Fifth and final day of the Nice Jazz Festival, we present to you the ultimate lineup of this 2022 edition.
On the Masséna stage:
CIMAFUNK — 8:00 PM
Cimafunk became the Cuban musical revelation of the year 2018 with his theme “Me Voy.” He breaks attendance records in venues with thousands of fans excited to dance to the groove of Afro-Cuban funk and millennials emulating his style, heavily inspired by his African roots and the black showmen of the 20th century. The name Cimafunk refers to his heritage of “cimarrón*”, Cubans of African origin who resisted and escaped slavery, as well as the essence of his music, which aims to subvert conventional sounds by innovating with rhythms. By bringing out the best of Cuban rhythms and traditions and infusing them with sounds and styles from Africa and the United States, Cimafunk has created something unique and special, both in terms of music and the values he espouses.
MARCUS MILLER — 9:15 PM
It’s obvious to everyone to now consider Marcus Miller as one of the most influential artists of our time, and in 2013 he was appointed a UNESCO Artist for Peace. His distinctive bass sound has delighted countless major artists: Bill Wither, Chaka Khan, David Sanborn, Herbie Hancock, Eric Clapton, Aretha Franklin, George Benson, Elton John, Bryan Ferry, David Sanborn, Roberta Flack, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Al Jarreau, Bob James, Lalah Hathaway, and Wayne Shorter, among others. However, his most remarkable artistic collaboration remains the one with Miles Davis: 3 major albums. His current project, the electrifying “Laid Black,” will undoubtedly delight and excite fans, continuing to propel him to the pinnacle of the great world stars of jazz, fusion, funk, and soul.
IGGY POP — 11:00 PM
Do we still need to introduce the godfather of American punk, this figure of the New York underground, known for his impossible gyrations and the author of cult tracks like “I Wanna Be Your Dog” and “Lust For Life”? At 74 years old, with over 57 years of career, the Iguana now revels in freedom on the tour of “Free,” his eighteenth solo album with experimental jazz accents. Sober and at peace, the American leaves his fire dances behind to perform live in an intimate setting offering an electric closeness with the audience. The crooner will be accompanied by Leron Thomas, Sarah Lipstate, and French musicians Florian Pellissier, Tibo Brandalise, Kenny Ruby, and Greg Fauque for an unrestrained moment of freedom.
At the Théâtre de Verdure:
SAMARA JOY — 7:30 PM
With a voice as smooth as velvet, Samara Joy’s star seems to rise with each performance. Although she is only 21, Samara has already performed in many major jazz venues in New York and has worked with jazz greats like Christian McBride, Pasquale Grasso, Jon Faddis, Kirk Lightsey, Cyrus Chestnut, and Dr. Barry Harris, NEA Jazz Master. On her self-titled debut album (released in July 2021 on Whirlwind Recordings), Samara interprets jazz standards and the Great American Songbook.
MICHEL PORTAL “MP85” — 8:45 PM
Michel Portal needs no introduction. At 85 years old, he is both an indisputable sacred monster of the European jazz scene and an eternal free spirit, always careful never to “settle” once and for all in a style or genre. With his latest opus “MP85,” the composer and multi-instrumentalist signs the exact opposite of the testamentary work that some might expect from him at this point in his career! Driven by the energy of a new group that joyfully intertwines generations and musical traditions, Michel Portal, far from tidying up a few “selected moments” for posterity from a life dedicated body and soul to music, continues with “MP85” this existential and artistic quest that, for more than 60 years, has pushed him to perpetually “put himself at play” and in motion.
YOUN SUN NAH QUARTET — 11:00 PM
Just 20 years after the release of “Light For The People,” the album that introduced her to the French public, Korean singer Youn Sun Nah released her new opus titled “Waking World” at the beginning of this year, the first for which she wrote all the lyrics and music: 11 songs faithful to the different worlds of her discography, drawing at times from jazz, pop, folk, and world music while revealing new cinematic and poetic dimensions. She will revisit her new opus on stage, a new repertoire, with a group that is just as new: a voice-bass-guitar-keyboard formation. Each will be equipped with both its acoustic version and its electric counterpart, suggesting that the changes in atmosphere typical of Youn Sun Nah’s performances will be more present than ever!
