Jazz'Alp
Jazz Festival of Alpe du Grand Serre
About Jazz'Alp
Jazz'Alp is a jazz festival nestled in the heart of the Alps, at the Alpe du Grand Serre resort in Isère. Created in 2017 by the association Courants d'Arts, it offers a week of concerts each March, blending renowned professional artists with high-level amateur musicians. In the Chardon Bleu hall, at the center of the resort, sixteen concerts over eight evenings celebrate jazz in all its forms: swing, gypsy jazz, world jazz, gospel, and improvised music, in a warm and friendly atmosphere between Matheysine and Oisans.
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A Jazz Festival at the Top of the Alps
Nestled at an altitude of 1,368 meters in the resort of Alpe du Grand Serre, between the Taillefer and Oisans massifs, the Jazz'Alp festival is a unique musical event. Each year in March, this small family-friendly resort in Isère transforms into a must-visit jazz stage, offering festival-goers an exceptional musical experience in a spectacular mountain setting.
An Adventure Born of Passion
The story of Jazz'Alp began in 2017 when three music-loving retirees—Gérard Duchamp, Daniel Planes, and Henri Guetaz—noticed that jazz was very poorly represented in Matheysine and southern Isère. Driven by their enthusiasm and the support of the association Courants d'Arts, they created a festival that met a real public demand and offered local amateur and professional musicians a space for expression and meeting.
A Rich and Eclectic Program
Jazz'Alp unfolds over a full week with sixteen concerts spread over eight evenings. The festival's original format offers two acts each evening: a first part by high-level amateur musicians from the regional scene, followed by a concert by professional artists from all over France and abroad. This unique formula allows for encounters between generations of musicians and between different jazz styles.
Over the years, the program has featured groups playing swing, gypsy jazz, world jazz, gospel, ska-jazz, and improvised music. Open jam sessions complement the program, allowing musicians to connect in a spirit of sharing and conviviality.
The Chardon Bleu Hall: An Intimate Venue
All concerts are held in the Chardon Bleu hall, a multi-purpose venue located in the heart of the resort. This intimate space, with a capacity of 300 to 400 people, creates a unique closeness between artists and the audience, fostering authentic exchanges and intense musical moments. Doors open at 7:30 PM, and concerts begin at 8:30 PM.
A Committed and Accessible Festival
True to its philosophy, Jazz'Alp maintains intentionally affordable prices so that everyone can discover jazz. The Courants d'Arts association, chaired by Francis Waelterlé, relies on about thirty dedicated volunteers who manage reception, catering, and the bar. The festival benefits from the support of the municipality of Alpe-du-Grand-Serre, the Matheysine Community of Communes, the Department of Isère, and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region.
Beyond the evening concerts, Jazz'Alp also offers an educational concert for schoolchildren, an initiative that demonstrates the festival's commitment to introducing younger generations to jazz music and passing on this passion to new generations.
Jazz'Alp — edition 2026
10th anniversary edition of the Jazz'Alp festival in Alpe du Grand Serre. From March 6 to 14, 2026, the Chardon Bleu hall will host major artists such as Alfio Origlio, Emmanuel Bex, Céline Bonacina, Electravoice, Chien Lune, and Petite Lucette to celebrate a decade of jazz in the mountains.
10th Edition: A Decade of Jazz at Altitude
The Jazz'Alp festival celebrates a symbolic milestone with its 10th edition, which will take place from Friday, March 6 to Saturday, March 14, 2026, in the Chardon Bleu hall at Alpe du Grand Serre. To mark this anniversary, the program brings together major figures of French jazz alongside promising young talents.
The opening night on Friday, March 6 will feature the Alfio Origlio trio, a virtuoso pianist accompanied by Rémi Vignolo and Andy Barron, preceded in the first part by Merci Dorien. On Saturday, March 7, the quartet of Emmanuel Bex, a key figure of the Hammond organ in French jazz, will be joined by saxophonist Céline Bonacina, after a first part by Wanted.
The week promises other memorable evenings with Electravoice, a group exploring the intersections of jazz and electronic music, and Nomadic Whispers, a project with wandering sounds. On Friday, March 13, the Chien Lune trio—Damien Sabatier (saxophones), Pascal Berne (double bass), and Elvire Jouve (drums, synthesizer)—will offer a lively and unique reinterpretation of the work of Moondog, an iconoclastic American composer blending Native American music, jazz, and classical music. In the first part, ERMYTH, a quintet from a music school workshop, will present its compositions with eclectic metrics.
