From February 8 to 12, 2012, at the Théâtre Francis Gag, “The meaning of the blues” will pay tribute to François Chassagnite.
For three consecutive years now, the NICE JAZZ ORCHESTRA has taken over the Théâtre Francis Gag, in old Nice, creating a winter event aimed at discovering Azur artists who revolve around the “NJO sphere,” and offering fabulous jazz repertoires to a faithful audience always eager for surprises…
We could almost call this the “little NJO festival,” where the only stake is to enjoy and share this enjoyment with the audience. The NJO, under the musical direction of Pierre Bertrand and artistic direction of Christian Pachiaudi and Alain Asplanato, has decided for this third edition to think “bigger” by producing five dates in collaboration with Théâtre Francis Gag and Image Publique, with the dedicated support of SPEDIDAM.
The year 2011 was deeply marked by the passing of the great Azur artist François Chassagnite. To honor him, the NJO dedicates its third edition of “NJO live in Francis Gag” to the theme of blues and trumpet. Thus, the NJO invites three national trumpet figures, Stéphane Belmondo, Fabien Mary, and Nicolas Folmer, and highlights guitarist Amaury Filliard for an evening dedicated to Wes Montgomery.
The program for the five evenings will be full of surprises, and the NJO will offer a dynamic reinterpretation of some of the repertoires dear to François Chassagnite and the most “magical” of jazz by the deep foundations they have in the “blues”!
PROGRAM
Wednesday, February 8 – 9 PM
“Blue Note Session”
NJO in quintet – guest: Nicolas Folmer
“Blue Note” is a famous record label that introduced composers and soloists like Joe Henderson, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock (…), who will be honored through a journey to the heart of the “blue note”.
Thursday, February 9 – 9 PM
“Wes Montgomery”
NJO in quintet – guest: Amaury Filliard
Wes Montgomery, a great guitarist with blues-tinged compositions…
Friday, February 10 – 9 PM
“The Blues And Abstract Truth”
NJO septet – guest: Fabien Mary
“The Blues And Abstract Truth” is a mythical album, composed by Oliver Nelson, which introduced new forms to blues, offering a more “esoteric” approach to the art of the blues!
Saturday, February 11 – 9 PM & Sunday, February 12 – 4 PM
“Jazz Masters: Ellington/Gil Evans”
NJO in big band – guest: Stéphane Belmondo
Ellington and Gil Evans, two of the greatest composers and arrangers in jazz history whose shared expressiveness came from the blues but achieved artistically opposite musical results, will be united through the talent of Stéphane Belmondo and all the musicians of the NJO…
