The Jazz Festival at Marciac, a small village in Gers, is now one of the most important international music festivals on the Continent, attracting huge crowds every summer. An arena shaped like a giant hat is erected on the village sports field, accommodating more than 5,000 spectators.

Whenever Marciac exerts its persuasive charms, outstanding musicians who may be on separate itineraries for much of the year, readily come together. Among the highlights of next month’s festival is the joint appearance of the great accordionist, Richard Galliano and Wynton Marsalis, famous for his trumpet solos. Their performance is intriguingly entitled “From Billy Holliday to Edith Piaf”.  

Among the other superb artists appearing are Cuban pianist Chucho Valdés, Herbie Hancock, wizard of the keyboard, saxophonists John Zorn of free jazz fame and Paquito D'Rivera, vocalists Dee Dee Bridgewater and Diana Krall, and the legendary Caetano Veloso, the Bob Dylan of Brazil.

The organisers warn tourists to buy tickets weeks in advance and to arrive hours before the shows, which begin meticulously on time. Parking requires endless patience and traffic is often at a standstill, because the roads around the main square are rendered almost impassible by the sheer weight of visitors.

 
Dee Dee Bridgewater                      Richard Galliano

 
Herbie Hancock                              Diana Krall

 
Wynton Marsalis                             Paquito D'Rivera

 
Chucho Valdès                                 Caetano Veloso

http://www.jazzinmarciac.com/ete.html

From our July 2008 e-newsletter