XIROCOURT 2000 - Lundi September 11th 2000
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Xirocourt swings with the
best!
The audience turned up for this last day of the Swing festival at Xirocourt. A "100 % jazz programme" with talented musicians.
With a "100%'' quality jazz programme, the festival of Xirocourt came to a
beautiful end. Everything was there. Summer weather, a rural setting at the edge
of Madon, a loyal audience public and a whole array of musicians ready to make
the crowd swing all night. As of 14h, Krizz de Jazz gave the tone. Seven
musicians from Metz, without the singer unfortunately, interpreted swings and
blues from their repertoire. William Chabbey, who played for the first time
at Xirocourt, connected with and charmed guitar fans. This eminent musician who
often tours in Paris, will play at the NJP in October. In middle of
afternoon, we moved to jazz-bop with a great alto sax and tenor professional,
Lorraine Laurent Cianez, who already appeared in 1994 with Chan Parker, the
widow of the jazz genius.
«A jam session»
Laurent Gianez and his musicians, Jean-Michel Albertucci Jean-Luc Miotti and
Ortwin Feil formed the Ecarolh Four-bit byte and fired up the audience with
music from
Charlie Parker or Sonny Rollins. Between each sax or piano solo, the applause
was punctuated with "Yeah!".
The evening had a promising start. The pause in this day of jazz was the
long-awaited concert of the "big players". Tuna Otenel, a Turkish pianist, who
compared himself with the leading players, follows the style of Bill
Evans. "It forms a complete unit with the piano. It is a perpetual creator,''
said Ajain Delhotal, mayor of Xirocourt and moreover an amateur jazz musician
and a harmonica player.
Raoul De Souza, one of the best trombone players in the world, was at Tuna
Otenel's side, as well as Philippe Combelle, drummer and Pierre Michelot, who
was surprised to receive a certificate for artist of honour for being the 500th
musician at the festival.
Conviviality and meetings
The capital swinged all the day to the sound of the jazz. It came to a
beautiful end with a "jam session". "It is one of the musicians'
highly-appreciated moments. All choose to play a known piece and each one
can improvise. It puts you in a good mood that can last for us! "[... ] explains
Pierre Michelot, SACEM 1999 prizewinner. A convivial environment and a meeting
of regional and leading jazz musicians as well as the public: "Here, everyone
can meet around a drink at the refreshment bar or with the music. It is one of
the advantages of this festival,'' said Henri Hertz, the festival's president.
The date has alreadu been set for next year for September 7, 8 and 9. On the
edges of Madon, the jazz will turn many amateurs into swingers.
Virginie LACAZE