Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Jazz in Marciac

Marciac, founded as a bastide in 1298, is a small, sleepy town, that in the month of August each year since 1978, changes into the "Capital of Jazz". A true metamorphosis. "Jazz in Marciac" is one of the leading Jazz-festivals in Europe with way more than 200.000 visitors each year. During this time, there is no soccer in Marciac, as the sports-ground is occupied by the "CHAPITEAU", a huge tent with a capacity of about 5000. -- English singer and pianist Jamie Cullum was for me the biggest musical surprise of the summer. He danced on the stage, like unchained, driven by hyperactivity. He really rocked the audience and shifted to chaotic full speed. After a few minutes, nobody was seated any longer. As I was totally unprepared for this kind of explosion, I had to gasp for breath. Jamie Cullum clearly has the highest level of PPI (Power Per Inch) I have ever witnessed. He acted on stage like a human bouncy ball. This was just incredible. I climbed on the grand piano, jumped down, hopped from the stage... After about an hour Jamie Cullum he invited the audience to abandon the seats and to dance in the aisles and in front of the stage. "If you all come now, the security guys can´t stop you." This marked the end of the concert and the begin of multiple encores. Here is a nice video taken in Marciac, it even has the first minutes of the concert. Jamie Cullum as "l'enfant terrible du jazz". www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkZE3s2vJAw and "Don't Stop The Music" - video from Vienne: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bbh9zjRH8Kc

Marciac, founded as a bastide in 1298, is a small, sleepy town, that in the month of August each year since 1978, changes into the "Capital of Jazz". A true metamorphosis. "Jazz in Marciac" is one of the leading Jazz-festivals in Europe with way more than 200.000 visitors each year. During this time, there is no soccer in Marciac, as the sports-ground is occupied by the "CHAPITEAU", a huge tent with a capacity of about 5000. -- English singer and pianist Jamie Cullum was for me the biggest musical surprise of the summer. He danced on the stage, like unchained, driven by hyperactivity. He really rocked the audience and shifted to chaotic full speed. After a few minutes, nobody was seated any longer. As I was totally unprepared for this kind of explosion, I had to gasp for breath. Jamie Cullum clearly has the highest level of PPI (Power Per Inch) I have ever witnessed. He acted on stage like a human bouncy ball. This was just incredible. I climbed on the grand piano, jumped down, hopped from the stage... After about an hour Jamie Cullum he invited the audience to abandon the seats and to dance in the aisles and in front of the stage. "If you all come now, the security guys can´t stop you." Here is a nice video taken in Marciac, it even has the first minutes of the concert. Jamie Cullum as "l'enfant terrible du jazz". www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkZE3s2vJAw

Marciac, founded as a bastide in 1298, is a small, sleepy town, that in the month of August each year since 1978, changes into the "Capital of Jazz". A true metamorphosis. "Jazz in Marciac" is one of the leading Jazz-festivals in Europe with way more than 200.000 visitors each year. During this time, there is no soccer in Marciac, as the sports-ground is occupied by the "CHAPITEAU", a huge tent with a capacity of about 5000. -- English singer and pianist Jamie Cullum was for me the biggest musical surprise of the summer. He danced on the stage, like unchained, driven by hyperactivity. He really rocked the audience and shifted to chaotic full speed. After a few minutes, nobody was seated any longer. As I was totally unprepared for this kind of explosion, I had to gasp for breath. Jamie Cullum clearly has the highest level of PPI (Power Per Inch) I have ever witnessed. He acted on stage like a human bouncy ball. This was just incredible. I climbed on the grand piano, jumped down, hopped from the stage... After about an hour Jamie Cullum he invited the audience to abandon the seats and to dance in the aisles and in front of the stage. "If you all come now, the security guys can´t stop you." My camera was as surprised and thrilled as I was and produced lots of shots like this. Here is a nice video taken in Marciac, it even has the first minutes of the concert. Jamie Cullum as "l'enfant terrible du jazz". www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkZE3s2vJAw

Marciac, founded as a bastide in 1298, is a small, sleepy town, that in the month of August each year since 1978, changes into the "Capital of Jazz". A true metamorphosis. "Jazz in Marciac" is one of the leading Jazz-festivals in Europe with way more than 200.000 visitors each year. During this time, there is no soccer in Marciac, as the sports-ground is occupied by the "CHAPITEAU", a huge tent with a capacity of about 5000. -- English singer and pianist Jamie Cullum was for me the biggest musical surprise of the summer. He danced on the stage, like unchained, driven by hyperactivity. He really rocked the audience and shifted to chaotic full speed. After a few minutes, nobody was seated any longer. As I was totally unprepared for this kind of explosion, I had to gasp for breath. Jamie Cullum clearly has the highest level of PPI (Power Per Inch) I have ever witnessed. He acted on stage like a human bouncy ball. This was just incredible. I climbed on the grand piano, jumped down, hopped from the stage... After about an hour Jamie Cullum he invited the audience to abandon the seats and to dance in the aisles and in front of the stage. "If you all come now, the security guys can´t stop you." After minutes, thousands were stomping, hopping, jumping, clapping. The wooden floor of "CHAPITEAU" was swinging in rhythm. Here is a nice video taken in Marciac, it even has the first minutes of the concert. Jamie Cullum as "l'enfant terrible du jazz". www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkZE3s2vJAw

