From 17 November to 2 December 2023, the Principality is set to
become the focus of the jazz world with the Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival in the
unique setting of the Opéra Garnier. The Festival promises a blend of tradition
and new musical inspirations from every corner of the world, with an emphasis
on creativity.
Founded in 2006 at the behest of well-known jazz fan Jean-René Palacio,
the Festival brings together some of the biggest names in jazz at the Opéra
Garnier.
A cultural highlight of the
winter season
In keeping with the wishes of its founder, the Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival
is always held in November. The choice
is not random one. Jean-René Palacio wanted an event that would
complement the artistic season at the Salle Garnier, which lacked a winter event
in the Principality and a festival dedicated to jazz music.
The aim was to take up residence in a unusual setting, for a celebration of
contemporary music like jazz or rock.
From the start, over a hundred of the top names in jazz performed at the
Opéra Garnier, including Herbie Hancock, Gregory Porter, Chick Corea, Diana
Krall, Sonny Rollins, and Mélody Gardot.
A springboard to success
The Festival puts lesser known artists in the spotlight, giving them the
opportunity to introduce a wider audience to their talents.
Many of them have gone on to become major stars of the jazz scene, such
as Avishai Cohen, Raoul Midon, Roy Hargrove, and Esperanza Spalding.
Not forgetting, of course, the trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf, who made his
breakthrough at the Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival in 2012 and performed at the
Bercy concert arena in Paris in 2016.
Open to other styles of
music
To attract a wider audience, the organisers invite artists with little
or no connection to jazz. Their aim is
to bring jazz to the masses. The Festival is open to every style of music, but
never compromises its core identity.
In the past, the likes of David Hallyday, Christophe, and Quebecois singer
Robert Charlesbois have all performed in the Principality during the Festival.
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The line-up for 2023
For this 17th edition, the Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival is aiming to be
more eclectic than ever.
There are eleven dates on the calendar, with Ron Carter, Billy Cobham, Steve
Gadd, Jan Garbarek, Macy Gray, Jeanne Added, Alex Jaffray and “The
Sound of Alex”, not to mention Pianoforte (Baptiste Trotignon, Bojan Z,
Eric Legnini and Pierre de Bethmann), Kareen Giock Thuram, Thomas de
Pourquery, Keziah Jones, Incognito, Léon Phal, and Dominique Fils-Aimé!

In addition to this glittering array of renowned artists, the
Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival will be holding a special jazz cinema screening of
Clint Eastwood’s “Bird”, in partnership with the Audiovisual Institute of
Monaco. And the next generation of musicians from the Rainier III Academy will
also be taking part, performing a JAZZ & MODERN MUSIC concert.
Photo credits:
© Société des Bains de Mer Monte-Carlo/Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival/Christophe Abramowitz/Ray Cabello/DR / Alice Lemarin et agency bremme und hohe