Jazz à Juan is an anticipated summer festival in Juan-les-Pins, Antibes, France. The annual event, held in the iconic Pinède Gould grove on the Mediterranean coast, spans ten days of top-quality jazz, rock, soul, funk, pop, blues, and world music. The festival pays homage to the jazz capital of the world, New Orleans, with a magnificent jazz band parade through the streets of Antibes and Juan-les-Pins. The sight of musicians marching in the city playing their trumpets and saxophones is a unique experience at Jazz à Juan!
Programme
The broad lineup of the festival has always been known for its diversity, mixing all types of jazz, Gospel, bebop, Latin, cool jazz, hard-bop, free jazz, jazz-rock, and electro-jazz. This year, artists such as Hervé Rubeaud – Artiste Peintre, Drumsville!, Claude Sérieux, Jad Salameh Trio, Manu Katché, Toto, Jeanne Michard Latin Jazz, Laufey, Dominique Fils-Aimé, Selah Sue, Alba Careta Group, Tiken Jah Fakoly, Youssou N’Dour, Øra, Elliavir, El Comité, Avishai Cohen “Banda Iroko”, Clélya Abraham Quartet, Adi Oasis, Pink Martini, Mark Priore Trio, Original Pinettes Brass Band, Belmondo Deadjazz, Chris Potter, Brad Mehldau, John Patitucci, Johnathan Blake, Bandakadabra, and others will grace the stage, offering attendees an unforgettable musical experience.
Activities
Every year, Jazz à Juan features Jammin' Summer Sessions for the young generation of jazz musicians. The free concerts series is aimed at showcasing up-and-coming European Jazz performers, from classic to electro. Those concerts take place at the Petite Pinède in Juan-les-Pins and Bandstand in Antibes.
Tickets
Tickets for the Antibes Jazz Festival are sold for individual concerts, priced between 51 and 91 euros, depending on the seating zone.
History of Jazz à Juan
The Antibes Jazz Festival, inaugurated in 1960, holds the distinction of being Europe's oldest jazz festival. It emerged during a time when jazz in Europe was primarily confined to records and select clubs. Founded by Jacques Souplet and Jacques Hebey, the festival was launched under the patronage of Antibes' mayor, Pierre Delmas, with the aim of bringing legendary jazz musicians directly to the stage for live performances. Initially held at both the Fort Carré stadium in Antibes and the Pinède Gould in Juan-les-Pins, it soon became synonymous with the latter's scenic backdrop of century-old pines and the Mediterranean Sea. Jazz à Juan has hosted many legendary musicians, such as Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Diana Ross, Miles Davis, Muddy Waters, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Lionel Richie, The Roots, Gregory Porter, and Sting.