Marciac, founded as a bastide in 1298, is a small, sleepy town, that in the month of August each year since 1978, changes into the "Capital of Jazz". A true metamorphosis. "Jazz in Marciac" is one of the leading Jazz-festivals in Europe with way more than 200.000 visitors each year. During this time, there is no soccer in Marciac, as the sports-ground is occupied by the "CHAPITEAU", a huge tent with a capacity of about 5000. -- English singer and pianist Jamie Cullum was for me the biggest musical surprise of the summer. He danced on the stage, like unchained, driven by hyperactivity. He really rocked the audience and shifted to chaotic full speed. After a few minutes, nobody was seated any longer. As I was totally unprepared for this kind of explosion, I had to gasp for breath. Jamie Cullum clearly has the highest level of PPI (Power Per Inch) I have ever witnessed. He acted on stage like a human bouncy ball. This was just incredible. I climbed on the grand piano, jumped down, hopped from the stage... After about an hour Jamie Cullum he invited the audience to abandon the seats and to dance in the aisles and in front of the stage. "If you all come now, the security guys can´t stop you." Loz Garratt plays bass in Jamie Cullum´s band. Here is a nice video taken in Marciac, it even has the first minutes of the concert. Jamie Cullum as "l'enfant terrible du jazz". www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkZE3s2vJAw

Marciac, founded as a bastide in 1298, is a small, sleepy town, that in the month of August each year since 1978, changes into the "Capital of Jazz". A true metamorphosis. "Jazz in Marciac" is one of the leading Jazz-festivals in Europe with way more than 200.000 visitors each year. During this time, there is no soccer in Marciac, as the sports-ground is occupied by the "CHAPITEAU", a huge tent with a capacity of about 5000. -- English singer and pianist Jamie Cullum was for me the biggest musical surprise of the summer. He jumped on the stage, like unchained, driven by hyperactivity. He really rocked the audience and shifted to chaotic full speed. After a few minutes, nobody was seated any longer. As I was totally unprepared for this kind of explosion, I had to gasp for breath. Jamie Cullum clearly has the highest level of PPI (Power Per Inch) I have ever witnessed. He acted on stage like a human bouncy ball. This was just incredible. Here is a nice video taken in Marciac, it even has the first minutes of the concert. Jamie Cullum as "l'enfant terrible du jazz". www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkZE3s2vJAw

Marciac, founded as a bastide in 1298, is a small, sleepy town, that in the month of August each year since 1978, changes into the "Capital of Jazz". A true metamorphosis. "Jazz in Marciac" is one of the leading Jazz-festivals in Europe with way more than 200.000 visitors each year. During this time, there is no soccer in Marciac, as the sports-ground is occupied by the "CHAPITEAU", a huge tent with a capacity of about 5000. -- Stacey Kent, one of my favourite jazz singers, performing on stage in the "chapiteau". Walking long distances, I need a rhythm to walk on, as walking can get pretty boring (eg Bazas-Roquefort). To walk on a samba-rhythm really helps and to find new lyrics for known melodies as well. That evening Stacey Kent even sang the "One Note Samba", that has accompanied me since years. Here is Stacey Kent in Marciac: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsRMHLSFJNU Here is Stancey Kent´s "One Note Samba": www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYdrhTL3VBk

Marciac, founded as a bastide in 1298, is a small, sleepy town, that in the month of August each year since 1978, changes into the "Capital of Jazz". A true metamorphosis. "Jazz in Marciac" is one of the leading Jazz-festivals in Europe with way more than 200.000 visitors each year. During this time, there is no soccer in Marciac, as the sports-ground is occupied by the "CHAPITEAU", a huge tent with a capacity of about 5000. -- Stacey Kent, one of my favourite jaun singers, performing on stage in the "chapiteau". Her husband Jim Tomlinson playing the sax on the left. Walking long distances, I need a rhythm to walk on, as walking can get pretty boring (eg Bazas-Roquefort). To walk on a samba-rhythm really helps and to find new lyrics for known melodies as well. That evening Stacey Kent even sang the "One Note Samba", that has accompanied me since years. Here is Stacey Kent in Marciac: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsRMHLSFJNU Here is Stancey Kent´s "One Note Samba": www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYdrhTL3VBk

Marciac, founded as a bastide in 1298, is a small, sleepy town, that in the month of August each year since 1978, changes into the "Capital of Jazz". A true metamorphosis. On the central square of Marciac stage is erected and free concerts are held here over the day. All around the square are many "temporary" restaurants and eateries, where visitors can get everything starting from gummy bears to foie gras. What can be seen on this sandwich are no gummy bears. The Gers area is known for fantastic food, but it is not veggie friendly at all. Even the "salade gersoise" comes with duck gizzard. The get a nice glass of chilled rosé is way easier here, than to get a decent cup of coffee.

