24th curtain-raiser for a festival that's a major summer event in Marseilles, celebrating open jazz in tune with the times. In this Olympic year, the Festival, which has been awarded the Cultural Olympiad label, has brought forward its dates, taking place from June 30 to July 13. It will take place in some of Marseille's most emblematic venues, including the Théâtre de la Sucrière, the Toit terrasse de la Friche la Belle de Mai, the Centre de la Vieille Charité, the Conservatoire Pierre Barbizet and, of course, the Jardins du Palais Longchamp. 

The launch party will feature Gildaa, this year's revelation on stage, and Cuban pianist Omar Sosa. We'll continue on the roof terrace of La Friche with inspired saxophonist Leon Phal and BadaBada, a dazzling combo!

Four evenings in the courtyard of the Vieille Charité, for a veritable world tour of good music. Four complementary artistic universes, with Kyle Eastwood's jazz, inviting jazzwoman Robin McKelle, Mayra Andrade and her unique itinerary of Cape Verdean songs, the virtuosity of Andalusian guitarist Vicente Amigo, and an all-star line-up of some of the most creative musicians on the scene today: Peirani, Parisien, Segal and Sissoko. Les Egarés, an invigorating fusion, offer a free and abundant landscape. 

Last but not least, the Palais Longchamp will welcome two great artists from the American scene. Meshell Ndegeocello, just crowned with a Grammy award for her album released by Blue Note, an artist who embodies powerful neosoul, and Cat Power, who takes Bob Dylan's immense repertoire and plunges it into blues and soul-tinged folk.

A festive evening with Keziah Jones, tireless ambassador of Nigerian soul, sharing the stage with two figures of the new generation, Madison Mac Ferrin, astonishing in her lyrical electrojazz, and crooner José James, whose latest album puts him at the top of his game.

Gregory Privat opens the closing evening with his trio, fresh from winning the Grand Prix de l'Académie du Jazz, blending influences from the West Indies into a music of great dimension. He precedes the international star of vocal jazz, Gregory Porter, who has crossed the boundaries of jazz and soul to touch the hearts and souls of rejuvenated audiences across the globe.

The sequence ends at Longchamp with an evening composed around poetic benevolence, a certain melancholy, the kind that leaves us in the early hours on the dance floor, disoriented and happy. Marion Rampal's tender, elegant folk, David Walters' ultramarine spirit and the story of Cuba and all its music with peerless pianist Roberto Fonseca.