Jazz à Domergue

Villa Domergue: An Art Deco Gem for Jazz

Jazz à Domergue takes place every summer in the gardens of Villa Domergue, an architectural Art Deco gem from the 1930s, located on the hills of the Californie district in Cannes. This villa, built by the painter Jean-Gabriel Domergue, nicknamed 'the inventor of the pin-up', and his sculptor wife Odette Maugendre, is surrounded by a lush Mediterranean garden with a panoramic view of the Lérins Islands and the bay of Cannes. Classified as a historic monument, the villa now belongs to the City of Cannes.

An Intimate Festival Under the Stars

The format of Jazz à Domergue is resolutely intimate: four evenings of concerts in August, in a garden that can accommodate a few hundred spectators. The concerts begin at 9 PM, during the gentle Cannes summer evenings, with the Mediterranean sparkling below. This hushed atmosphere, a stark contrast to large open-air festivals, allows for exceptional proximity between artists and the audience, fostering moments of musical grace.

A Demanding and Eclectic Jazz Program

Supported by the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes, Jazz à Domergue offers a high-caliber jazz program, blending established artists from the French and international scene with emerging talents. The festival explores all facets of jazz: vocal jazz, contemporary jazz, gypsy jazz, jazz fusion, and opens up to improvised music and crossovers with classical, blues, and world music.

Recent Artists and Editions

Over the years, Jazz à Domergue has hosted leading artists. The 2024 edition notably featured Raphaël Imbert, a self-taught saxophonist exploring the links between jazz and sacred music, Karol Beffa, pianist and composer, Éric Seva, Laurent Coulondre and his Reversible Trio, and Marjorie Barnes with the Equinox quintet. The 2025 edition continued this tradition of excellence with the Erik Truffaz Quartet, a Swiss trumpeter blending jazz and electro, Marion Rampal, a jazz and blues singer, and Anne Paceo, a jazz drummer and composer.

A Little-Known Jewel of the Côte d'Azur Jazz Scene

Jazz à Domergue remains an exclusive festival, less known than the Nice Jazz Festival or Jazz à Juan, but appreciated by connoisseurs for the quality of its programming, the unique beauty of its location, and the intimacy of its concerts. It is part of the rich jazz tradition of the Côte d'Azur and contributes to the cultural radiance of Cannes during the summer.