Marciac, founded as a bastide in 1298, is a small, sleepy town, that in the month of August each year since 1978, changes into the "Capital of Jazz". A true metamorphosis. "Jazz in Marciac" is one of the leading Jazz-festivals in Europe with way more than 200.000 visitors each year. During this time, there is no soccer in Marciac, as the sports-ground is occupied by the "CHAPITEAU", a huge tent with a capacity of about 5000. -- Young French-American jazz vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant performing on stage in the "CHAPITEAU". Here is a video, taken in Marciac: www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-aV6xS2New

Marciac, founded as a bastide in 1298, is a small, sleepy town with a population of well under 1500, but in the month of August each year since 1978, Marciac changes into the "Capital of Jazz". A true metamorphosis. "Jazz in Marciac" is one of the leading Jazz-festivals in Europe with way more than 200.000 visitors each year. During this time, there is no soccer in Marciac, as the sports-ground is occupied by the "CHAPITEAU", a huge tent with a capacity of about 5000. -- Young French-American jazz vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant performing on stage in the "CHAPITEAU". Here is a video, taken in Marciac: www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-aV6xS2New

Marciac, founded as a bastide in 1298, is a small, sleepy town with a population of well under 1500, but in the month of August each year since 1978, Marciac changes into the "Capital of Jazz". A true metamorphosis. "Jazz in Marciac" is one of the leading Jazz-festivals in Europe with way more than 200.000 visitors each year. During this time, there is no soccer in Marciac, as the sports-ground is occupied by the "CHAPITEAU", a huge tent with a capacity of about 5000. Young French-American jazz vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant performing on stage in the "CHAPITEAU". Screens are under the tent´s roof. I had to move forward for some better photos.. Here is a video, taken in Marciac: www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-aV6xS2New

Marciac, founded as a bastide in 1298, is a small, sleepy town with a population of well under 1500, but in the month of August each year since 1978, Marciac changes into the "Capital of Jazz". A true metamorphosis. "Jazz in Marciac" is one of the leading Jazz-festivals in Europe with way more than 200.000 visitors each year. Walking the Via Tolosana some years ago, I stumbled this unexpected universe accidently and had to take a break,as it was so surprising. This year I was much better prepared.

Marciac has its fame from the annual Jazz Festival, that was going on, when I reached the small town - and decided to stay for two days. The interior of the late gothic "Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption" was quiet and uncrowded. The church was erected in the 15th century, but some older, Romanesque carvings got reused here. Under the power line is this mermaid, holding a comb and a mirror. So she stands for vanity, a symbol that can often be found in gothic churches.

More than 200.000 visitors are expected in Marciac within the three weeks of the festival. As the village is so small, everything is nearby. Famed American saxophonist Joshua Redman gave an interview just next to me. Later that day we visited the museum „Territoires du Jazz“ and had dinner, where the cloister was, before Henry Walters bought it in 1880. It got removed and may be in the the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore now. www.jazzinmarciac.com/

Had a great weekend in an around Marciac. During the festival Marciac is probably the best place for a stopover. Different bands performed on the stage on the central square over the whole day. Unfortunately I lost my notes - so I cannot tell you her name. She was brilliant www.jazzinmarciac.com/spectacles/jazz-in-marciac

Now, that I had discovered the "paparazzo-mode" inside of me, I even followed the crowd and watched Mr. Hollande, the President of France and Co-Prince of Andorra having a light meal together with the local dignities inside a tent, near the mairie. Actually that night I had my dinner only about 100 meters apart from the President - and we may have even had the same local wine!

To be all of a sudden in the center of the great Jazz Festival was a sensation. If I would have been a Jazz-aficionado, I would probably had known the festival, but here, the Pandora of Jazz had just opened her box - and (instead of evil) it was filled with music! Actually the festival is all around music, but covers as well great food and cool wines! In the midst of a huge, moving crowd, there was Mr. François Hollande, Le Président de la République française, paying a visit to Marciac that evening. I was so thrilled, that I felt a paparazzo inside my body.. Mr. François Hollande is not only President of France, but as well Co-Prince of Andorra. I had been in Catalonia a year ago and visited the basilica of the second Co-Prince, the Bishop of Urgell. Here is youtube about the visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1i3JLnTDv7M