Jazz à Juan, 60 years of musical passion!
(Part 2)
Audio 42:04
Singer Gregory Porter in concert, July 12, 2021, at the "Jazz à Juan" festival.
© Rivierakris
By: Joe Farmer Follow
46 mins
Since 1960, the "Jazz à Juan" festival, in the south-east of France, has welcomed the most eminent instrumentalists of our time.
Although the pandemic got the better of the 2020 edition, the organizers of this major summer meeting have not given up and have redoubled their efforts to worthily celebrate 60 years of living music on the shores of the Mediterranean.
This year, came to illuminate the Pinède Gould de Juan-les-Pins, great figures of "The Epic of Black Music" including Kenny Barron, Wynton Marsalis, Kenny Garrett, among others, thus reviving the tradition of full concerts. air in front of cheerful and enthusiastic spectators.
Publicity
On July 12, 2021, singer Robin McKelle had the privilege of opening the evening by performing some extracts from her latest album,
Alterations
, presented as an ode to the divas of vocal art, from Billie Holiday to Amy Winehouse… This artistic choice and this sacred challenge demonstrated how eclecticism is a force and sometimes reveals the sensitivity and elasticity of a voice. Note also that the moving version on stage of
Bridge over troubled water
, certainly inspired by the recording of Aretha Franklin in 1971 at the Fillmore West in San Francisco, received the ovations of a public conquered by so much grace and feeling. And it was only the appetizer of a night lulled by the delicate harmonies of true virtuosos.
Robin McKelle on stage, July 12, 2021, during the 60th "Jazz à Juan" festival.
© Rivierakris
Some 90 minutes later, it was the imposing Gregory Porter, who in 10 years had become the darling of lovers of scintillating Soul-Jazz notes, who raised the festival-goers of Juan-les-Pins, including Prince Albert II of Monaco. came to honor with his presence the 60th anniversary of "Jazz à Juan".
Like all the other spectators, he could not resist the suave and tonic voice of the famous American singer.
This performance was the first in Europe of the colossus with the golden voice, since the health crisis.
He did not hide his immense pleasure in finding the boards: "
I have the impression of living again.
It's a resurrection to be here in France about to take the stage.
We have all gone through particularly painful moments, we have been separated from our loved ones, we have had to respect rules that have isolated us.
The simple fact of being able to express myself through music and to find you all is, for me, like an arm of honor to the virus.
Being together should be a perfectly natural thing and we should all be able to smile again.
I am delighted to be able to communicate again with my fellow human beings and to enjoy the freedoms that we have been so unfairly deprived of lately. ”
(Gregory Porter, July 12 in Juan-les-Pins, at the microphone of Joe Farmer)
Singer Gregory Porter enchants audiences with "Jazz à Juan".
© Rivierakris
When the hero of the day greeted his audience after an epic version of the
1960
rash
What!
, an irrepressible jubilation suddenly embraced us.
The chills had returned, the simple pleasure of cheering an artist and feeling the breath of happiness invaded us.
Life before the virus seemed possible again!
→
The "Jazz à Juan" Festival
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