Just as there is a Nice School for visual artists and painters, there is also the “Nice Jazz School” dear to Barney Willen: a jubilant jazz, a jazz that swings and grooves, a lively and exhilarating jazz that always projects into the future and into research.
The NJO (Nice Jazz Orchestra) claims this school!
The NJO’s aim is to present the best soloists of Azur jazz and to support a broad repertoire, focused on creation, modern jazz, French and European jazz composers, as well as innovative reinterpretations of rarely played jazz repertoires, implementing original orchestrations or involving artists outside of music, notably painters, visual artists, or dancers.
The NJO therefore aims for excellence and has the ambition to organize off-season concerts, with renowned Azur guests (Richard Galliano, Louis Winsberg, André Ceccarelli…), as well as workshops, master classes, and, in the future, artistic actions to raise awareness of jazz among young audiences and underprivileged publics in partnership with the General Council of the Alpes-Maritimes and the Nice city hall.
The assumption is as follows:
“NICE has a tremendous pool of jazz talent and the NJO is now the living proof of it. Thanks to this orchestra of excellence, Azur jazz is brought to national and international levels. The NJO reinforces Nice’s dynamic and avant-garde image, its culture, and its arts.”
On February 10, 11, and 12, the NJO musicians will present three concerts exploring Boris Vian’s close relationship with jazz!
Thursday, February 10 – 9 PM :: MILES DAVIS “Kind of Blue & Elevator to the Gallows” (sextet)
Boris Vian was Miles Davis’s artistic director at Barclay and famously wrote the “liner notes” for the soundtrack of the film “Elevator to the Gallows,” directed in 1957 by Louis Malle. This was Miles Davis’s great year of recognition, the first work for which he assumed full conception. The original notes were written by Boris Vian. This recording was awarded the Grand Prix du Disque from the Académie Charles Cros in 1957.
Featuring François Chassagnite (trumpet), Sébastien Chaumont (alto sax), Pierre Bertrand (tenor sax), Frédéric d’Oelsnitz (piano), Christian Pachiaudi (double bass), and Alain Asplanato (drums).
Friday, February 11 – 9 PM:
“Boris Vian’s Songs” with singer Catherine Faylgarac (quintet)
Catherine Falgayrac – À Fleur de Mots (first album with WARNER MUSIC FRANCE)
“Sensual muslin voice, velvet breath, swinging words, impeccable tempo, with the constant concern to serve the music… Catherine Falgayrac crafts, under the clever and sharp pen of Pascal Assy, invaluable little paintings, adorned with the sounds of a beautiful melodic fabric where jazz reveals its note. The album unfolds and excellence is everywhere with the majestic wings of Pierre Bertrand’s arrangements.”
Dominique Paravano
Featuring Catherine Falgayrac (vocals), Pierre Bertrand (tenor sax), Amaury Filliard (guitar), Frédéric d’Oelsnitz (piano), Christian Pachiaudi (double bass), and Alain Asplanato (drums).
Saturday, February 12 – 9 PM :: “THE DUKE” (big band)
Duke Ellington was, for Boris Vian, the greatest genius of music. He extensively promoted him when he was editor-in-chief of Jazz Hot. The entire NJO will perform Duke’s music as well as the music from Otto Preminger’s film “Anatomy of a Murder” composed by the master.
Musical direction Pierre Bertrand / Saxophones Jean-Marc BACCARINI, Jean-Christophe DICOSTANZO, Ludovic TALLARICO, Benjamin BOUTANT, Christian BONICHI / Trumpets Joël CHAUSSE, Philippe GIULI, François CHASSAGNITE, Philippe BLEUEZ / Trombones Frédéric LUZIGNANT, Francesco CASTELLANI, Alex Perdigon, Bela LORANT / Piano Frédéric d’Oelsnitz / Guitar Amaury Filliard / Double bass Christian Pachiaudi / Drums Alain Asplanato / Artistic direction Alain Asplanato, Pierre Bertrand, Christian Pachiaudi
