Jazz à Junas Festival – July 17 to 20, 2024

The strength of the Junas festival and the reasons for its longevity lie, first and foremost, in the quality of its original programming, which showcases the jazz scene in European countries – this year, Germany, with musicians who are little known in our country – while remaining open to local artists. With its sights firmly set on the future, the line-up never loses sight of the authenticity of jazz, and avoids any indulgence in trendy sounds.

Then there are the free concerts at 6pm in the temple of Junas, lit up by the light transmitted by Daniel Humair’s stained glass windows, and the evenings in the enchanting setting of Les Carrières, where the spirit of the music blows. There are also exhibitions, lectures and jazz workshops organised during the day by Rémy Gauche and Fabrice Tarel.

Last but not least, a formidable team of volunteers ensure the success of this great convivial adventure, the memory of which is present all year round in the streets of Junas, named after musicians who have performed at the festival.

Wednesday July 17, 2024

The music of the Saxicola Rubi duo, which kicked off the festival in the temple, symbolises the spirit of openness that drives the Festival de Junas programme. Exploring the combination of sounds generated by the bass clarinet and the soprano saxophone, two instruments rarely associated, the melodic lines woven by Dirk Vogeler and Laurent Rochelle intertwine, respond and come together in a largely improvised discourse highlighting their own compositions, a biguine and classical pieces such as Bach’s Goldberg Variation No. 13.

It’s an approach not dissimilar to that of double bass virtuoso Dieter Ilg, a fellow traveller of Albert Mangelsdorf, Till Brönner and Randy Brecker, known for his jazzified interpretations of works by classical composers (Verdi, Wagner, Beethoven). Continuing in this vein, Dieter Ilg has used the resources of his dual classical and jazz culture to present on t.he Les Carrières stage improvised versions of pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach featured on his album ‘B.a.c.h.’ released by Act in 2018.

What followed was an invigorating, largely improvised reading of classics from this repertoire, carried by Rainer Böhm’s inventive piano playing and Patrice Héral’s coherently developed rhythmic figures.

In the second part, we find this affinity between classical music and jazz expressed to the highest degree by trumpeter Markus Stockhausen, through compositions structured by the concepts of Western music, his practice of the classical trumpet and a way of improvising in complete freedom without any marked stylistic constraints.

The result is music magnified by the beautiful notes of guitarist Nguyên Lê, a long-time accomplice, and the tailor-made accompaniment of a virtuoso quintet with an original formula in which Jörg Brinkmann‘s cello brilliantly assumes a dual role as soloist and accompanist.

Line-up

Temple

Saxicola Rubi : Dirk Vogeler & Laurent Rochelle (bass clarinet and soprano saxophone).

Carrières

Dieter Ilg Trio “B.a.c.h.”

Dieter Ilg (double bass), Rainer Böhm (piano), Patrice Héral (drums)

Markus Stockhausen Group invites Nguyên Lê “Celebration”

Markus Stockhausen (trumpet), Nguyên Lê (guitar), Jeroen Van Vliet (piano and keyboards), Jörg Brinkmann (cello), Christian Thomé (drums).

Thursday July 18

Following a concert in a packed church by the duo of Arthur Bacon and Maël Goldwaser, inspired interpreters of compositions evoking the flamenco tradition, the audience moved to the sounds of a batucada fanfare made up of Rémy Gauche and Vanina de Franco‘s trainees, towards Les Carrières, where the Franco-German journey continued with Airelle Besson‘s trio.

An opportunity to hear the remarkable compositions of pianist Sebastien Sternal (Magnolia, which opened the concert, and T. J., a tribute to his teacher, pianist John Taylor), and by Airelle Besson (The Painter & The Boxer).

What followed was music of great subtlety, remarkably structured, full of surprises and magnified with a contemporary breath by the shimmering nuances of Airelle Besson‘s agile trumpet, which was able to say a great deal in a few notes; all brought to life in a convivial atmosphere by the rhythmic energy of Jonas Burgwinkel and the delicate touch of Sebastien Sternal. The art of a true trio.

The evening continued with the Tingvall Trio presenting the repertoire from their album ‘Birds‘ (Skip Records, 2023), which draws on the strength of twenty years’ experience. Inspired by the sounds of nature transmitted by birdsong and driven by a dynamism in the tradition of the E. S. T. trio, their music nourishes the jazz tradition with its strength, lyricism, inventiveness and poetry. On Saturday 20 July, the concert will be followed by a lecture on birdsong organised by the Centre Ornithologique du Gard.

Line-up

Temple

Arthur Bacon (accordion) et Maël Goldwaser (flamenco guitar)

Carrières

Tingvall Trio “Birds” : Martin Tingvall (piano), Omar Rodriguez Calvo (bass), Jürgen Spiegel (drums),

Airelle Besson Trio : Airelle Besson (troumpet, composition), Sebastien Sternal (piano, Fender Rhodes, compositions), Jonas Burgwinkel (drums, compositions).

Thursday July 19

After the concert in the church, where Katharina Koch and Kira Linn exploited the resources of the vocal-baritone saxophone formula, showcasing an eclectic repertoire made up of jazz standards and classical pieces, the festivities continued in Le Carrières with the Triosence group, who, with an accomplished interpretive science, presented the beautiful melodies of pianist Berhard Schüler, evoking a whole variety of climates adorned with the colours of jazz.

The evening continued with the muscular sounds of Jakob Manz‘s sextet, a saxophonist who comes from a lineage that includes Earl Bostic, Klaus Doldinger and David Sanborn. Able to lay out the melody of a ballad that he embellishes with his beautiful sound and feeling, and to distil a groove steeped in 70s funk, Jakob Manz is, at the age of 23, an accomplished musician. His performance and the quality of his orchestra of experienced musicians were appreciated by the audience, who finished the concert on their feet.

Line-up

Temple

Katharina Koch (vocals) et Kira Linn (barytone saxophone)

Carrières

Triosence “Giulia” : Bernhard Schüler (piano), Omar Rodriguez Cavo (contrebasse), Tobias Schulte (drums)

Jacob Manz “Groove Connection” : Jacob Manz (saxophone alto, flûte), Karin Hammar (trombone), Simon Oslender (keyboards), Bruno Müller (guitar), Larry Danielsson (bass guitar), Per Lindwall (drums).

It was my last evening in Junas this year. The festivities came to a climactic close on the following day, 20 July, with performances by Youn Sun Nah and Nora Kamm, whose magic Jacques Lerognon captured for Le Jazzphone ; read here.