It’s over. The evening of July 12, 2011, was the last of the 2011 edition of the Nice Jazz Festival. On this occasion, the stage at the Théâtre de Verdure hosted some of the greatest jazz musicians, while the Masséna stage featured headliners such as Aloe Blacc, Keziah Jones, and Maceo Parker. A final evening at the Jardins Albert 1er that will be renewed next year according to the report by Christian Estrosi, Deputy Mayor of Nice.
This evening of July 12, 2011, the Théâtre de Verdure welcomed great jazz names like Roy Hargrove, the American jazz trumpeter. But also the great and much-anticipated Ahmad Jamal, who more than filled the venue and sent his audience to cloud nine. And to end on a high note, jazz enthusiasts received Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra.
Focus on Aloe Blacc, Keziah Jones, and Maceo Parker
So many stars for the last evening of the festival! The site was packed. Many arrived as early as 7:30 PM to applaud the soul singer Aloe Blacc. Very classy in his three-piece suit, he is also a true showman. He danced and invited some people from the audience to do the same. Some took the stage and danced, guaranteeing a good atmosphere.
The icing on the cake was Aloe singing his signature track “I Need a Dollar,” which was played repeatedly on the radio not too long ago. Needless to say, everyone knew the lyrics. Quite a good moment.
At 8:30 PM, it was Keziah Jones’s turn to take the stage. The creator of his own style, blufunk, which is a blend of blues, soul, and funk music, made quite an impression.
“Anytime she goes away,” yes, the big wave of chills came when the bluesman began to perform Bill Withers’ famous song “Ain’t No Sunshine.” His soulful voice suited this magical song perfectly.
And since things often come in threes, Maceo Parker and his band closed this last evening. A dense crowd had gathered once again. In the dim light, the impatient began to applaud the famous saxophonist. But very quickly he arrived, surrounded by his musicians, and the party began. The funky rhythm was such that everyone started dancing. Dancing to better live the incredible sound created by this former disciple of the godfather of funk, James Brown.
Outcome – So what was it like?
The Deputy Mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, gave his assessment of the first Nice Jazz Festival managed by the City of Nice. It was also an opportunity for the mayor to congratulate Harry Lapp, the artistic director of the festival, for his work.
The assessment is intended to be positive. Attendance was higher compared to previous years, with over 29,500 people flocking to the Jardins Albert 1er throughout the festival. The two highlight evenings were, of course, Monday the 11th and Tuesday the 12th, hosting artists of worldwide renown.
Christian Estrosi touched on the thorny issue of the former festival’s location in the ancient arenas of Cimiez, “in recent years at Cimiez, we didn’t find the festival we knew 30 years ago.” The goal of the location change was, according to him, to “restart the story of the Nice Jazz Festival.” “I am sure that with the same lineup at Cimiez, we wouldn’t have gotten the same results,” he added.
For 2012, one thing is certain: the event will remain at the Jardins Albert 1er. The mayor talks about a possible redevelopment of the gardens, like, for example, moving the Arc by artist Venet, to create a more suitable site to host the Nice Jazz Festival again.
Photo Credits: Rachel Turpin
