An exceptional musical journey
For its 19th edition, the Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival invites you on an extraordinary musical journey that transcends borders and genres. This year's line-up promises to be an eclectic mix of emerging talent and established legends.
The festival traditionally opens with the young prodigies of the Académie Rainier III, before welcoming a host of exceptional artists: the spellbinding voice of Gabi Hartmann, Ibrahim Maalouf's magical tribute to Oum Kalthoum, the genius of bassist Stanley Clarke, and the spirituality of the Harlem Gospel Choir.
The following evenings will take audiences from the Caribbean rhythms of Monty Alexander to the cult trip-hop of Morcheeba, from the elegance of Rhoda Scott to the reinvented soul of Michel Jonasz. The festival will culminate in the poetry of Les Egarés and the intensity of Asaf Avidan.
A conference on the links between jazz and cinema will also enrich this unique musical celebration on the Riviera.
Jazz, a winter artistic event
The Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival always takes place in November. This month, chosen by the festival's founder, is no coincidence. He wanted an event to complement the artistic season at the Salle Garnier, which lacked a winter event in the Principality and a festival dedicated to this music.
The idea was to use an unusual venue to celebrate music as contemporary as jazz and rock.
Since its inception, over a hundred of the biggest names in jazz have performed at the Opéra Garnier, including : Herbie Hancock, Gregory Porter, Chick Corea, Diana Krall, Sonny Rollins and Mélody Gardot.
A springboard
This festival is a veritable springboard for lesser-known artists to make themselves known to the general public.
Many of them have gone on to become true jazz stars, including Avishai Cohen, Raoul Midon, Roy Hargrove and Esperanza Spalding.
Not forgetting trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf, who was discovered at the Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival in 2012 and performed at Bercy in 2016.
Open to other music
To attract a wider audience, the programmers include in their festival artists with little or no connection to jazz. Their aim? To democratise jazz. The Festival is open to all musical trends, while retaining its DNA.
In the past, singers such as David Hallyday, Christophe and Quebecer Robert Charlesbois have performed in the Principality during the festival.