Avishai Cohen, Carmen Souza, Eric Serra... The unmissable jazz event is making its grand return to Toulon

Since 1990, the large traveling jazz festival organized by the City of Toulon has taken place in the city's squares and livened up the summer nights. Having become a highlight of the Var cultural calendar, the event is eagerly awaited each summer and attracts a large audience: 50,000 spectators were present in 2024.

This year, the festival, which is still 100% free and will run from July 26 to August 9, unveils a rich program composed of 20 artists to provide 10 evening concerts and 10 "off" (those which start the evening and liven up the aperitif).

This 35th edition keeps the same recipe as previous years but is expanding: sixteen places will be taken over in the heart of Toulon, three more than last year including the Place des Vignes and the Place Marie Curie, to welcome the public and allow them to make the most of the artists who will be performing on stage.

The off-stage concerts will begin at 7 p.m. and will feature local artists such as the girl group Whats Elle's, the Swing du Sud collective, and singer Claire Penot. A musical appetizer, in short, before the evening concerts, which will begin at 9:30 p.m.

The spirit of conviviality and sharing still reigns over the festival, as does the desire to offer jazz accessible to all while remaining free. Introducing as many people as possible to this broad, sophisticated range remains the primary objective, and to this end, it relies on renowned artists.

Big names in gypsy jazz open

On Saturday, July 26, the festival's evening concerts kick off with a bang with The Great Guitars, featuring Biréli Lagrène, Martin Taylor, and Ulf Wakenius. These are the big names in gypsy jazz! A great introduction.

The event continues with Cuban pianist Roberto Fonseca on the 27th. A headliner that every festival is fighting over! It's impossible not to give in to the urge to sway to the sound of his piano and the rhythms straight from Havana.

Tyreek McDole, rising star of the New York scene

The next day, the spotlight will be on 24-year-old Haitian-American singer Tyreek McDole, a youngest member of the festival and a rising star on the New York jazz scene.

On July 29, we'll be joining a leading figure in Cape Verdean music: Carmen Souza, a pioneer in writing, recording, and performing her own unique take on world jazz.

Next up is the Cuban Jazz Syndicate collective on the 31st. This new generation of Cuban musicians will offer an intense and vibrant experience at Place Bouzigue.

On August 1st, world-renowned composer Eric Serra, accompanied by the RXRA Group, will revisit his most beautiful film scores in a jazz version on Place Raspail.

We continue on Monday the 4th with trumpeter Avishai Cohen. He will present his new album, Ashes to Gold . Pianist Elie Portal and singer Faby Medina, with her prestigious voice and dazzling scat, will be present on the 6th with their collective.

The final two names in this prestigious lineup are Joshua Redman and The Amazing Keystone Big Band. One is among the most acclaimed and respected saxophonists on the contemporary jazz scene, and the other is a 17-piece collective that won the Victoire du Jazz Award for Best Group of the Year in 2018.

The event isn't afraid to reinvent itself, inviting artists from all over the world to satisfy its audiences and attract those who have never attended before. It's an opportunity to discover some of the world's top jazz talents.

Jazz in Toulon from July 26 to August 9. In several squares around the city. Free. www.jazzatoulon.com