The closing night on Saturday, March 14 will feature Petite Lucette, a world jazz and free improvisation quintet comprising Clémentine Ristord (saxophones), Sylvain Fouché (piano, keyboards), Pierre-Antoine Despatures (double bass), Manon Saillard (vibraphone), and Mathieu Imbert (drums). In the first part, Le Chat qui Grince, a regular sextet from Isère, will celebrate three decades of French jazz creation.
Pianist Fabrice Tarel will complete this anniversary program. As every year, jam sessions led by Tarik Hassan (double bass) and Lionel Grivet (drums) will punctuate the week, and an educational concert will be offered to schoolchildren.
Programme Jazz'Alp 2026
2026 Program
- Friday, March 6: Merci Dorien (1st part) + Alfio Origlio Trio (Alfio Origlio, Rémi Vignolo, Andy Barron)
- Saturday, March 7: Wanted (1st part) + Emmanuel Bex Quartet with Céline Bonacina
- Sunday, March 8: Amateur first part + Electravoice
- Monday, March 9: Amateur first part + Nomadic Whispers
- Tuesday, March 10: Open jam session led by Tarik Hassan and Lionel Grivet
- Wednesday, March 11: Amateur first part + Fabrice Tarel
- Thursday, March 12: Evening to be confirmed
- Friday, March 13: ERMYTH (1st part) + Chien Lune Trio (Damien Sabatier, Pascal Berne, Elvire Jouve)
- Saturday, March 14: Le Chat qui Grince (1st part) + Petite Lucette (Clémentine Ristord, Sylvain Fouché, Pierre-Antoine Despatures, Manon Saillard, Mathieu Imbert)
Highlights Jazz'Alp 2026
- 10th anniversary edition of the festival
- Alfio Origlio Trio at the opening night
- Emmanuel Bex Quartet with Céline Bonacina
- Chien Lune Trio: tribute to Moondog
- Petite Lucette: world jazz and free improvisation
- Electravoice and Nomadic Whispers
- Fabrice Tarel in concert
- Le Chat qui Grince: 30 years of Isère jazz
- Jam sessions and educational concert for schoolchildren
Prices Jazz'Alp 2026
Practical information — Jazz'Alp
Practical Information
Access
Alpe du Grand Serre is located in the municipality of La Morte, in the Isère department (38), in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. The resort is situated between the Taillefer and Oisans massifs, in Matheysine.
- By car: From Grenoble (65 km, approx. 1h15), take the N85 towards La Mure, then follow the D529 towards Alpe du Grand Serre. From Lyon (180 km), take the A48 then the N85.
- By bus: TransIsère bus line from La Mure. Information on the transport network of the Department of Isère.
- By train: Nearest station in Grenoble. Bus connections to La Mure then Alpe du Grand Serre.
Concert Venue
All concerts take place at the Chardon Bleu hall, in the center of the Alpe du Grand Serre resort. Doors open at 7:30 PM, and the first act begins at 8:30 PM.
Ticketing and Prices
Prices are intentionally affordable to allow as many people as possible to discover jazz:
- Full price: €18 per evening
- Reduced price: €9 (under 18s, students, job seekers, members)
- Price for 3+ concerts: €15 per evening
- Festival Pass (8 evenings): €95
- Free for children under 10 years old
Tickets are available:
- Online at HelloAsso (secure payment)
- In advance at Alpe du Grand Serre at Bistrot Chez Noute
- On the evening of the concert, subject to availability
Tickets are sent by email or SMS, or kept at the reception. Seats must be collected 20 minutes before the concert starts.
Accommodation
Alpe du Grand Serre is a family-friendly ski resort offering numerous accommodation options:
- Hotels, tourist residences, and chalets
- Guesthouses and seasonal rentals
- Information from the Matheysine Tourist Office: www.matheysine-tourisme.com
Food and Drink
A bar and light catering are provided by the association's volunteers at the festival venue. Restaurants and shops in the resort are also open during the festival period.
Contact
- Phone: 06 72 99 31 77
- Website: www.jazzalp.fr
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Travel to this festival
Book your train or bus to reach Jazz'Alp at the best price.
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Where does it take place — Jazz'Alp
Salle du Chardon Bleu
Salle du Chardon Bleu, Route de La Mure, 38350 L'Alpe-du-Grand-Serre