5:30 PM, hundreds of people are eagerly waiting in front of the main entrance. A line that will reach its peak around 6 PM with over 1000 people.
Welcome to the Nice Jazz Festival’s prestige evening and there’s no need to ask the crowd what they came to see? Leonard Cohen, of course!
After 15 years, the folk pope is back and what a comeback! A bass-baritone voice still intact despite his 73 years, with the demeanor and energy of a young man. It’s hard to believe that this small man is considered by most artists as the greatest living songwriter.
An olive grove, 8000 fans, an orchestra, three backup singers, and Leonard Cohen in communion for a grand Hallelujah, where the groove of the inimitable Maceo Parker would take over.
Renowned saxophonist, stage man (over 200 concerts each year), Maceo, the former musician of James Brown, had the entire olive grove of the Arènes swinging with his hits between funk, jazz, and soul.
Earlier in the evening, jazz lovers were able to discover local musician Seb Chaumont, one of the most ardent defenders of jazz improvisation, and the Marcin Wasilewski Trio, musicians of drummer Manu Katché, on the Matisse stage.
As for the arènes, they witnessed The Bad Plus, an American jazz trio, and the beautiful Maria Schneider for a concert between classical and jazz accompanied by her 17 musicians. Her refined writing, full of vibrant colors and textures, delighted connoisseurs of noble music.
