The Best Jazz Artists and Works of the Year: Celebrating Overseas Talent in the Jazz Scene

2023-12-20 15:38:10

The evening was dedicated to them. Tuesday evening, Jazz Magazine and Jazz News brought together the biggest names on the jazz scene to look back at the most notable works and artists of the year. And for the first time, eight overseas artists were rewarded.

The meeting took place at the feet of Notre-Dame de Paris. Monday evening, Port de Montebello, in the 5th arrondissement of the capital, the world of jazz gathered around an evening organized by the two specialized magazines Jazz Magazine and Jazz News, in a barge specially reserved for the event. The opportunity to award prizes to the various players in the world of jazz.

For three years, the two editorial teams of Jazz Magazine and Jazz News have joined forces to publish a special issue “best-of “, retracing the successes and favorites of the past year. A meeting, which, over time, has become major for those involved in the world of jazz, whether they are musicians, singers or composers.

For the year 2023, no less than eight overseas artists have been rewarded. ” Something very strong is happening at the moment ” comments Franck Bergerot, editor-in-chief of Jazz Magazine.

Jazz, from the outset, is a mixed music. But in recent years, we have witnessed the explosion of an overseas scene, I have never heard something so strong and creative. […] Overseas artists have a special touch. They have the swing […] and there is something very natural in their melodies.

Franck Bergerot, Editor-in-chief of Jazz Magazine

This is the first time that so many artists from overseas have won awards. Between the three pianists of the year, all West Indian, the prize for the revelation, the musician, or the cover of the year, the Overseas are definitely establishing themselves on the jazz scene at the dawn of 2024.

In its special edition, a retrospective of the year 2023, the magazine begins its honors with the Franco-American artist Cécile McLorin Salvant. Originally from the West Indies, the jazzwoman was crowned French musician of the year, thanks in particular to her compositions and her on-stage interpretation of her latest project, “Melusine“.

Musician of the year award given to Cécile McLorin Salvant • ©Lucas Dusart / France Télévisions

It is also one of the magazine’s 40 records of the year, just like Guadeloupean pianist Alain Jean-Marie for his album “Creole promenade“, or the Haitian Jowee Omicil for “Spiritual Healing : Bwa“. But the rewards don’t stop there for the author of “Melusine “. The album also received the award for best cover of the year.

For the French revelation of the year prize, the two specialized magazines ” naturally“turned towards Kareen Guiock-Thuram, the Woman of Many Careers, performer of fourteen cover songs in homage to the legend Nina Simone on the disc entitled ” Nina“. For the interested party, moved, “it wasn’t easy“. Kareen Guiock-Thuram confie que “it was not not gained from being accepted by the world of jazz, since it is demanding and elitist”. At 46, the journalist says to herself “happy and very honored” to receive the prize for French revelation of the year.

As far as awarded musicians are concerned, the Ultramarines dominate the category. On the piano, the three selected are from the West Indies, Alain Jean-Marie, Mario Canonge as well as Grégory Privat were all named pianists of the year by the specialized magazines, a “signal fort “for Grégory Privat who was”pleasantly surprised” when the nominees are announced.

They are piano monuments. There are three different generations and to be part of this selection is a real honor. […] It gives me courage to go further. […] There are a lot of young talents who will make themselves known in the future

Grégory Privat – jazz pianist of the year 2023

A true actor in jazz culture, Grégory Privat intends to highlight his inspirations which extend from “West Indian Blues Man “Eugène Mona, to rapper Kalash.

Guadeloupean drummer Arnaud Dolmen is also one of the three French people selected in this category. Just like the bassist Michel Alibo or the percussionist Roger Raspail, the artists wear the overseas colors loud and proud in the world of jazz, which, according to some, comes as much from the West Indies as from New Orleans.

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