Friday, July 23
It was an evening that lived up to everyone’s expectations last Friday. Among others, Kris Kristofferson performed, and surprisingly: when he sings, everyone falls silent and listens. His kind demeanor, warm voice, and very expressive features make the American a pleasant presence and the concert a warm moment to experience.
Perhaps you also saw Hindi Zahra sing with her English-style lyrics and oriental melodies. She lives her music while dancing lightly and gracefully, tossing her head in all directions. Delightfully subtle.
The four musicians who make up Django 100 gave a vibrant tribute to the great jazzman Django Reinhardt.
The evening ended with a free jazz concert by Chris Potter and his group.
Tragic Death of a Cello
Everything began with the group from Jerusalem, Azaf Avidan & the Mojos. General amazement as soon as the young Azaf started singing, his very unique voice left many stunned. This powerful, raspy voice with a feminine timbre was pushed beyond the possible in length and height.
However, a small accident interrupted the group’s evening. It was during one of the first pieces, while Azaf was still alone on stage with his guitar, that a strong gust of wind hit the stage. Catastrophe, the cello on the side fell violently. The cellist, devastated, rushed onto the stage to rescue her precious instrument. But it was all in vain, as we learned later that the bridge of the instrument, an essential component since it holds the strings, had broken. The group locked themselves in the dressing rooms after the concert, impossible to approach them. They had a concert the next day and needed to find a solution urgently.
Nothing But Two Guitars…
Then came the turn of Rodrigo y Gabriela, the Mexican guitarist couple. Even before the concert began, the audience crowded to the front of the stage.
“It’s going to be huge!” can be heard from one side, “I love this band, I love this band!!” from another, there’s no doubt French fans are present.
It’s amazing what can be done with a guitar! Or rather two guitars, for two almost inhuman beings. Gabriela is impressive with her mastery, she’s the one who plays the percussion, she goes through all styles, playing like a fury. It feels like there’s a drum set on stage, but no, she’s still on her guitar. A guitar she seems to look at lovingly, with adoration. Rodrigo is also a natural prodigy, Gabriela’s lover is the author of incomparable guitar solos worthy of the greatest.
Saturday, July 23
Saturday was the closing night, also called “Prestige Night”. It first welcomed Clifton Anderson, the trombone player, also known for being the nephew of musician Sonny Rollins. It’s with the latter that he honed his talent for jazz and developed it over the years. The result is more than impressive!
Then André Ceccarelli paid the first tribute of the night to Claude Nougaro. He is one of the most famous French drummers, and this festival night, he presented numerous jazz covers of Nougaro’s pieces for your greatest pleasure.
On the garden stage, you shouldn’t have missed the performance by the Pat Metheny Group. The talented guitarist and his friends enchanted the audience.
It was the Jean Marc Jafet Agora Quintet that played the ultimate notes of this Nice Jazz Festival 2010, a moment rich in jazz but especially in emotion.
When Maurane’s Voice Besieges the Arenas
The arena stage was packed, for the first time of the year, for the concert given by Maurane. When she steps onto the stage, impressive with her deep black eyes, the audience holds its breath. Then, the music starts and her exceptional voice fills the space. She too paid a moving tribute to singer Nougaro, within her show “Maurane sings Nougaro”. She explains: “When I was young, I constantly sent him letters with my recordings, of course, I didn’t get any reply, but I continued. I was very stubborn. But one day, thanks to my father, I received a response from the master.” A rather harsh reply, which, far from demoralizing her, eventually pushed Maurane to succeed and become what she is today.
Trip Around the World with Pink Martini
Pink Martini, the band that blends styles, cultures, and languages, was much applauded on the garden stage even though it took place at the same time as Maurane’s performance. Their peculiarity is their songs performed in English, French, as well as Arabic and ancient Greek. Moreover, the band received a little French lesson from the audience who enjoyed correcting the phrases pronounced in the language of Molière. A beautiful moment of music and exchange.
