It was on the evening of Friday, July 8th, that the 2011 edition of the Nice Jazz Festival began. This year, Cimiez is over; the venue is in the Albert I Gardens. A positive start to the festivities that respected the jazz theme while moving towards rock for the end of the evening.
It is 7:30 PM, and the spectators are gradually settling in front of the Masséna stage. In disbelief, they sit on the grass and wait.
No disappointment here; as promised, it is indeed jazz that greets them with Kind of Blue revisited. Everything is here: the piano, the trumpet, the trombone, the double bass, and not to forget the drums. The band proudly says they are “opening this new festival, which isn’t so new after all.”
This beginning of the festival opens with a tribute. One dedicated to Miles Davis, the great American jazz trumpeter and composer, whose album “Kind of Blue” was one of his flagship works.
Simultaneously, on the Théâtre de Verdure stage, the Nice Jazz Orchestra completes the lineup of classic jazz. A treat for the jazz music lovers, without surprise. The group presented their new album entitled “Festival.”
Still on the same stage, it is the great Roberta Gambarini’s turn. Great by her voice, deep, filling the theater. A voice she delights in using, rising to highs as well as flirting with low tones. All this with an engaging backdrop of music from the Nice Jazz Orchestra. The descending bleachers facing the stage (filled with people) and the stone stage backdrop provide an ideal setting to showcase such sound.
And at 9:15 PM, it was the renowned Michel Legrand’s turn to take the stage. Highly anticipated, the 79-year-old received a warm ovation upon his arrival. Some shouted that they were witnessing the “best.” As the sun set, the audience was lulled by soft and mesmerizing pieces. Serving both as the conductor of the accompanying Nice Jazz Orchestra musicians and at his piano, Michel Legrand performed “Le petit journal” and “Pieces of dreams” as an opening. These pieces stem from what he calls his “inventions and fantasies,” happy to be present.
A bit of rock’n’jazz
Things were lively on the Masséna stage at 8:30 PM, with the band Mike Stern and Didier Lockwood playing atypical jazz. In addition to the traditional jazz instruments, a bass, a violin, and notably: a guitar were added. And it was precisely the guitarist who started stringing together solos and wild riffs. The music became delirious, and the audience was very receptive to this artistic madness. The solos continued with the violin, bass, and percussion taking turns.
Rock still with guitarist John McLaughlin and The 4th Dimension, here to present their new project, “To the One.” Right from the start, the guitar set the tone, being maximally saturated. Then, the core jazz added in, softer.
But the most important part remained the guitar and its impressive sounds. John McLaughlin’s fingers traveled over the fretboard, sending shivers through the audience.
