Jazz au Sommet
Crossed jazz in the heart of the Pilat Regional Natural Park
About Jazz au Sommet
Jazz au Sommet: Taking Music to New Heights in the Pilat
Since 2007, the Jazz au Sommet festival has brought jazz to life in the heart of the Pilat Regional Natural Park, nestled in the Loire mountains. What began as an initiative by local jazz enthusiasts in the Haut Pilat has grown over nearly two decades into a must-attend event for emerging jazz in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, renowned for its ambitious programming and deep local roots.
A Traveling Festival in the Great Outdoors
Jazz au Sommet stands out for its nomadic spirit: concerts are held across several Haut Pilat villages—Saint-Genest-Malifaux, Marlhes, Saint-Régis-du-Coin, and Saint-Sauveur-en-Rue—taking over diverse venues such as community halls, churches, market squares, the Jules Verne cinema, and the local library. This roaming format creates a profound connection with the Loire region, bringing villages to life with the rhythm of jazz from late summer through early autumn.
A Program Focused on Emerging Talent and Fusion
The festival rejects the clichés of elitist, urban jazz to champion music that is popular and universal. The lineup highlights emerging jazz, largely thanks to the Jazz au Sommet Competition, held every February at Le Solar in Saint-Étienne, which showcases young regional bands. Recent winners include the Grenoble-based Moustik Haterz and the Lyon quartet Felsenmeer. Concerts blend contemporary jazz, world music, and Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, and African rhythms in a spirit of fusion and openness.
Jazz and Nature: An Immersive Experience
A key feature of the festival is the fusion of music and nature. The Panoramic Jazz events are musical hikes that lead walkers to the peaks of the Pilat—at the foot of the Crêt de l'Œillon (1,364 m)—where musicians perform against the backdrop of spectacular views over the Rhône Valley and the Alps. The Jazz & Nature sessions offer a blend of yoga and music, providing a moment of deep relaxation within the vast horizons of the Pilat.
Educational Outreach and Cultural Engagement
Since its inception, the Jazz au Sommet association has developed diverse educational initiatives to introduce audiences of all ages to jazz. Workshops for children and teenagers allow them to experiment with different instruments and discover the many facets of jazz. The Jazz Môme program, aimed at schools and nurseries, continues this cultural outreach throughout the year. The Jazz au Village festival, held in June, brings musicians directly into Pilat villages, visiting schools, nursing homes, restaurants, and town squares.
Jazz au Sommet — edition 2026
The 20th edition of Jazz au Sommet takes place from August 30 to September 18, 2026, in the Parc naturel régional du Pilat, under the theme "20 years of… journeys." The program features a carte blanche for Jérôme Regard with Erik Truffaz, a solo performance by Baptiste Trotignon, the Lyon-based quartet Felsenmeer (winner of the 2026 Tremplin), street performances, a hike-concert at Crêt de Chaussitre, and two vocal jazz masterclasses.
Twenty years, and one common thread: the journey
The festival celebrates its twentieth anniversary in 2026 with the theme "20 years of… journeys." The event runs from Sunday, August 30 to Friday, September 18, with the core program taking place over the first two weekends of September in Saint-Genest-Malifaux and Marlhes.
Highlights
On September 4, the salle Jules Verne hosts a carte blanche for double bassist Jérôme Regard, featuring Erik Truffaz, preceded by a lecture reflecting on the festival's twenty-year history. On September 5, Felsenmeer, the Lyon-based quartet and winner of the 2026 Tremplin Jazz au Sommet, will open for pianist Baptiste Trotignon in a solo set. On September 6, a family hike to the Crêt de Chaussitre leads to an open-air concert by Radio Kaizman, with free admission (pay-what-you-want). The second week moves to Marlhes, Saint-Régis-du-Coin, and Saint-Sauveur-en-Rue, before a final date on September 18 at Le Solar in Saint-Étienne.
Beyond the concerts
Two vocal jazz masterclasses are scheduled for September 9 and 10 in Marlhes, and the festival continues its street performances at the Saint-Genest-Malifaux market square on Sunday mornings.
