Five evenings, renowned artists, a tribute to Django Reinhardt... this is what awaits you at Jazz à Ramatuelle

Five timeless evenings. The Ramatuelle Jazz Festival is taking up residence in the Théâtre de Verdure for its 39th edition. As has been the custom since 2023, it will take up residence at the start of the summer season, starting this Tuesday and running through Saturday, for five evenings. The festivities begin each evening at 6:30 p.m. with the Off, a garden party in the theater gardens, before the main concerts begin at 9 p.m.

Sylvain Rifflet opens the ball

Sylvain Rifflet has the honors of the first evening with a program with an evocative name: We Want Stars . Voted musician of the year 2024 by Jazz Magazine and Jazz News , he presents himself alongside Bettina Kee and Vincent Taeger for a trio mixing saxophone, synthesizers and drums. Together, they explore a jazz inhabited by pop and electronic influences.

Mystical Journey with Michaël Wollny

"What we heard was the trio's communication with the shifting ghosts of their past, as they forged a vibrant path forward." This, in essence, is how Michaël Wollny presents the Living Ghosts project, which will be performed Wednesday evening. Among Europe's most fascinating pianists, he returns with his accomplices—Tim Lefebvre on double bass and Eric Schaefer on drums—for an emotional journey between memory and improvisation.

Pierrick Pédron revisits Ornette Coleman

Saxophonist Pierrick Pédron revisits Ornette Coleman's masterpiece The Shape of Jazz to Come . Accompanied by a solid and creative quartet, he takes on this artistic challenge with rare energy. "This album blends the breath of history and ancient secrets, the wind of the moment, and draws the contours of a jazz always to come, for those who play it, and those who listen to it," he confides.

Baptiste Herbin takes on Django

Saxophone virtuoso Baptiste Herbin pays an intimate and flamboyant tribute to Django Reinhardt. In a trio with master drummer André Ceccarelli and double bassist Sylvain Romano, he unveils a poetic reinterpretation of swing. Django! is like a stroll through the virtuoso guitarist's universe, drawing on the richness of his compositions, his breathtaking lyricism, and his improvisational talent, which remains an absolute reference today.

Monty Alexander Trio arrives in Ramatuelle

The legendary Monty Alexander joins forces with Luke Sellick (double bass) and Jason Brown (drums) for the D-Day project. The ensemble offers vibrant jazz, somewhere between reggae, swing, and collective memory. "More than ever, Monty Alexander plays by ear, spontaneously. And that's the privilege of some great ears: being able to access total freedom of expression," promises the program.

Jazz in Ramatuelle from June 24 to 29 at the Théâtre de Verdure. Prices: €40, reduced rate €28 for ages 16-24, €10 for ages 11-15. jazzaramatuelle.com