Since 1981, JAZZ A VIENNE has experienced an exceptional development thanks to the faithfulness and passion of its audience that has increased six-fold in nearly thirty years. Evenings too have increased: from the initial 5 at the Roman Theatre, today the festival presents 15 to 16 events at each edition. Most Jazz, Blues, Gospel, Brazilian, Cuban and African music artists have performed on the stage of a location which has become mythical in the history of this music. Finally, the Festival has increasingly expanded beyond the Roman Theatre stage to sweep the whole city and the Vienne region: new stages, new entertainment, shows for new, young (even very young) and less young audiences. Furthermore, this thirtieth anniversary edition will be celebrated with the creation of a great show in the streets of Vienne on July 4th (Sunday), with the "La Belle Zanka" group and the "Locomysic" contribution: music, dance, street shows, costumes and parades will enliven this day which should hopefully be festive, sharing and a bit crazy!

For this thirtieth edition, the programme will focus on vocal art. We all know that jazz stems from the instrumental adaptation of African Americans’ vocal art at the beginning of the 20th century. This Afro American vocal art, which is perhaps the only heritage of the African origins of this population displaced by slavery, will be celebrated with the divas who will make up a major part of the programme: Norah, Dee Dee, Diana, Liz, Angélique, China. Male voices will venture to the frontiers of jazz: Joe Coker, Elvis Costello, Paolo Conte, Carlinhos Brown, BobbyMcFerrin. And we won’t forget the art of “group vocalizing” with Manhattan Transfer.

JAZZ A VIENNE will also remember its traditional evenings: Blues, Gospel, Brazil, Caribbean, Africa, and its last Marathon Night, the Jazz Mix Night. The Midnight Club and Jazz Mix stages will offer discovery and emergence music, and highlight regional musicians.

Finally, instrumental jazz lovers will also be able to listen to some great performers: Wayne Shorter, Paco de Lucia, Brad Mehldau, Michel Portal, Manu Katché, Regina Carter, Joachim Kühn, Chucho Valdés and Monty Alexander.

We hope that you will all share in the joy of celebrating this thirtieth edition of the Festival together.