JazzContreBand, the festival that spans all of Lake Geneva

Marion Rampal, singer straddling variety, traditional and blue note, Hiromivirtuoso pianist like a machine gun, Ibrahim Maalouf, the oriental pop trumpeter, also Amadou and Mariam, Christian “Chief Adjuah” Scott, Erik Truffaz, Léon Phal… At JazzContreBand, 28^e edition of 1^is October to 1^is November, there is always a plethora of stars. Geneva, Carouge, Annemasse, Thonon, Lausanne and even Nyon… At JazzContreBand, the programming, each time, takes a single route, connecting all the cities of the Lake Geneva region in a musical circuit of astonishing richness.

With 34 towns on the route (we will mention at random Chambéry again, as far as Monthey and Sierre for the extreme Valais of the visited territory), the event organized in good harmony by Franco-Swiss cultural authorities offers a total of 81 concerts. A treasure trove for music lovers, invited to visit venues of all kinds. We retain, among the pillars of the event, the parent company of the South of the Alps on the Geneva side, the Château Rouge d’Annemasse on the Haut-Savoyard side, aka the best room in Geneva.

What about the styles represented then? “Jazz” has been emancipated from schools for ages now. Or, let us say rather that, as it is worked in the region, contemporary jazz, if it is studied in well-regulated academies (see the EJMA of course) explodes in all styles once it has left the classrooms. Current examples of students who have overflowed with talent: MOHS., in concert three times during the festival, Chambéry on October 4, Annemasse on the 11th, premiering the fascinating Christian Scott, alias Chief Adjuaha trumpeter from Orléans revisiting with a curious stringed instrument African-American repertoires linked to Native American heritage.

MOHS., whose base is based on this rebellious Genevan blue note society, brings together the new guard of virtuosos from the region. Erwan Valazza on guitar, Zacharie Ksyk on trumpet, Nathan Vandenbulcke on drums, Gaspard Colin on double bass. Four from this clique that we find on many other projects today, whether hip-hop (Captains of the Imagination notably) or baroque jazz (Ancient Foam by vocalist Flora Ageron).

Hip-hop, trip-hop, pop, electronic, etc.: all tastes are welcome at MOHS. Ditto Léon Phal, the saxophonist friend, new star of the French scene. Three dates also for the prodigy prompter, October 19 at Château Rouge, October 25 in Yverdon, October 30 in Geneva, in the Chaudron de la nouvelle School of Contemporary Music or EMA.

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