Between legendary artists and new talent, the line-ups offered year after year during the Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival have contributed to the international renown of this event, which will take place from November 24 to 26, 2011, at the Opéra Garnier in Monaco.
For this new edition, Jean-René Palacio, the artistic director of the event, has designed a series of exceptional evenings in the magical venue of the Monte-Carlo Opéra Garnier.
This hall, dedicated to Lyric Art, has always been a space for experimentation and modernity, as the performances of Ravel or Diaghilev in their time already testified.
The prestigious guests of this sixth edition will bring eclectic, rhythmic, and sometimes even exotic tones, with a detour through Armenia or Andalusia.
On November 24, an evening titled “Monte-Carlo Guitar Summit” will bring together some of today’s greatest guitarists around a “dream rhythm section”: thus, John McLaughlin, Mike Stern, Biréli Lagrène, Sylvain Luc, Philip Catherine, Richard Bona, Steve Gadd, André Ceccarelli, and Joey DeFrancesco will be united for the first time to give a unique concert in the world. Marianne Aya Omac, an authentic and committed character inspired by “root” music such as Gospel and Flamenco, will open this exceptional evening.
On November 25, the stage will feature Michel Portal, who will illustrate the magnificent album “Baïlador,” and Aldo Romano, for a lyrical expression of jazz.
The closing evening on November 26 will highlight the “new breath of jazz” through a promising youth embodied by Jean-Christophe Di Costanzo, Grand Prix du Public Jazz à Juan 2011, then Tigran Hamasyan, a virtuoso pianist exploring the boundaries of jazz by mixing styles as varied as rock, folk music, or groove, and finally Avishai Cohen. The charismatic double bassist, with an unclassifiable style between jazz, world, pop, hard-bop, and traditional music, will let his talent shine in a concert marked by spontaneity, as is his habit.
This year, the Atrium of the Casino offers an event associated with this festival, an exhibition of humorous drawings to provide another perspective on jazz (free entry).
The mythical Salle Garnier of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo will set the swing for a surprising journey through the jazz of yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
