Marking its prestigious 20th anniversary this autumn, the Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival returns to the legendary Salle Garnier of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo from 18th to 29th November. Under the inclusive concept of pure elegance, this special edition promises an immersive melodic journey bridging decades of jazz heritage and modern innovation.
Stéphane Valeri, Chairman and Managing Director of Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer (SBM), reflected on this significant anniversary during a press conference held at the Casino de Monte-Carlo on Thursday 3rd September.
He questioned whether the late Jean-René Palacio could have ever imagined such an adventure when he first conceived the event, while praising current SBM Artistic Director Alfonso Ciulla for brilliantly carrying the torch.
A star-studded line-up bridges decades of tradition and innovation
Put together with an eclectic eye by Ciulla, the 20th-anniversary line-up will kick off on 18th November with a free opening show featuring young musicians from the Académie Rainier III.
The momentum will build on 20th November as South Korean vocalist Youn Sun Nah will bring 25 years of experience to the stage, followed by Grammy-winning superstar Gregory Porter.
Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival co-programmer, Reno Di Matteo, captured the feel of Porter’s participation, saying: “His performance is full of jazz, soul, and velour, promising to take audiences by the ears and guard them by the heart.”
Melody Gardot, Tyreek McDole, and The Brand New Heavies to headline at the 20th anniversary festival
The festival energy will continue on 21st November when the Thanda Choir will make its international tour debut, followed by Melody Gardot, who filled eight shows at the Olympia in Paris last July and will present a career-spanning performance. “It is a true honour to welcome an artist of Melody Gardot’s caliber to our magnificent Opéra Garnier for a career-spanning performance featuring a personal curation of her greatest works,” said Di Matteo during the press conference.
Celebrating the link between jazz and film, 22nd November will bring a special screening of Otto Preminger’s 1955 classic The Man with the Golden Arm, starring Frank Sinatra, in partnership with the Institut audiovisuel de Monaco.
On 25th November, Haitian-American prodigy Tyreek McDole will share the schedule with Belgium’s Selah Sue and the father-and-son duo The Gallands, a special coup de cœur for Di Matteo. “The father on drums and the son on keyboards wanted to accompany and present something entirely new alongside Selah Sue,” he explained, adding: “They worked, produced, and wrote together, and the result is simply incredible.”
On 26th November, Gogo Penguin will present Necessary Fictions alongside Daudi Matsiko, followed by acid jazz pioneers The Brand New Heavies. Ciulla praised the legendary band, saying: “The Brand New Heavies bring pure groove, funk, and soul with energy that hasn’t aged a bit. They still serve up a spellbinding musical mix. Their gear is totally vintage—pure 1990s style—and they remain an extraordinary English band that completely defined that era.”
Rock, pop, and grand finales
British rock pioneers Marillion will perform a unique date on 27th November, with Ciulla sharing that rock is not very far from jazz and reminding us that jazz is never a straight line.
The final days will feature 19-year-old viral sensation Lila-May and Thomas Dutronc on 28th November, before closing on 29th November with the three-time Grammy-winning Soweto Gospel Choir in their show JOY.
“These are voices that are powerful, generous, and terribly human,” Ciulla concluded.
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From left to right: Reno Di Matteo, Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival Co-programmer, and Alfonso Ciulla, Monte Carlo SBM Artistic Director. Photo credit: Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer