Festival Ateliers Jazz de Meslay-Grez
The essential jazz event in southern Mayenne
About Ateliers Jazz Meslay-Grez
A Jazz Festival Rooted in Mayenne Since 1998
Created in 1998 in Meslay-du-Maine, the Festival Ateliers Jazz de Meslay-Grez has become, over the years, a major event in the cultural calendar of Mayenne and, more broadly, of the jazz scene in the Pays de la Loire region. Every year in May, it offers a full week of events centered around jazz in all its forms: concerts, educational workshops, artist encounters, film screenings, and musical entertainment.
A Program Between Headliners and Discoveries
The festival's strength lies in its ability to combine internationally renowned artists with emerging talents. Over the years, audiences have had the pleasure of hearing musicians such as Rhoda Scott, Erik Truffaz, Brad Mehldau, China Moses, Youn Sun Nah, Jacky Terrasson, and Richard Galliano. At the same time, the program highlights lesser-known but equally talented ensembles, offering the public opportunities for genuine musical discoveries. The opening acts are often entrusted to the jazz workshops of the region's music schools, thus contributing to the transmission and training of young musicians.
A Traveling Festival Across Several Towns
The Festival Ateliers Jazz de Meslay-Grez is not confined to a single town. Concerts and events are spread across several locations in the Pays de Meslay-Grez, notably Meslay-du-Maine, Villiers-Charlemagne, Saint-Denis-du-Maine, Bannes, and Bouère. This traveling dimension allows it to reach a rural territory and connect with a diverse audience. The concert venues vary between the sociocultural hall in Meslay-du-Maine, the Espace Corail in Villiers-Charlemagne, and other suitable spaces in partner towns.
Activities Beyond the Concerts
The festival is not limited to just concerts. Each edition offers an educational component with music practice workshops open to amateurs and students from music schools. Film screenings in partnership with Cinéville in Laval enrich the program, as do record fairs, music conferences, and street performances. This diversity of activities helps make jazz accessible to all audiences, including those unfamiliar with this musical genre.
A Commitment to Accessibility
True to its founding values, the festival offers a majority of free concerts each year to allow as many people as possible to discover jazz. In 2025, six out of nine concerts were free; in 2026, eight out of eleven concerts are free. Ticket prices for paid concerts remain moderate, and discounts are offered for young people aged 16 to 26. Children under 16 benefit from free admission to all concerts. A multi-concert pass is also available for the most dedicated festival-goers.
Strong Territorial Roots
Supported by the association Festival des Ateliers Jazz de Meslay-Grez, the festival benefits from the support of the community of communes of Pays de Meslay-Grez, the department of Mayenne, and the Region Pays de la Loire. It is fully integrated into the cultural dynamic of southern Mayenne, contributing to the attractiveness and influence of this rural territory. The economic benefits for local businesses, accommodation providers, and restaurants highlight the importance of this event for the life of the region.
Ateliers Jazz Meslay-Grez — edition 2026
29th edition of the Festival Ateliers Jazz de Meslay-Grez, from May 9 to 16, 2026. Eleven concerts, eight of which are free, spread across three municipalities in southern Mayenne: Meslay-du-Maine, Bannes/Bouère, and Villiers-Charlemagne. International headliner with the Richard Galliano Trio (New Viaggio) on Tuesday, May 12, framed by the Cuban Jazz Syndicate at the opening and Jessie Lee & The Alchemists at the closing. Program enriched by a film screening about Billie Holiday, a record fair, and educational concerts (Festi Baby Jazz, EHPAD, college).
29th edition: May 9 to 16, 2026
The 29th edition of the Festival Ateliers Jazz de Meslay-Grez took place from May 9 to 16, 2026, with 11 concerts, 8 of which were free, spread across four municipalities of Pays de Meslay-Grez: Meslay-du-Maine (salle socioculturelle), Bannes, Bouère, and Villiers-Charlemagne (Espace Corail).
