Saint-Emilion Jazz Festival
AN OUTSTANDING VINTAGE
The 7th Saint-Émilion Jazz Festival took place from 20th to 22nd July, in the heart of the medieval town. The 2018 festival lived up to all our expectations, with a friendly atmosphere, an idyllic setting and exceptional wines.
It was an unforgettable experience.
With cinema as the theme of the event, we celebrated the very first sound film in the history of cinema, the Jazz Singer, released in 1927.
The event also paid tribute to film soundtrack composers such as Alexandre Desplat, Lalo Schifrin, Jean-Michel Bernard and Christophe Maroye, through screenings of documentaries and films supported by live music.
“What would cinema be without music? Images may relate history, but music transcends it”, to quote the words of Dominique Renard, the President of the Festival.
FIRST-RATE CONCERTS
The eclectic programme, astutely combining performances by established musicians and local talents, was served at ideal temperature. Great jazz names like Maceo Parker, Stéphane Belmondo and Cécile McLorin Salvant (2018 Victoire du Jazz award winner) performed on the stage set up in the Cardinal Palace moat.
Free concerts were held in Guadet Park. The event also welcomed Tom Ibarra, a young prodigy of French jazz.
Guadet Park was the perfect setting for the free performances of Ishkero, Scott Tixier, Eric Séva, Hanuman and many others.
GREAT WINES IN A MUSICAL SETTING
Once again, the musical tasting made for a great jazz and wine combination.
The principle is both simple and complicated.
Artists put the wines of a given chateau to music during a tasting.
All the senses come alive, with a genuine challenge for performers who improvise music to offer the best interpretation of wines. A demanding art.
But what marvellous stimulation for the senses!
The musical tasting took place at Château Soutard. Yet again, the exceptional venue perfectly showcased the vocation of the festival to combine music with the rich local heritage.
“The personality of wines is mirrored by their growers. Just like the great jazz classics can be sung by different performers who will put their own sound on them”.
China Moses, singer
ALL THE SENSES COME ALIVE
Music may have been everywhere, but it certainly wasn’t alone. Many other events were organised, with something to suit every taste. Walks in the narrow streets of the medieval town, initiations to tasting, a gourmet market with local producers and food trucks …
Tasty delicacies paired with the best wines from neighbouring chateaux teased eyes, noses and tastebuds.
EVERLASTING MEMORIES FROM A POP-UP WINE BAR
Amidst the greenery of Guadet Park, undeniably the hot spot of the Festival, a pop-up wine bar enticed visitors to taste over 20 wines a day. By the glass or bottle, and at winery prices, wines were served by winegrowers eager to share some of the secrets of the wines of Lussac Saint-Émilion, Puisseguin Saint-Émilion, Saint-Émilion and Saint-Émilion Grand Cru.
Saint-Émilion Jazz Festival facts and figures
15,000 festival-goers
170 musicians
130 volunteers
3 days
2 stages to play on
1 unique festival