Created to revitalize the center of this unjustly overlooked town, which had just undergone fourteen long months of rehabilitation work, this festival has become a must-attend event. Two reserved locations, the public garden and De Gaulle Square, offer an unimaginable array of artistic proposals in such a small town that lives in the shadows of larger ones, as well as its more famous neighbor, Saint-Paul de Vence.
Just at the foot of the latter, at Villa Nicolas Juste, one of the best dining spots in the middle region according to the trustworthy Guide Gantié, the first mayor of Colle, Christian Berkesse, chose to present this fourth edition accompanied by his new Deputy for Culture, Elisabeth Clément, and Gilles Bertaux, the president of the Tourist Office and artistic director for the second consecutive year of this unique festival. Appointing the president of the Tourist Office as artistic director is a bold move. Achieving success in this endeavor is already quite an achievement, but we are not surprised when we see that the mayor and the president share the same passion for their village, which is evident in every word they speak. The result is a program that would make many larger towns jealous.
No fewer than sixteen completely free jazz evenings will take place in the central square over a little more than a month, featuring the Frédéric Vialle Quartet, three evenings entirely dedicated to dance called “Les nuits bleues” in tribute to Yves Klein, who lived in the town and would have turned 80 this year, with themes of New Orleans jazz, Brazilian samba, and Cuban salsa, not to mention a first classical music concert with the internationally recognized Quatuor Voce. Theater will also be present with a creation by Bruno Chapelle based on a play by Feydeau, which will be performed twice in August. Two strong women will perform in concert: local artist Christine Bathélémy and her quartet Rive Gauche with the style of “Saint-Germain des Prés,” and Lââm who has the “Sang Chaud.” Your dose of humor will be provided by Anthony Kavanagh, who will present his new “one-man show.” Enjoy a stroll through the village before the shows, which will start on July 14 and conclude on August 22 with the Gospel Singers.
