Paris Jazz Festival
Tuesday, March 8th, 2011
Paris is a city drenched in jazz history. This history is celebrated each year at the Paris Jazz festival, which takes place every year in the Parc Floral de Paris between June and July. This holiday invites crowd pulling jazz legends but also endeavours to showcase new talent from developing skills of the world scene. Concerts occur in the afternoons each weekend and are the very best way to experience an authentic Parisian summer atmosphere. With numerous affordable styles of transport and keenly priced Paris apartments on offer, this is the perfect time of the year for your romantic town break.
After World War I Paris was turned into an exciting and new hotbed of creativity and invention, especially in its underground music clubs and bars. This subculture developed after the first inflow of african american soldiers arrived in the war and brought with them their unique make of music, which grew rapidly in popularity and quickly established itself in the area of Montmartre. This area has become the religious home of jazz in the town and was known for clubs including Le Grande Duc and Bricktop’s. This transmissible music quickly spread to the areas of Montparnasse, Saint-Germain-des- Prs and the area round the champions Elysses. The cabaret clubs of the 20′s and the 30′s were the setting for a serious change in the social and creative development of Paris during this period with some early lead runners of the scene including Josephine Baker, Darius Milhaud and the now mythical Django Reinhardt.
The popularity of the music grew rapidly and by the 1960′s Paris jazz clubs were continually graced with jazz royalty such as Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong. Today there remains a powerful musical convention and Paris continually plays host to reputable artists from the global scene. There’s a vast selection of offerings all though Paris, and with live music each night there will be no excuse for staying in.
The Balle au Bond is a truly unique location. This jazz club is actually a boat that is docked in the Seine in central Paris with reasonably cost-effective drinks.
Le Bilboquet, thirteen rue Saint-Benoit 6th is a Paris jazz establishment all the way back to 1947. This is a great place to absorb the unique ambience in this stylish conglomerate. There is no cover charge, however the drinks are costly ( one cup of white wine costs 18EUR ).
Autor de Midi, eleven Rue Lepic is an authentic underground jazz club. The roster generally contains the local players in this authentic dark jazz “cave”. Cost-effective drinks and an amiable atmosphere.
Why not end the weekend with a “jazz brunch” in the famous Jazz Club Lionel Hampton at Le Mridien Etoile ( 81 Boulevard Gouvion St Cyr. This large and up market supper-type club offers smooth jazz and swing on Sundays with its brunch menu costing 36EUR.
For expert jazz fans or beginners alike, Paris offers the perfect getaway to explore this musical culture and take in some of the most background spots the town has to offer on the way. Why no stay in a Paris apartment and be in amongst the jazz action.
