There are are few countries in the world to rival France in its respect for Jazz as an art form and for Jazz Musicians. Many of the leading exponents, particularly American musicians, have found both temporary and permanent homes there, enhancing both their artistic and personal lives in the process of doing so.
France and Paris in particular has many venues. You can listen to all styles and all standards from international stars down to, wanabes sporting the pork-pie hat and shaky techniques. From late spring through to the back end of each year, festivals are held just about everywhere in this beautiful county. This attracts a veritable caravan of world class performers doing the festival circuit. Add to this the food. The wine. Agreeable weather. What more could you ask for?
A word about jazz clubs in Paris.
The rules of the game are usually as follows. You may or may not find yourself paying a charge for admission. Then the cost of the first drink can be pretty dramatic. This way things function in most establishments. Though you will not normally be hassled to buy a second drink if you do not feel inclined to do so. Just be a little careful until you are familiar with the scale of tariffs that tend to be the norm around the Paris scene.
Le Duc Des Lombards
42 Rue des Lombards, Paris
01 42 33 22 88
www.ducdeslombards.fr/
One of the main jazz clubs in Paris, France. It was founded in 1984 and is settled in the rue des Lombards which hosts several other famous jazz clubs such as Le Baiser Sal and the Sunset/Sunside. The Jazz club is located on the corner of the Rue des Lombards and Sebastopol.
The Sunset/Sunside
60 Rue Des Lombards, Paris
01 40 26 46 60
www.sunset-sunside.com/
Founded in 1983 and is the first jazz club to settle in the rue des Lombards which hosts several other famous jazz clubs such as Le Baiser Sal and Le Duc des Lombards.
The New Morning
7-9 Rue Des Petites Ecuries, Paris
01 45 23 51 41
www.newmorning.com/fr/accueil.asp
The first concert was given on April 16, 1981 by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. Specialising in jazz and blues.
One of the most reputed jazz-club in France, located in Paris, welcomes each year the big names in jazz. In 1998 Chick Corea and Jerry Gonzalez passed by, just to name two of them. Dee Dee Bridgewater and Ella Fitzgerald do also know this club.
Le Baiser Sal
58 Rue Des Lombards, Paris
01 42 33 37 71
www.lebaisersale.com
It was founded in 1983 and is settled in the rue des Lombards which hosts several other famous jazz clubs.
Caveau De La Huchette
5 Rue De La Huchette
01 43 26 65 05
Every evening a jazz band performs for the listening pleasure of regulars and visitors alike. Dance in the timeless tradition of Saint-Germain des Prs jazz with the best boppers in Paris. Whether you are just a Jazz-Lover, like to dance your socks off, or are a professional musician, the exceptional atmosphere of the club will remind you of the Cotton Club and the Savoy in the glory days. From 1946 the greatest jazzmen in the world have appeared regularly.
Paris-Prague Jazz Club
18 rue Bonaparte, Paris
01 53 73 00 29
Beautiful ancient stone cellars in the “St.Germain des Prs" spirit. Jazz club every Friday evening 7pm30 to 12pm. Very low prices, accessible for students: cover 5, pint of lager 3. Food: tchque lunch, hot sausages. Styles: Modern and vintage jazz, blues, western swing, zydco.
Jazz Club Lionel Hampton
Hotel Meridien
81 Blvd. Gouvion Saint Cyr,Paris.
01 40 68 30 42
The Jazz Club Lionel Hampton has become one of the institutions of Parisian life and provides a daily opportunity to discover and enjoy the best artists and groups in contemporary jazz.
Autour De Midi
11 rue Lepic -Paris.
01 42 54 68 37
Brings back with the tradition, somewhat left by the wayside, the jazz spirit that pervaded some of the more mythic sites in Montmartre in the past. The jazz prevails downstairs in our double cave voute where one side harbours a bar with our charming Christine, and the other side gives way to a very charming and comfortable listening room with a small stage.
1, Avenue des Sources, Porte Magnanen
033 04 90 82 08 10
La Manutention
4 rue Escalier Ste-Anne
04 90 86 08 61
Jazz and improved music since 1978, on Thursday evening. Office opened from Monday to Friday. No food, no drink, but a caf and a restaurant down stairs.
59, Quai de Paludate
(33) 5 56 49 15 55
Located near The du restaurant du Port de la Lune. Jazz and blues. Entrance Free every Tuesday evening. Great ambiance
138 Rue Franois de Guise, CHAMBRY
04 79 33 43 85
Pontadig, Bar Tal Ar Pont
(00 33) (0)2 98 81 84
Lively, festive Dixieland jazz in a great atmosphere.
Monthly on Sundays, 4pm - 7pm
Thelonius
18 Rue Bourbon, 33300 Bordeaux
05 56 11 00 50
Jazz lovers should make a beeline for this bar whose main aim, weekends and even weekdays, is to present groups or soloists from among Bordeaux's up and coming talent. The invited musicians have a varied repertoire in jazz and you can hear the latest trends here too. Elegantly decorated with dim lights and an intimate atmosphere, the bar's audiences number about 50, real devotees included, who come to listen to their favorite music.
192 Ave. de la Chtre, CHTEAUROUX
02 54 34 89 64
Dunkerque Jazz Club
Salle de Concerts et Bureau Ple Marine, Dunkerque.
03 28 63 51 00
La Soupe au Choux
7 Route de Lyon, Grenoble
04 76 87 05 67
La Soupe aux Choux, host of the Grenoble Jazz CLUB (France). All jazz styles are represented: modern Jazz, Blues, Swing, New-Orleans
1 Place Chardonnet
04 72 00 83 61.
