The annual Jazz à Juan Festival, held under the pines at Pinède Gould in Juan-les-Pins, might not be the largest jazz festival in Europe in terms of capacity – what the festival lacks in size is compensated by the stature and reputation Jazz à Juan holds within the jazz community.

Over the years the festival in the south of France has hosted current jazz stars from Gregory Porter and Diana Krall to Jamie Cullum besides more pop-orientated acts like Jamiroquai, Sting and Lionel Richie, among others. Now in its 65th edition this year's festival included international stars including Tom Jones, Seal and Morcheeba, to jazz greats Marcus Miller and French rising stars Thomas Dutronc and Maë Defays

As the cicadas emit their summer chorus and the big yachts sail proudly on the Mediterranean behind the festival stage as the sun sets over the Esterel mountains, there surely could not be a more idyllic setting for enjoying one of the most enduring and prestigious jazz festivals in the world.

Samara Joy had the pleasure of appearing on the closing days of this year’s festival. The American-born singer is one of the genre’s brightest new acts, winning two Grammy Awards in 2023.

With her versatility, Joy was able to turn the Sarah Vaughan standard I Love You into a soaring heartfelt tribute contrasting against the quiet storm of Teddy Wilson’s The Little Things That Mean So Much, which cemented her rightful place on the Juan stage.

Paying tribute to Miles Davies, one of the most influential jazz musicians, Marcus Miller was reunited with Mike Stern, Bill Evans, and Mino Cinelu, who were part of the band that appeared on the 1982 live album We Want Miles. Russell Gunn, Brett Williams, and Anwar Marshall complete the lineup. Together, they revisited music from across Davis’s career in tribute to the jazz luminary who would have been 100 years old this year.

For jazz purists the set that Miller and his band performed was nothing short of excellent, exceptional and enthralling; seeing musicians of this calibre in the spiritual home of live jazz was second to none, with Fat Time and Bitches Brew being highlights in what was a superlative set.

Rising jazz artist Thomas Dutronc brought a touch of French flair to Jazz à Juan with a headline set dedicated to jazz standards exploiting the back catalogue of Chet Baker besides paying tribute to the glory of the jazz legacy of Django Reinhardt and elegantly reinterpreting the timeless standards of the great American songbook.

His place amongst the artists that have been a major influence on Dutronc is assured, firmly placing him on the French jazz scene.

The closing night of the festival was a free event featuring a gospel concert lead by Linda Lee Hopkins. Fittingly, Hopkins has been a staple of French pop radio stations and dancefloors courtesy of being the vocalist on Bob Sinclar’s The Beat Goes On.

Her dance music credentials came to the fore on an uplifting cover of the Sounds of Blackness track, I Believe which was placed with ease alongside the more traditional gospel numbers like Amazing Grace.

Her enthusiasm was infectious, her words genuine, and her message sincere, bringing a perfect end to what had been another successful Jazz a Juan.