Headliners
- Richard Galliano Trio (New Viaggio) — Tuesday, May 12 at 8:30 PM, salle socioculturelle in Meslay-du-Maine. The accordionist, accompanied by Adrien Moignard (guitar) and Philippe Aerts (double bass), revisits his mythical album Viaggio (1993).
- Cuban Jazz Syndicate — Saturday, May 9 at 8:30 PM for the opening. Cuban formation led by drummer Michael Olivera, a fusion of Caribbean rhythms, Yoruba culture, and jazz.
- Jessie Lee & The Alchemists — Saturday, May 16 at 8:30 PM for the closing. Multi-award-winning French blues-rock band, centered around the album Legacy (2025).
Free program and discoveries
Eight out of eleven concerts were free to access: Le Taraf Al Kasbah (gypsy jazz and oriental music), Manon Mullener Quintet (young Swiss jazz scene), Matthieu Donarier Quartet (tribute to Steve Lacy with Sophia Domancich), MUE (refined jazz-rock), and Lazy Buddies (Rennes blues). The opening acts were entrusted to the jazz workshops of regional music schools.
Educational component and activities
The 2026 edition continued its educational mission: interventions by Le Taraf Al Kasbah at Collège Maurice Genevoix on Monday, May 11, at Festi Baby Jazz and in EHPAD on Tuesday, May 12. The program also offered a record fair on Thursday, May 14 afternoon at Espace Corail in Villiers-Charlemagne and a film screening about Billie Holiday (Une affaire d'État) at Cinéville de Laval on Monday, May 11 at 8:00 PM.
Programme Ateliers Jazz Meslay-Grez 2026
Saturday, May 9, 2026
- 8:30 PM — Cuban Jazz Syndicate · Salle socioculturelle, Meslay-du-Maine (16 €). Cuban formation led by Michael Olivera (drums, direction), with Pepe Rivero (piano), Inoidel Gonzalez (tenor saxophone), Carlos Sarduy (trumpet), Alejandra López (double bass), and Yuvisney Aguilar (percussion). Fusion of Caribbean rhythms, Yoruba culture, and jazz.
Sunday, May 10, 2026
- 3:00 PM — Le Taraf Al Kasbah · Bannes (free). Collective born from Claude Renon-Lévy's solo project (double bass), with Etienne Lamaison (clarinet), Gori Grigoryan (violin), Stéphane Robin (guitar), Erwan Bourcier (accordion), and Nicolas Marchand (percussion). Compositions inspired by oriental and Balkan music.
Monday, May 11, 2026
- All Day — Le Taraf Al Kasbah · Collège Maurice Genevoix, Meslay-du-Maine (schoolchildren, reserved).
- 8:00 PM — Film screening Billie Holiday, une affaire d'État · Cinéville, Laval (Cinéville rate).
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
- 10:00 AM — Le Taraf Al Kasbah · Festi Baby Jazz, Meslay-du-Maine (reserved).
- 2:30 PM — Le Taraf Al Kasbah · Seniors Concert EHPAD, Meslay-du-Maine (reserved).
- 8:30 PM — Richard Galliano Trio (New Viaggio) · Salle socioculturelle, Meslay-du-Maine (28 €). Richard Galliano (accordion), Adrien Moignard (guitar), Philippe Aerts (double bass). Reissue of the mythical album Viaggio (1993) — poetry, tango, and jazz.
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
- 8:30 PM — Manon Mullener Quintet · Salle socioculturelle, Meslay-du-Maine (free). Manon Mullener (piano), Lucien Mullener (drums), Rodrigo Aravena (bass), Mario Alonso (saxophone), Victor Decamp (trombone). Album Stories — young Swiss jazz scene, Cuban influences.
Thursday, May 14, 2026
- 2:00 PM-6:00 PM — Record Fair · Espace Corail, Villiers-Charlemagne (free entry).
- 3:00 PM — Lazy Buddies · Bouère (free). Rennes-based group founded in 2005, blues and American black music from the 1950s (Chicago blues, swing, rock'n'roll). Soazig Lebreton (vocals), Cyril Durand (drums), Guillaume Rousseau (guitar), Dom Genouel (harmonica), Nicolas Fleurance (bass).