Le Baryton
30 r Arbre Sec. Lyon
04 78 28 34 41
A Trs Sympa, friendly, inexpensive (free entrance, beer 3.50 ), popular, jazz joint is happen 7 nights a week from 22h00 to 02h00 with friendly barman Laurent
Le Hot Club
26 rue Lanterne,Lyon
04 78 39 54 74.
Tuesday to Saturday, every night at 9.30 pm
St. Louis Club
61, rue Mercire. Lyon.
04 78 92 99 83
Metro: Bellecour Program jazz: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays. Time from 23h00. Entrance: Free. Drinks (one minimum) 8-15
18 Rue Beavau.
04 91 33 72 06
Modern jazz styles, from small acoustic groups. Great friendly atmosphere, though audience not all there for the music, so can be noisy. Excellent tapas. A la carte menu looks good too. Music most nights except Sunday. Open until around 2am
Louisiana Jazz Club
133, bd. de Sainte Marguerite
04 91 41 46 36
Pelle Mele
45 Cours H. d'Estienne d'Orves, 08 Place aux Huiles.
04 91 54 85 26
10-12 Rue des Trinitaires, Metz.
03 87 75 04 96
Le Crescent Jazz Club
83 rue Rambuteau.
03 85 39 08 45
Pannonica
9 Rue Basse Porte
(33) 02 40 48 74 74
Concerts the Thursday and Friday all the year except in summer all the jazz styles, from classic to new and improvised music.
2 rue des trois Maries
02 38 54 68 68
The CATS des Trois Maries is a Jazz Club Caf Concert, meeting point of musics and musicians, arts and artists. The public can find in this place what it is looking for or discover new things.
Rue de la Sagesse
05 53 06 99 98
Open every last Friday evening of the month. Contemporary style, post bop. Accomodation up to 100 persons. Bar.
63 rue Libergier, Reims, Marne
03 26 47 00 10
44 rue Jean Moulin.
Restaurant Pasta
209, Ave Aristide Briand
003 34 93 35 44 44
Where good music meets good food! A newcomer in the jazz club scene on the Riviera, right at the border to Italy, featuring local and international musicians every Saturday night all year long. Mor events are scheduled, including a first festival on the borderline line between France and Italy.
23, rue des amidonniers, Toulouse
05 61 21 10 05
Salle Nougaro
20, chemin de Garric, Toulouse
05 61 57 02 29
23 Rue des Cerisiers, Tours
02 47 38 29 34
1 vieux chemin de Biot
3 or 4 concerts a week
If you've got the blues with the onset of autumn, maybe a quick trip to Paris to hear some might be just the thing. This year's JVC Jazz Festival, taking place in some of the capital's hottest venues, begins with the highly acclaimed David Reinhard Trio at the Sunset Jazz Club, and also includes the ever-popular Susie Arioli Swing Band at the Europeen. A night of toe-tapping rhythms for jazz lovers everywhere is guaranteed.
DAVID REINHARDT
Sunset Jazz Club, Paris
October 16 2009 22h
DAVID EL MALEK
Sunside Jazz Club, Paris
October 16 & 17 2009 21h
COSTEL NITESCU / STEEVE LAFFONT
Sunset Jazz Club, Paris
October 17 2009 22h
WALTER SMITH III
Sunside Jazz Club, Paris
October 18 & 19 2009 21h
SUSIE ARIOLI SWING BAND
Europeen, Paris
October 19 2009 20h30
NININE GARCIA
Sunset Jazz Club, Paris
October 19 2009 21h
SYLVAIN LUC
Theatre Traversiere, Paris
October 20 & 21 2009 20h30
LEMMY CONSTANTINE
Sunset Jazz Club, Paris
October 20 2009 21h
MATTHIEU BORE
Sunset Jazz Club, Paris
October 20 2009 21h
DAVID REINHARDT / SAMY DAUSSAT
Sunset Jazz Club, Paris
October 21 2009 21h
DENIS COLIN ET LES ARPENTEURS
Sunside Jazz Club, Paris
October 22 2009 21h
RAPHAEL IMBERT
Sunside Jazz Club, Paris
October 22 2009 21h
ANGELO DEBARRE
Sunset Jazz Club, Paris
October 22 2009 22h
ERIC SEVA
Sunside Jazz Club, Paris
October 23 2009 21h
ADRIEN MOIGNARD / NOE REINHARDT / SEBASTIEN GINIAUX
Sunset Jazz Club, Paris
October 23 2009 21h
AARON PARKS
Sunside Jazz Club, Paris
October 24 2009 21h
ROCKY GRESSET
Sunset Jazz Club, Paris
October 24 2009 22h
Kyle Eastwood World Tour
THU October 8th, 2009
Marseille, FR
Espace Julien
9, Cours Julien -Marseille
04 91 24 34 10
www.espace-julien.com/
FRI October 9th, 2009
Compigne, FR
Place Briet Daubigny, COMPIEGNE
http://www.espacejeanlegendre.com/
SUN October 11th, 2009
Nancy, FR
Nancy Jazz Pulsations
Parc de la Ppinire, NANCY
Ticket Price: free
Showtime: 5 pm
http://www.nancyjazzpulsations.com/index.fm.php
FRI October 23rd, 2009
Nimes, France
Info TBA
SAT November 21st, 2009
Vienne, France
Theatre de Vienne
4 rue Chantelouve -VIENNE
Showtime: 8:30 pm
Ticket Prices: 15 Euros
http://www.theatredevienne.com/
TUE November 24th, 2009
Clermont-Ferrand, FR
Cooperative De Mai
Rue Serge Gainsbourg,Clermont-Ferrand
Ticket price: 19,23 Euros
www.lacoope.com
For more information contact All About Jazz.
