The Théâtre de Verdure is a hive buzzing with some 3,000 jazz lovers on this fourth evening. The “play of elbows” is happening right here, whereas yesterday this activity was exclusively reserved for the Masséna Stage. The same stage that appears empty at the start of the evening. It won’t be until 10:30 pm that the Masséna forecourt will fill up; fans of the Gipsy King are in attendance and have mistakenly snubbed Robin McKelle & The Flytones and Cody Chesnutt.
Securing a spot at the Théâtre de Verdure is difficult at this time in the evening. Unprecedented for four days. All the seats are occupied, and the few remaining steps are taken by spectators unafraid to sit on somewhat damp tiles, with others opting to stand. The Théâtre de Verdure is “packed,” and it’s only 7:30 pm.
Tony Paeleman Quartet kicks off the festivities. Tony Paeleman is a pianist recognized by jazz enthusiasts and his peers. He is a virtuoso and knows how to blend jazz, intimate emotions, and influences of all kinds. He offers pure moments of happiness to his audience and his hometown of Nice. A unique concert that cannot leave one indifferent, a lively atmosphere here at the TDV. The jazz lovers, therefore, begin a unique and emotional evening as the music of the young Tony pierces through body and soul.
The tone changes a few dozen minutes later with Henri Butler and Steve Bernstein & The Hot 9 taking the stage. Some had the chance to listen to them yesterday in the press area. The encounter offered by Steve Bernstein & The Hot 9 with Henri Butler is simply exceptional. Their musical repertoire is a pure nugget of gold. The audience is growing in number, to the point where it is impossible to squeeze through for a drink or a bite to eat, tapping rhythm with their hands, feet, and heads. Listening to these musicians is an invitation to travel, to imagination. A boy around ten years old whispers to his mother, “I feel like I’m watching a cartoon, Mom, while listening to them. I see images in my head, I assure you.” A beatific smile from the mother, and a discovery of jazz and its powers on the human being for this cherub.
The atmosphere is warm, the applause continuous, the crowd almost in a trance. The sensation that takes over you when you enter this theater is particular but oh so sweet and beneficial.
The climax occurs at 10:30 pm with the great Dr. John & The Nite Trippers featuring Sarah Morrow. The audience doesn’t know it yet, but their NJF ticket is simply a one-way ticket to New Orleans. First-class flight. This pianist, guitarist, singer, and composer is a great man, a man of the stage, a man with rhythm, music, talent, and even genius in his veins. An end to the evening in a blaze of glory, and the audience is at the peak of ecstasy.
This evening, the Théâtre de Verdure has enchanted its audience, the faithful jazz fans, and even those who came out of curiosity without knowing who was performing on stage.
But in the meantime, what is happening on the Masséna side?
The audience is timid; the massive crowds of other nights are not present. And yet, Robin McKelle & The Flytones is a hurricane of groove and soul. This lady is captivating, also bursting with energy. What an alto voice and what a stage woman. A performance filled with joy, vitality, and punch. Those present appreciate it, and the absentees were wrong.
This fiery temperament gives way to a groove UFO, namely Cody Chesnutt. Wearing an army helmet, in a wacky style, your ears are served with groove music within seconds. He takes the stage, carrying the audience with him. Arms raise, dance steps take over the forecourt. The performance is striking, leaving an impression of attending a feast, a celebration. Cody Chesnutt’s voice is simply powerful and warm.
In the last minutes of this superb performance, the audience swells, and it becomes difficult to move smoothly. The loyal fans of the Gipsy King gather in considerable numbers. The shouts continue to call for this well-known family of musicians. Who hasn’t danced to Djobi-Djoba? Who hasn’t sung Volare? 11 p.m. strikes; the entrance is greeted with joyful and also inaudible shouts. The concert will be an opportunity for Nicolas Reyes and his companions to celebrate their 25 years of career, and the reception matches their stature.
A beautiful evening for this fourth and penultimate night of the Nice Jazz Festival, which is indeed a festival of energy and legends.
