Juan-les-Pins Jazz Festival - Jazz à Juan

© photo courtesy of Yannick Seuret - Click on Picture to increase size

Dates for your diary: 49th Jazz Festival takes place between the 11th and the 20th July 2009

20.30 in Pinède Gould in Juan-les-Pins Pinède Gould is to jazz musicians what the Scala of Milan is to opera singers: an important milestone in their career and a very special performance venue. Doyen of European jazz festivals, “Jazz in Juan” is a veritable mixing pot of styles and the latest trends. Popular music and off-beat, young artistes who have gone on to great fame, the classics and modern pieces… Many are the greats who have trodden the boards of the stage since the first festival in 1960 in the mythical Pinède Gould. Once again this year, th ey come to Juan to enchant and excite their audiences with the most brilliant performances on offer today. Contact Tourist Office. 11 Place de Gaulle, 06600 Antibes. Tel : 04 97 23 11 11. www.antibesjuanlespins.com

Artists appearing July 2009: Saturday July 11 Sidney Bechet Memory All Stars Special Guest : Bob Wilber Dr Michael White Sextet Sunday July 12 Marva Wright & The BMW'S Allen Toussaint Monday July 13 Roy Hargrove Big Band RH Factor - MC Solaar Tuesday July 14 - Evening TSF Revelations Grace Kelly Bria Skonberg Tineke Postma Céline Bonacina 2nd part : The winner of Jazz à Juan Revelations 2008. Virginie Teychené Wednesday July 15 Jeff Beck S.M.V.- Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller & Victor Wooten Thursday July 16 Alice Russell Joss Stone Friday July 17 Eli «Paperboy» Reed Jamie Cullum Saturday July 18 Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock & Jack DeJohnette Sunday July 19 Soirée Gospel - Tonya Baker More information Here

11 to 19 July 2009 The « Off » Jazz in Juan Festival

As usual this year, the Tourist Office has organised jazz in the streets and venues around the town, including concerts in hotels in Juan-les-Pins and the Eden Casino during the 49th edition of “Jazz in Juan”. There are many exceptional groups and solo artists. Contact Tourist Office. 11 Place de Gaulle, 06600 Antibes. Tel : 04 97 23 11 11. www.antibesjuanlespins.com

The annual jazz festival (Jazz à Juan) takes place at Juan Les Pins in July. It is held in the Pinede (pine grove). It was in 1960 that the Juan-les-Pins Jazz Festival was officially launched. Stéphane Grapelli played at the first festival. The town is now twinned with the French quarter of New Orleans, USA. The Pinede is between the Mediterranean and Le Provençal that was once a famous hotel till the 1960's and stood empty for more than 40 years and is currently being converted into luxury apartments.

The view from this open air theatre is superb, as in the photo above of Ahmad Jamal playing in 2006 with the Mediterranean backdrop and the coast running past Golfe Juan towards Cannes.

The 48th Festival - July 10th to 20th 2008 featured: Ruthie Foster, James Blunt (10th July), Didier Lockwood, Thomas Dutronc (11th July), James Morrison & Joe Chindamo Quartet, Al Jarreau (12th July), Yaron Herman, John McLaughlin & The 4th Dimension (13th July), Sashird Lao, Nicole Henry (14th July), Solomon Burke, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings (15th July), Roy Hargrove, Marcus Miller (16th July), Nathalie Soles, Diana Panton, Stephu Haik, Virginie Teychene (17th July), Keith Jarrett with Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette (18th July), Women of Chicago Blues, Bill Wyman & The Rhythm Kings (19th July) and on the final night - 20th July Nicole Slack Jones & The Soul Sisters.

Left: Bill Wyman & The Rhythm Kings - 2008

© photo courtesy of Yannick Seuret - Click on Picture to increase size

Our correspndent attended the 2008 festival for the Keith Jarrett Trio ( Keith Jarrett - Gary Peacock - Jack Dejohnette) who were making a regular visit to the Festival. "The music was superb and the sound quality in the auditorium down to the final piano note. A most enjoyable evening".

Jazz à Juan organisers hit the top

Jazz festival notes record pitch in sales

07.08.2008 / Building on the success of the previous year, the organisers of the Jazz à Juan festival in Juan-les-Pins have just received the results for this year’s festival – and its good news!

This year, an increase of 5% was noted in the number of paying visitors with a sale of, on average, 1753 tickets each evening. Only the youth ticket sales were down, decreasing from 5 to 2.5%, as the organisers chose not to apply a reduced price on the evening James Blunt performed.

On the other hand, the four evenings of the festival ticked all the boxes for jazz-lovers as more than 70% of the tickets were sold, particularly for the performances by James Blunt and Al Jarreau.

The first year with Internet booking was a clear success with more than 37% of the total ticket sales purchased from the comfort of festival goers homes at the click of a mouse.

The choice of performers this year has led many to chapeau the festival committee for their balanced programme of new stars, established artists and jazz legends, which undoubtedly helped the Jazz à Juan festival see one of its most successful years to date. Source The Riviera Times

Left: Women of Chicago Blues - 2008

© photo courtesy of Yannick Seuret - Click on Picture to increase size

The 47th Festival - July 2007 featured: E.S.T., The Roy Hargrove Acoustic Quintet, Norah Jones, Richard Bona, Gilberto Gil, Taj Mahal and Keith Jarrett with Gary Peacock & Jack DeJohnette.