Jazz à Toute Heure

Jazz à Toute Heure: Jazz in the heart of the Vallée de Chevreuse

Since 1999, Jazz à Toute Heure has been filling the villages of the Parc naturel régional de la Haute Vallée de Chevreuse, one of the most beautiful natural areas in Île-de-France, with jazz and improvised music. Founded under the patronage of drummer André Ceccarelli, a living legend of French jazz with over 3,000 albums recorded, the festival immediately set a high standard for musical excellence and conviviality.

A touring festival over five weekends

The uniqueness of Jazz à Toute Heure lies in its touring format, spread over five weekends in March and April across the communes of the Vallée de Chevreuse and beyond: Saint-Arnoult-en-Yvelines, Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse, Le Perray-en-Yvelines, Rochefort-en-Yvelines, Les Molières, Bonnelles, Bullion, and Gif-sur-Yvette. Concerts are held in intimate venues—performance halls, village churches, converted barns—that foster a rare closeness between the audience and the artists. Approximately sixty musicians are invited for a dozen concerts at each edition.

From Jazz to Blues, from Soul to Folk

While jazz remains the festival's guiding thread, Jazz à Toute Heure has progressively opened its programming to a wide range of music: blues, soul, folk, swing, world music, and French chanson. This openness, true to the very spirit of jazz which thrives on all influences, allows the festival to attract a diverse audience, from connoisseurs to curious newcomers. Over the years, the festival has hosted internationally renowned artists alongside remarkable discoveries, always with the benevolent patronage of André Ceccarelli.

A strong territorial connection

Jazz à Toute Heure is deeply rooted in the territory of the Regional Natural Park. The festival contributes to the cultural animation of rural and peri-urban communes, offering their inhabitants access to international-quality concerts without leaving the Vallée de Chevreuse. With approximately 7,000 festival-goers at each edition, Jazz à Toute Heure has become an anticipated event that marks the beginning of spring in the Yvelines.