The Venue
Jazz à Juan Santana Dates:
July 22, 1988 -
July 24, 1991 -
July 23/25, 1993 -
July 19, 2011 -
July 10, 2015
The first Jazz à Juan festival, created as a tribute to a famous musician who loved Antibes, none other than Sidney Bechet, was the event that sparked off many other festivals which quickly spread across Europe. Claude Nobs, inventor of the great Montreux event, said himself: "If I hadn't passed through Antibes, Montreux wouldn't exist." The concept was revolutionary. For the first time, the general public could discover the main artists of the great saga which jazz had already become, with the heros on stage in person, and the most beautiful decor one could wish for under the hundered-year-old pine trees of pinède Gould facing the Mediterranean Sea.
As early as 1960, the remarkable concert by Charles Mingus took place, then the start of the "Love Affair" between Ray Charles and the pine grove, the revelation of Miles Davis in 1963, the memorable duet between Ella Fitzgerald and a cicada... In 1968, after the Coltrane shock, while heated debate was raging back and forth, there was the irresistible free-style period, before Jazz Rock and fusion were at their height in 1976, then the impressive collection of pianists in 1981 (Petrucciani, McCoy Tyner, Chick Corea and Keith Jarrett), the revelation of Al Jarreau, the extraordinary duet between Stanley Clarke and Miroslav Vitous in 1984, another duet by Sarah Vaughan and Michel Legrand, the performances by Carlos Santana and the great Jessie Norman... Not forgetting, of course, the fabulous concerts by three of the most faithful returing artists: Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz and Sonny Rollins.
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| La Pinède Gould |
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Michel Delorme (by Karim Brichi with kind permission of Arlette and Marianne Delorme)
The history of Jazz à Juan is closely related to jazz critic Michel Delorme. Born in Paris on January 4, 1934, a former English teacher at the lycée Michelet, Mr. Delorme dedicated his entire life to jazz. Working for Jazz Hot Magazine in the early sixties, he became an intimate friend of John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter and many jazz icons. Michel Delorme: "One day, I was lucky enough to stand in front of Santana's manager (Bill Graham), who was looking for an opening act (Tanglewood August 18, 1970). Carlos chose Miles Davis immediately, adding that he also wanted him to be the headliner. The following day, I was invited to the concert by the manager who said that someone would pick me up. That "someone" was Miles himself."
In the seventies, as a CBS artistic director, he launched Santana's career in France. Before the release of "Amigos" in 1976, and thinking that the working title "Earth's Cry, Heaven's Smile" was too complicated, he suggested "Europa". Moving to Antibes in 1978/79, he became a Jazz à Juan prominent figure, and wrote reviews for local newspaper Nice-Matin. In 1991, when CBS was sold to Sony Music, they cut on big salaries, and he was invited to take his pre-retirement. From that time, he devoted himself to jazz only. Knowing Carlos' devotion for John Coltrane, he organized the July 25, 1993 tribute concert featuring San Francisco's St. John Coltrane African Orthodox Church Choir with Carlos as a guest. On July 10, 1995, Carlos dedicated "Europa" to him saying "I Love You Michel Delorme". That night, he told the audience the story about his friend, who as head of A&R at CBS Records in the seventies had given him a pile of jazz records, in particular John Coltrane and Miles Davis. This music had a profound effect on Santana's career ever since.
Mr. Delorme retired in Tunisia, where he held conferences and participated to radio and TV shows. In October 2015, he returned to the south of France due to health reasons. I had the privilege to meet him in Nice twice, listening to his stories about Miles, Carlos, and so many others. Planning to write his memories, he said: "I'm going to call it The Carlos Santana Experience". Unfortunately, he passed away on June 7, 2017 in Antibes. He is survived by his wife Arlette, his daughter Marianne, and his granddaughter Atea.
From Santana's 2019 album "Africa Speaks" insert: We dedicate this music to our beloved friend, teacher and mentor - Mr. Michel Delorme.
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| Michel Delorme, John Coltrane Jazz à Juan July 27, 1965 © Jean-Pierre Leloir |
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| Michel Delorme, Carlos Santana at CBS After Show Party |
| La Brasserie La Coupole, Paris Oct 13, 1975 © Michel Delorme Family |
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| Herbie Hancock, Michel Delorme La Grande Parade Du Jazz Nice 1983 © Christian Ducasse |
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| Carlos Santana, Michel Delorme Last Meeting |
| Jazz à Juan July 10, 2015 |
| © Michel Delorme Family |
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| Carlos Santana, Michel Delorme Last Meeting |
| Jazz à Juan July 10, 2015 |
| © Michel Delorme Family |
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| Nice-Matin June 9, 2017 |
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| Carlos Santana backstage wearing a Michel Delorme tribute T-shirt |
| Sporting Monte-Carlo, Monaco August 5, 2018 |
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Memorabilia |
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| Press Review Nice-Matin July 20, 2011 |
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| Handbill |
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The Band: Santana #67
Carlos Santana (guitar/percussion/vocals), Benny Rietveld (bass), Dennis Chambers (drums), Raul Rekow (percussion/vocals), Karl Perazzo (percussion/vocals), David K. Mathews (keyboard/vocals), Tony Lindsay (vocals), Andy Vargas (vocals), Jeff Cressman (trombone), William Ortiz (trumpet), Tommy Anthony (rhythm guitar)
Guests
Robert Randolph (1), Michael Carabello
Length
151 minutes
Exact Set List
Spark Of The Divine/Sun Ra - Back In Black - Dear Lord - Singing Winds, Crying Beasts/Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen - Oye Como Va - Maria Maria - Foo Foo - Corazon Espinado/Dennis Chambers/Benny Rietveld - Jingo - ?/Blues Jam - Trinity (1) - Duende/Boogie Woman (1) - Africa In America (1) * - Evil Ways/A Love Supreme - Sunshine Of Your Love - Smooth/Dame Tu Amor - Soul Sacrifice - Bridegroom/Into The Night/Love, Peace & Happiness/Freedom/Happy Birthday Carlos Santana/Band Introduction
Note
* 1st time played.
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