Programme Jazz au Sommet 2026
2026 Program — "20 years of… journeys"
- Sunday, August 30, 10:00 AM — Street performance with Room Bazar — market square, Saint-Genest-Malifaux
- Friday, September 4, 7:30 PM — Jazz History: 20 years at the Summit, lecture — salle Jules Verne, Saint-Genest-Malifaux
- Friday, September 4, 8:00 PM — Carte blanche to Jérôme Regard, with Erik Truffaz and the One Night Band — salle Jules Verne (24 € / 17 €)
- Saturday, September 5, 6:30 PM — The young wolves of jazz — salle Jules Verne
- Saturday, September 5, 7:30 PM — From budding to essential: Felsenmeer, 2026 Tremplin winner, followed by Baptiste Trotignon solo — salle Jules Verne
- Sunday, September 6, 10:30 AM — Street performance with Gentlemen Square — market square, Saint-Genest-Malifaux
- Sunday, September 6, 2:30 PM and 3:00 PM — Family hike (starting from Valadon) followed by a Radio Kaizman concert — Crêt de Chaussitre, Saint-Régis-du-Coin — free admission
- Wednesday, September 9, 9:30 AM — Vocal jazz masterclass, part 1 — Marlhes performance hall
- Wednesday, September 9, 8:00 PM — Laurence Bourdin trio, Projet Résonance — Marlhes performance hall (17 € / 12 €)
- Thursday, September 10, 2:00 PM — Vocal jazz masterclass, part 2 — Marlhes
- Thursday, September 10, 7:30 PM — Swing in the voice: Vocal Jazz choir and Wawa'swing — Marlhes
- Friday, September 11, 3:00 PM — New Orleans' day: La CHIPS — Saint-Sauveur-en-Rue market hall
- Friday, September 11, 6:00 PM and 8:30 PM — Djaque le notaire — Saint-Régis-du-Coin market
- Saturday, September 12, 3:30 PM — Duo Arbon-Cerles, Divagations sonores et poétiques — chapelle du Rosey, Marlhes
- Saturday, September 12, 6:30 PM and 8:00 PM — Terra Nova Quartet, followed by Jam au Sommet — Marlhes performance hall
- Sunday, September 13, 11:00 AM — Louis Mezzasoma — chapelle du Rosey, Marlhes
- Sunday, September 13, 4:00 PM — Swing at the Summit — salle Jules Verne, Saint-Genest-Malifaux
- Friday, September 18, 8:30 PM — Mandy Lerouge — Le Solar, Saint-Étienne
Highlights Jazz au Sommet 2026
- 20th edition, from August 30 to September 18, 2026, themed "20 years of… journeys"
- Carte blanche for Jérôme Regard with Erik Truffaz on September 4
- Baptiste Trotignon solo and Felsenmeer, 2026 Tremplin winner, on September 5
- Family hike and Radio Kaizman concert at Crêt de Chaussitre, free admission
- Two vocal jazz masterclasses on September 9 and 10 in Marlhes
Prices Jazz au Sommet 2026
Practical information — Jazz au Sommet
Practical Information
Access
Saint-Genest-Malifaux is located in the Loire department (42), in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, in the heart of the Pilat Regional Natural Park. The village is 25 km from Saint-Étienne and 60 km from Lyon.
- By car: From Saint-Étienne, take the D1082 then the D37 towards Saint-Genest-Malifaux (approx. 30 minutes). From Lyon, follow the A47 towards Saint-Étienne, then the D1082.
- By train: The nearest station is Saint-Étienne-Châteaucreux (TGV Paris-Saint-Étienne line, TER Lyon-Saint-Étienne line). Regional bus lines connect the station to Saint-Genest-Malifaux.
- By bus: Use the TIL (Transports Interurbains de la Loire) line from Saint-Étienne to Saint-Genest-Malifaux.
Concert Venues
Concerts take place in several Haut Pilat communes:
- Jules Verne Cinema — Saint-Genest-Malifaux (evening concerts)
- Community Hall — Marlhes
- Church — Saint-Régis-du-Coin
- Market Square — Saint-Genest-Malifaux (outdoor concerts)
- Library (Médiathèque) — Saint-Genest-Malifaux
- Chapelle de Rosey — Marlhes
- Various locations in Saint-Sauveur-en-Rue
Ticketing
2025 Prices:
- Standard rate: €18 to €23 depending on the concert
- Reduced rate (under 25s, job seekers): €10 to €14
- Some concerts and events are free
Tickets are available online via the official festival website: www.jazzausommet.com/billetterie and on HelloAsso.
Accommodation
Several accommodation options are available in the Pilat: rural gîtes, bed and breakfasts, and the special Jazz au Sommet package offered by the Pilat Tourist Office, which combines accommodation, concert tickets, and nature activities.
Contact
Association Jazz au Sommet
3, rue du Feuillage — 42660 Saint-Genest-Malifaux
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.jazzausommet.com
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Where does it take place — Jazz au Sommet
Divers lieux du Haut Pilat (Saint-Genest-Malifaux, Marlhes, Saint-Régis-du-Coin, Saint-Sauveur-en-Rue)
3, rue du Feuillage, 42660 Saint-Genest-Malifaux