The Nice Jazz Festival was hot this year in more ways than one. With record-setting nighttime temperatures that hovered around 27°C (80°F), the festival’s new free water fountains were most welcome. No more bins full of discarded plastic bottles! Even though the snack stands were turning out socca and other local snacks, ice cream seemed the most popular choice. Hot and hotter were the artists that filled the two stages this year. As usual the stage temperature was highest on the Scene Masséna which featured big names with big sounds, culminating in Marcus Miller and Iggy Pop which closed the festival. Although the word “jazz” was not necessarily the best description of some acts, it was exciting to be introduced to music from other traditions. Fatoumata Diawara from Mali and the Afro-Cuban style of Cimafunk were standouts for me. The Theatre de Verdure stage was exclusively devoted to jazz, from traditional to modern. I loved the Caribbean-influenced style of Samy Thiébault Making his first appearance in Nice was the exciting young keyboardist, Emmet Cohen. The great Kenny Barron wowed spectators with his artistry. Closing out the Theatre de Verdure was the always innovative Youn Sun Nah. The overall quality was excellent and, after two years of Covid worry, it was a relief to enjoy a concert again. Some 42,500 spectators agreed. For practical information, tips and background information, see frenchrivieratraveller.com/Nice/JazzFestival.html
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