Paris, France — There were the mythical venues like the Bilboquet, the Montana, venues in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood of Paris, a neighborhood where the greatest jazz men of the 20th century could be found performing and where the contemporary jazz scene continues to play on. Miles Davis, Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington, Sydney Bechet, Thelonious Monk were all there. Each year the Jazz Festival of Saint-Germain-des-Prés is held in various venues in the neighborhood and this year the festival, the 24th, is in full swing, reminding us that Saint-Germain-des-Prés is the historical cradle of jazz in Europe. Highlights include pianist Charlotte Reinhardt, the niece of the famous Django, who draws inspiration from multiple sources including classical music and Icelandic poetry. The Robin Mansanti Trio & Friends led by the trumpet player and singer Robin Mansanti will be performing works from the repertoires of Leonard Bernstein, Henry Mancini and Glenn Miller. Adding to the unique ambiance of the festival are the historical venues where the concerts are held including the auditorium of the Maison de l’Océan with its early 20th-century sea-themed frescoes, the lofty French mint on the banks of the Seine and the beautifully-restored Church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, whose bell tower dates from 1014, making it the oldest one in Paris. This year the organizers have renewed their commitment to sustainable development, notably by scheduling artists that are already in France to reduce the carbon footprint linked to transportation. ©Trish Valicenti for The Gourmet Gazette
Additional reporting Sylvain Loire
Until May 19th. Tickets and program and you can also listen into some jazz and enjoy a video at:
https://festivaljazzsaintgermainparis.com/en/