifted and charismatic, Zlap quickly found the opportunity to hone his talent on the harmonica alongside those of Jacques Milteau (pure chance) and Olivier Ker Ourio. Greg became a sought-after session musician. In the studio or on stage, we saw behind Johnny Hallyday and in television studios with Francis Cabrel, Maxime Le Forestier and Charles Aznavour. An open and inventive composer, Zlap created a surprise in 2002 with La Part du Diable [The Devil’s Share], an album with electro overtones that the magazine Le Point described as “one of the best Blues album’s of the moment, in the style of St Germain or Erik Truffaz”. At Vienne he exudes a real desire to share, with inevitable fine solos in a Western mood, but he also plays his favorite pieces with his band of buddies in a “Buddy Guy” spirit. His latest opus, Air, recorded in Warsaw is in a vein closer to jazz. Musicians: Greg Zlap / Harmonica, vocals Eric Starczan / Guitare, vocals Tristan Bres / Bass Damien Cornelis / Keyboard Toma Milteau / Drums

Ayo live at Jazz A Vienne

Ayo is a warrior. It’s difficult to believe when you see her disarming smile and her long, slender silhouette armed with no more than a guitar. After selling a million and a half disks in 40 countries, Ayo teamed up once again in 2013 with Jay Newland, producer of her first opus. In New York they recorded the album Ticket to the World, which included the incendiary “Fire”, which she performs at the Théâtre Antique as a medley, slipping in versions of pieces by Bob Marley. The German singer with Nigerian and gypsy roots blends naturalness with elegance and at the Antique theater she unveils a repertoire that is more soul and jazzy than ever. Like the best of bluesmen, Ayo takes awareness along with her and she arouses primordial notions buried beneath the pragmatism of the century: brotherhood, love for others and rebellion against injustice. Musicians: Ayo / Vocals, guitar Sherrod Barnes / Guitar Guillaume Poncelet / Piano

The Golden Gate Quartet – 80 years Live at Jazz a Vienne

United by a single passion for swing, the vocal skills of the Mills Brothers and traditional Negro spirituals, in 1934 four students from the Booker T. Washington College in Virginia created the Golden Gate Quartet Jubilee Singers. They quickly became the Golden Gate Quartet, an innovative gospel choir group whose fame spread so fast that they have never stopped touring the world, from the end of the war till today. The Golden Gate Quartet’s experience is unique:  more than 80 years on the gospel stage! Paul Brembly (baritone), Frank Davis (1st tenor), Michael Robinson (2nd tenor) and Terry François (bass) are the artistic heirs to the choir, all trained by former members in the spirit of tradition. Last year the Golden Gate Quartet celebrated 80 years of existence and for the occasion the choir group released an album, 80 Years, a blend of modernism and tradition, the keys to its longevity. The choir also performed Michael Jackson’s famous “Billie Jean” and paid tribute to artist Ben E. King by reprising world-wide hit “Stand by me” before ending on an optimistic note with a magnificent interpretation of “Oh, happy day!” Musicians: Paul Bremly / Baritone Frank Davis / 1st tenor  Michael Robinson / 2nd tenor  Terry François / Bass  Nabiel Pines / Piano, keyboard  Joël Rocher / Guitar, bass Pascal Riou / Drums

Roy Hargrove Quintet Special guest Yasiin Bey (Aka Mos Def) Live at Jazz A Vienne

A native of Texas, Roy Hargrove has been traveling the world since the end of the 1980s accompanying the most prestigious of musicians, such as Sonny Rollins, Herbie Hancock and Wynton Marsalis. Now leader of a quintet, future greats can’t wait to play with him. In Vienne, he invites Mos Def, alias Yaslin Bey, a New York artist, to set the Théâtre Antique alight. It’s an explosive collaboration between the Texan trumpeter’s transcendent jazz and the cutting flow of the US rapper. Although his background is jazz, Roy Hargrove is a lover of soul, funk and hip-hop. Whenever a musician has appealed to him and whatever school of music he adheres to, Hargrove has arranged to play alongside him. And so R.H., the Texan, accompanied Sonny Rollins in 1991, Herbie Hancock and Michael Brecker on the album Directions in Music and recorded in Havana with the Cuban masters and, still later, with rapper, Common. More than any other today, Hargrove has that double culture of bop tradition and urban music. Musicians: Roy Hargrove / Bugle, trumpet Justin Robinson / Saxophone Sullivan Fortner / Piano Ameen Saleem / Bass Quincy Phillips /Drums

Maceo Parker at Jazz A Vienne

Maceo Parker is the last artist still working in authentic funk. The saxophonist steers a path between James Brown style soul of the 1960s and George Clinton’s 1970s funk. His two mentors with whom he worked over a long period. In the 1990s he broke free and began a brilliant solo career. Maceo Parker is king of a highly vital funk. On stage at the Théâtre Antique he strings together songs and instrumentals bringing alive the music of James Brown with staggering energy. The spirit of his native North Carolina emanates like essence of soul each time he blows on his sax, preferable an alto. Some fifteen albums in 25 years, nearly 200 concerts per year: his new empire of soul was born of sweat and it leaves the audience spellbound every time he plays. Musicians: Maceo Parker / Saxophone - Vocals Martha High / Vocals Darliene Parker / Vocal Greg Boyer / Trombone Rodney Skeet Curtis / Bass Will Boulware / Keyboard Bruno Speight / Guitar

Avishai Cohen's New York Divison at Jazz A Vienne

A native of Israel having lived in New York since the 1990s, Avishai Cohen is a citizen of the world, a master of contemporary jazz. Following Gently Disturbed released seven years ago now on his own, Razdaz label, Avishai recorded Aurora, a first opus for the prestigious Blue Note label. From that period on the double bass player has been expressing himself further in song, in English, Hebrew or Ladino, a reflection of his nomadic music. His origins cause him to lean naturally towards the melodic riches of the Orient. Avishai Cohen can surprise whether leading a quintet, a simple duo or a trio. For his new opus From Darkness, he has gathered his favorite line-up with pianist Nitaï Hershkovits and drummer Daniel Dor. For this, the 35th Jazz à Vienne Festival, this regular at the Théâtre Antique performs an original and highly symbolic concert since he has chosen to bring into his current trio three other musicians that he has known since his early days in New York: trumpeter Diego Urcola, trombonist Steve Davis and guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel. Musicians: Avishai Cohen / vocals, bass  Diego Urcola / trumpet  Steve Davis / trombone Kurt Rosenwinkel / guitar Nitaï Hershkovits / piano Daniel Dor / drums