Nice Jazz Fest: Durand Bernarr, Noga Erez and Busta Rhymes Set Place Masséna on Fire

On Friday, July 24, the Nice Jazz Fest once again transformed the heart of the city into an open-air stage. As every evening of this 2026 edition, two stages shared the programming: Place Masséna and the Théâtre de Verdure, running in parallel and at the same time, offering the public a choice between two very distinct atmospheres.

On the side of the Théâtre de Verdure, the second evening of this Nice Jazz Fest 2026 opened with the Mario Canonge Trio, led by Martinique pianist Mario Canonge, followed at 8:45 p.m. by the collective Nubiyan Twist, originally from Leeds, before the stage was taken over at 10:30 p.m. by Cymande, a band founded in the early 1970s in London by musicians from the Caribbean. An entire programming on the Masséna stage, where three artists with radically different universes succeeded one another until late into the night.

Durand Bernarr, the energetic opening

It was American singer Durand Bernarr, nominated for Grammy Awards, who opened the show at 8 p.m. On stage, the artist from Cleveland delivered a generous performance, carried by an affirmed R&B style and communicative stage presence. From the first songs, he had the audience dancing, establishing a festive and warm atmosphere that set the tone for the evening. The spectators, who came in large numbers as soon as the doors opened, fully enjoyed the moment, between choruses sung together and spontaneous crowd movements.

The audience, won over, did not hold back their pleasure. “I especially liked his style. He has rhythm and good basics. I had a good time,” a spectator confided at the end of the concert. A female spectator agrees: “The show was amazing. He had a lot of energy. I loved it.” An opening act that, by itself, set the tone for a Place Masséna resolutely focused on celebration.

Noga Erez, the revelation of the evening

At 9:15 p.m., it was time for Israeli artist Noga Erez, a musician and producer known for her hybrid sonic universe, between electronic experimentation and committed lyrics. Although the vast majority of the audience was discovering her live for the first time, the performance quickly made a strong impression: as the concert progressed, many spectators pulled out their phones to follow the artist on social media, seduced by her energy and stage mastery. Far from simply playing the role of interpreter, Noga Erez managed to establish genuine complicity with the crowd, alternating moments of collective communion and more introspective moments.

“I didn’t know the artist before today. I liked her flow, her energy,” testifies David, present in the audience. Kevin, meanwhile, emphasizes this ability to become one with the audience: “She plays very well with the audience. She plays very well with the bass sounds. She especially plays with a lot of energy.” A concert that will remain, for many, the pleasant surprise of the evening.

Busta Rhymes, the headliner everyone was waiting for

He was, without question, the most anticipated artist of the evening, and the most famous of the three headliners brought together this Friday on the Masséna stage. At 11 p.m., the legend of New York hip-hop Busta Rhymes made a thunderous entrance, amid the cheers of an audience that had clearly been waiting for him since the beginning of the evening. Unlike the first two acts, the vast majority of spectators already knew him, and this was immediately felt in the atmosphere: choruses were sung together, the dense crowd began singing almost every song with the artist, in general jubilation that did not wane until the end of the concert.

Hervé, who came specifically for the occasion, sums up the emotion of the moment: “I came specifically for Busta because I’ve been listening to him since childhood. I used to watch him on MTV back then. His music makes me happy and I’m glad to see him in person.” A statement that sums up the mindset of much of the audience, who came to experience live an artist they had previously only followed from a distance, on a small screen or through streaming.

An evening between discoveries and reunions

At the end of this Friday evening, Place Masséna offered a condensed version of what the Nice Jazz Fest knows how to offer every year: a mix of discoveries, like Durand Bernarr and Noga Erez, and big established names, like Busta Rhymes. Three different artistic proposals, three atmospheres, but the same common thread: an audience won over, dancing and singing from the beginning to the end of the evening. A success that confirms, once again, the festival’s ability to bring together different styles and generations on the same stage.

Adama Sanogo