Jazz à Sète – Day 1 – With the night comes the party

What an soothing view on the ocean Sète’s Théâtre de la mer can be. As dusk coloured the clouds and the murmur of the impatient crowd grew louder, it was hard to believe that the Sétois fort would welcome such a clamour. With the night comes the party.

Léon Phal

The first guest of the evening is an unexpected replacement, but one who is no stranger to jazz festivals and stages. In preparation for the release of his next project, Léon Phal offers us a set featuring tracks from his first 3 albums, including his latest, Stresskiller (released in 2023 by Heavenly Sweetness), and even shares some previously unreleased music.

The saxophonist’s compositions are constructed in the style of electronic music. The use of cycles, loops and the rich textures of Gauthier Toux on keyboards plunge us into a clubbing atmosphere as the light fades. The groove of Rémi Bouyssière‘s double bass is solid and precise. This is music of great elegance, at times vibrant and muffled, at times explosive and formidably served by the technique and imagination of our two winds : Léon Phal and Zacharie Ksyk. The audience at the Théâtre de la mer were not mistaken, and came running to the pit to shake their hips during the last few songs.

Line-up

Léon Phal – Saxophone
Arthur Alard – Drums
Rémi Bouyssière – Double-bass
Gauthier Toux – Keyvoards
Zacharie Ksyk – Trumpet

Scary Pockets

The party continues with the cover band from Los Angeles. Dressed in rhinestones and sequins, their strategy is clear: play one hit after another and give the audience absolutely no rest. Staying Alive, I Feel it Coming, Single Lady… These well-known songs are always enhanced by a new idea, a rhythmic, harmonic and definitely ecstatic twist. Toxic, Creep, I Will Survive… The energy is unleashed, and we’re impressed by the miles covered on stage by the two singers, Kenton Chen and Brooke Simpson, who put on a show of great vocal technicality. Never Gonna Give You Up, Harder Better Faster Stronger… Kenton even performs from the crowd, proving just how generous Scary Pockets are on stage.