On stage, Thomas Dutronc paid tribute to Françoise Hardy

He catches his breath and adds: “I thought I was going to be able to sing some of his songs, but my throat tightens as soon as I try. So we’re going to make do with the instrumental versions for now.” Jazz’Opale applauded him for a long time, “we love you Thomas” burst out in the room and there he attacked the first bars of “L’adulte” one of Françoise Hardy’s most beautiful compositions, then continuing with “Le time of love”.

We feel that Thomas has a sinking heart, a lot of sorrow and a lot of modesty too. “She would have wanted me to work,” he then explains, “and anyway, what else could I do? Turn around “.

Two hours of show

So Thomas, Stocho and Rocky will work hard for almost two hours doing what they know best: playing like gods. There is this intrinsic strength in jazz which consists of knowing how to listen to each other. When Stocho plays a theme, Thomas takes the solo while Rocky takes care of the rhythm. And vice versa. From “Petite fleur” Thomas takes off his jacket and rolls up his sleeves, like a craftsman going into battle. When presenting “What remains of our loves” borrowed from Charles Trenet, he notes that “it’s a classic that we loved very much in the family”. But little by little, the music takes precedence and the nervousness of the first moments disappears in favor of the jubilant pleasure of playing together. Jazz’Opale sings with him on “Comme un gypsy sans guitars” then carefully discovers “Les p’tits bonheurs”, a new song to be released on his next record, expected at the beginning of September.

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There Thomas lists the simple pleasures of existence that we must know how to capture when they present themselves to us, “because that’s life,” he sings, “it’s three little turns and then it’s gone.” “. However, there is no question of letting oneself be overcome by melancholy. After a detour to Django Reinhardt, Thomas invites the audience to dance on stage with him and also invites trumpeter Malo Mazurier to join them. He gets the room up on “J’suis pas d’ici”, offers superb guitar digressions to his musician friends and keeps the audience in suspense on “Some of these days”. Jazz’Opale thinks he can take a break when Thomas asks Rocky to play “a little intro”, which actually serves as an aperitif to “J’aime plus Paris”, his first hit, more relevant than ever. After two more instrumental detours he performs his new single, the magnificent ballad “It’s Never Too Late”.

“I would like us to sing a piece of my mother’s together”

Before leaving the stage on “Caravan”, standard by Django Reinhardt. Thomas and his family quickly return to their seats. “You are sweethearts” he said before launching into the third and final novelty of the evening. It only takes one listen to understand that “In your eyes”, clearly dedicated to the woman he has loved for 20 years, will be one of his future classics. With elegance and modesty, Thomas whispers words of love with a very Hardy-esque melancholy. “It’s okay now,” he then said. Although at the start of the concert I didn’t know how I was going to get there, I feel good now. So I would like us to sing a piece of my mother’s together. And if I ever have too many emotions, he suggests to Rocky Gresset, you strike a false note, like that, it will make me laugh. So here is Thomas playing and singing this time “Friendship” with the necessary delicacy to make this moment majestic and timeless. “And I would also like to play the song from my repertoire that she preferred” he adds to introduce “Sesame”.

At the last note, Stocho launches the final fireworks. On the instrumental “Les Yeux Noirs”, the pinnacle of gypsy jazz, each musician seems to challenge each other. But there are only smiles and camaraderie between them. Thomas is carried by the music, sweating on his neck, focused on his effort until the last second. Jazz’Opale is jubilant and makes it known loudly when, finally, the four accomplices salute one last time. So does music heal wounds? Last night in Neufchâtel-Hardelot, no one doubted it.