Jazz and Improvised Music in Franche-Comté

Jazz and Improvised Music in Franche-Comté: over forty years of jazz

Created in 1982, the Jazz and Improvised Music in Franche-Comté festival (formerly Jazz in Franche-Comté) is one of the oldest jazz festivals in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region. Supported by the Aspro-Impro association based in Besançon, it has championed a demanding program around contemporary jazz and improvised music for over four decades.

A traveling festival across Franche-Comté

One of the festival's unique features is its traveling nature. Concerts are spread across several towns in the four departments of the former Franche-Comté region:

• Besançon — headquarters of the organizing association
• Pontarlier — in Haut-Doubs
• Vesoul — in Haute-Saône
• Dole — in Jura
• Arc-et-Senans — in the prestigious setting of the Saline Royale

A program between tradition and avant-garde

The festival's program blends historical jazz figures with the new voices of improvisation. This summer event, usually held in the second half of June, offers a comprehensive panorama of contemporary jazz: from free jazz to fusion jazz, from experimental improvised music to more accessible forms.

A place for encounters and creations

Beyond the concerts, the festival is a true musical creation laboratory. Invited musicians are encouraged to propose new projects, encounters between artists from different backgrounds, and original creations. This creative dimension distinguishes the festival from simple jazz programming and makes it an event recognized by improvised music lovers.

A commitment to the diffusion of jazz

The Aspro-Impro association works throughout the year to promote the diffusion of jazz and improvised music in Franche-Comté. The festival is the highlight of this action, but concerts and events are regularly organized outside the summer period. This continuity helps maintain a vibrant jazz scene in the region.