Crest Jazz Vocal

Crest Jazz Vocal: Over Forty Years of Jazz in the Drôme

Crest Jazz Vocal, renamed Crest Jazz in 2020, is an emblematic festival on the French jazz scene. Created in 1976 by the association "Festival de la Vallée de la Drôme", the festival has built a strong identity over the decades, centered around the voice in jazz and the discovery of new talents.

The Story of a Musical Adventure

It all began in 1971, when the first jazz concerts echoed in the Drôme valley. In 1976, the association was officially created with the aim of developing a cultural and musical project around jazz. Since then, the festival has continued to grow, hosting the biggest names in international jazz on its stages while remaining true to its mission of discovery and transmission.

In 2020, the association adopted a collegial governance and took the name Crest Jazz, reflecting the expansion of its activities throughout the year: concerts, singing workshops, cultural outreach in schools, and support for young artists.

A Human-Scale Festival

Crest Jazz is distinguished by its warm and friendly atmosphere. Concerts take place in various locations:

• L'Espace Soubeyran: the festival's main venue, hosting headliners
• Outdoor stages: in the gardens and squares of Crest, at the foot of the keep
• Squares and alleys of the old town: for jam sessions and free concerts

The International Vocal Jazz Competition

A true signature of the festival, the International Vocal Jazz Competition is held annually during the festival week. Open to singers from all over the world, it offers an exceptional springboard for young jazz vocal talents. Many artists now recognized on the international stage have taken their first steps here.

A Demanding and Open Program

The Crest Jazz program mixes internationally renowned artists and discoveries, classic jazz and contemporary forms, acoustic and electric. The festival hosts around forty concerts each year over a week, offering a rich and varied panorama of the current jazz scene.

Jazz au Village: The Summer Prelude

In the lead-up to the main festival, Jazz au Village offers outdoor concerts in the villages of the Drôme valley from early July to mid-July. These musical evenings in bucolic settings are an enchanting prelude to the festival and help spread jazz throughout the region.

An Association Committed Year-Round

The Crest Jazz association is not limited to the summer festival. Throughout the year, it organizes concerts at the Jazz Club from October to March, offers the École de la Voix (Voice School) for vocal training, supports young artists, and participates in the Fête de la Musique (Music Day). Two permanent employees and over 130 volunteers keep this musical adventure alive on a daily basis.