- 8:30 PM — Matthieu Donarier Quartet · Salle socioculturelle, Meslay-du-Maine (free). Matthieu Donarier (saxophones, compositions), Sophia Domancich (piano), Stéphane Kereki (double bass), Simon Goubert (drums). Album Coastline, tribute to Steve Lacy.
Friday, May 15, 2026
- 8:30 PM — MUE · Salle socioculturelle, Meslay-du-Maine (free). French sextet: Sylvain Jamault (guitar, vocals, compositions), Etienne Callac (bass), Louise Gravez (piano), Léo Laurent (vibraphone), Nicolas Hild (drums), Alix Caillebot (guitar). Refined jazz-rock, in the vein of the album Rencontres (2023).
Saturday, May 16, 2026
- 8:30 PM — Jessie Lee & The Alchemists · Salle socioculturelle, Meslay-du-Maine (16 €). Jessie Lee (vocals, guitar), Alexis Didier (guitar, compositions), Laurent Cokelaere (bass), Stéphane Minana (drums), Laurian Daire (organ). Album Legacy (2025) — blues, rock, soul, and gospel.
Highlights Ateliers Jazz Meslay-Grez 2026
- 29th anniversary edition, on the eve of the festival's 30th year
- Richard Galliano Trio as headliner (New Viaggio)
- Cuban Jazz Syndicate for the opening, Jessie Lee & The Alchemists for the closing
- 8 free concerts out of 11 spread across 4 municipalities
- Educational component: Festi Baby Jazz, college and EHPAD interventions
- Record fair and film screening about Billie Holiday
Prices Ateliers Jazz Meslay-Grez 2026
Practical information — Ateliers Jazz Meslay-Grez
Access
Meslay-du-Maine is located in the south of the Mayenne department (53), in the Pays de la Loire region, 30 km south of Laval and 50 km north of Château-Gontier.
- By car: From Laval, take the D21 or N162 towards Sablé-sur-Sarthe, exit Meslay-du-Maine (approx. 30 minutes). From Le Mans, take the A81 exit Vaiges then the D152 (approx. 1 hour). Free parking in the town center.
- By train: Nearest station in Laval (TGV from Paris-Montparnasse in 1h20). TER connections to Meslay-du-Maine or shuttle services during the festival period.
Concert Venues
Concerts take place in several towns in the Pays de Meslay-Grez:
- Sociocultural hall of Meslay-du-Maine: paid and free concerts, educational workshops.
- Espace Corail in Villiers-Charlemagne: evening concerts.
- Other venues: towns of Bannes, Bouère, and Saint-Denis-du-Maine depending on the editions.
Ticketing
Tickets for paid concerts are available online on HelloAsso and on the official festival website. Free concerts are open access subject to availability.
Indicative Prices (2026 Edition)
- Full price: €16 per paid concert
- Reduced price (16-26 years): €10 per concert
- Under 16s: free (upon presentation of proof)
- 3-concert pass: €52 (full price)
Food & Drink
A refreshment bar and food stalls are available at the concert venues. Restaurants and local shops are also available in Meslay-du-Maine and surrounding towns.
Accommodation
Several gîtes, bed and breakfasts, and accommodations are available in Meslay-du-Maine and southern Mayenne. Consult the Tourist Office of Sud Mayenne for availability and reservations.
Contact
Email: [email protected]
Address: 1 voie de la Guiternière, 53170 Meslay-du-Maine
Website: www.festivaljazz-meslay.com
Accessibility
For any accessibility requests or special arrangements, please contact the association at [email protected].
Festival-goer photos
No photo yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Vous avez repéré une erreur ou une information manquante ?
Aidez-nous à garder cette fiche à jour. Toute proposition est relue par notre équipe avant publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No review yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community
Where does it take place — Ateliers Jazz Meslay-Grez
Salle socioculturelle de Meslay-du-Maine
1 voie de la Guiternière, 53170 Meslay-du-Maine