Last week, the Jazz Academy presented the winners of its 2023 list in the Paris suburbs. We invite you to (re)discover these artists through what describes them best: their music.
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On March 4, the 70th ceremony of the Jazz Academy awarded Grégory Privat, 39, pianist, composer and singer, the Prize Django Reinhardt 2023, the highest distinction of the institution. He succeeds another pianist, Leïla Olivesi, crowned the previous year. A look back at the entire list of winners counting for the year 2023, unveiled under the auspices of a new president, Jean-Michel Proust – successor to François Lacharme – and in a new location, the Belfry of Montrouge (Hauts-de-Seine ).
Grégory Privat, Django Reinhardt Prize
Born in Martinique, Grégory Privat released his first album in 2011. Since then, he has explored and broadened his horizons – acoustic, electro, singing – while maintaining the anchoring of his roots. He likes to sing in Creole, like on the suave ballad Supernova, taken from his latest album Phoenix (Buddam Jazz). We met Grégory Privat on the occasion of the release of Soley (2020). Before him, few artists of West Indian origins have won the prestigious Django Reinhardt Prize: organist Eddy Louiss in 1964, pianist Alain Jean-Marie in 1979 and singer Cécile McLorin Salvant in 2017.
Pierrick Pédron and Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Grand Prix
Brought together on a delicious duo album, alto saxophonist Pierrick Pédron and Cuban pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba will have shone in the 2023 jazz charts in France. The disc, simply titled Pedron Rubalcaba (Gazebo label), was crowned Album of the Year at the Victoires du Jazz, then Grand Prix de l’Académie du Jazz, that is to say best recording of the year in the eyes of the septuagenarian institution. Pédron, one of the most brilliant French jazz saxophonists, and Rubalcaba, legend of Cuban music, have forged a perfect osmosis on old standards like If you see my mother by Sidney Bechet than on more contemporary pieces like the hypnotic and melancholic Lawns by Carla Bley (video above).
Laurent Cugny, French Record Prize
Pianist, conductor, composer, arranger, Laurent Cugny has brought together several big names from the French jazz scene around an eclectic program (jazz covers, rock, folk, compositions) in an electric spirit. His point: jazz is a language that crosses eras and genres. His album titled Zeitgeist (“l’air du temps”), published by Frémeaux & Associés, has garnered rave reviews and awards (in addition to being distinguished by the Jazz Academy, it is a Coup de Cœur of the Académie Charles-Cros). Laurent Cugny presented his new formation at Studio 104 on Radio France in February.
Mark Priore, Evidence Prize
Pianist Mark Priore, 28, started classical piano at age 5 before delving into jazz as a teenager, branching out into groups and collaborations, from guitarist Nguyen Lê to trombonist Robinson Khoury and percussionist Prabhu Edouard… A graduate of the Conservatoire national supérieur de musique (CNSM) in Paris, he launched himself as a leader with the album Start, in trio, on the theme of origins, which earned him the Evidence Prize, spotlight on a recording to be put in the light.
Andreas Schaerer, European Musician Prize
Swiss vocalist born in 1976, rich in impressive eclecticism, Andreas Schaerer navigates between vocal techniques, from beat-boxing to lyrical via sung/spoken, scat… Among his collaborations, we can cite the saxophonist Émile Parisian and accordionist Vincent Peirani. And more recently, guitarist Kalle Kalima and bassist Tim Lefebvre for his artistic trio project Evolution (ACT Music).
Billy Valentine, Blues, Soul & Gospel Prize
With his album Billy Valentine & The Universal Truth (Flying Dutchman-Acid Jazz), septuagenarian soulman Billy Valentine pays a wonderful tribute to his peers, including Curtis Mayfield, Stevie Wonder, Gil Scot-Heron and Prince. A (too) little-known artist and a splendid recording to discover and savor.
“Zero Gravity”, documentary on Wayne Shorter, Heritage Prize
Immense composer and saxophonist of the world jazz scene, legend of the 20th century, Wayne Shorter died on March 2, 2023. Produced by Brad Pitt, the documentary in three parts Zero Gravity by Dorsay Alavi (Amazon Studios) has been in the Amazon Prime catalog since fall 2023.
Summary of the 2023 winners (winners and finalists)
Django Reinhardt Prize, French musician of the year: Gregory Privat
The finalists (alphabetical order): Laurent Coulondre, Arnaud Dolmen
Jazz Academy Grand Prize (best record of the year): Pierrick Pédron and Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Pedron Rubalcaba (Gazebo)
The finalists: Cecile McLorin Salvant with Melusine (Nonesuch), Joshua Redman with Where We Are (Blue Note)
French Record Prize (best record recorded by a French musician): Laurent Cugny, Zeitgeist (Fremeaux)
The finalists: Pierrick Pédron and Gonzalo Rubalcaba with Pedron Rubalcaba (Gazebo), Henri Texier with An Indian’s Life (Blue Label)
Evidence Prize: Mark Priore Trio, Start (Jazz Eleven)
The finalists: Clément Janinet with The Litany of the Peaks, Woodlands (BMC Records), NO(w) Beauty (Menace)
European Musician Prize: Andreas Schaerer
The finalists: Federico Casagrande, Daniel Garcia
Blues, Soul & Gospel Prize: Billy Valentine, Billy Valentine & The Universal Truth (Flying Dutchman-Acid Jazz)
The finalists: Gabriels with Angels & Queens (Atlas Artists), DK Harrell with The Right Man (Little Village)
Heritage Prize: Wayne Shorter, Zero Gravity, film by Dorsay Alavi (Amazon Studios)
The finalists: Basquiat Soundtracks, book by Vincent Bessières (Beaux-Arts & Cie), Keith Jarrett, book by Ludovic Florin (editions du Layeur)