Jazz en Villeneuvois

A festival born from a passion for jazz

The history of jazz in Villeneuve-sur-Lot began in 1973, when dentist Richard Roumagne founded the association Jazz 47 with a few passionate friends. American pianist Sammy Price became its honorary president. In 1982, the association opened the Cave Jazz 47, an emblematic venue that would host most of the concerts throughout the year. Building on this momentum, a first festival was born in 1984 at the request of the director of the Parc des Expositions, with a program put together in less than three months, including Dizzy Gillespie, Tania Maria, and Clark Terry.

The birth of Jazz en Villeneuvois

In 1989, the new municipal council, through the deputy mayor for culture Jean-Luc Barré, contacted the Jazz 47 association to revive the festival adventure with a promise of continuity. Thus, the Jazz en Villeneuvois festival was born. From 1989 to 1993, the greatest soloists and renowned bands performed in the large hall of the Parc des Expositions, with concerts at 9 PM, free entertainment at the Porte de Paris, and jam sessions at the Cave Jazz 47.

Exceptional artists

The first editions of the festival hosted jazz legends:

• Ray Charles
• Miles Davis
• Dee Dee Bridgewater
• George Benson
• Dizzy Gillespie
• Tania Maria
• Clark Terry

The Louisiana turn in 1994

In 1993, a delegation of sixteen people from Villeneuve visited the New Orleans Heritage and Jazz Festival. This experience marked a decisive turning point: from 1994 onwards, the festival reinvented itself by dedicating itself to the music of Louisiana and New Orleans. Two prestigious figures participated in the christening of this new format: George Wein, organizer of major festivals worldwide, and Sidney Barthélemy, mayor of New Orleans.

The festival then moved from the Parc des Expositions to the medieval Bastide of Villeneuve-sur-Lot, built between 1251 and 1266. This relocation to the historic heart of the city gave the festival a unique and intimate atmosphere.

A rich and eclectic program

Since this relaunch, Jazz en Villeneuvois has presented all the musical styles heard in Louisiana:

• Traditional New Orleans Jazz
• Modern and contemporary Jazz
• Delta and Chicago Blues
• Gospel and spiritual music
• Zydeco and Cajun music

A festive village in the heart of the Bastide

The festival transforms the Bastide into a true musical village with a central stage, bars, restaurants, and relaxation areas. The daily program extends over nearly ten hours of music, offering the public a total immersion in Louisiana sounds. Among the artists who have marked recent editions are Trudy Lynn, the Dany Doriz Septet, and Church Street.

A cultural bridge between Villeneuve and New Orleans

Jazz en Villeneuvois embodies a true transatlantic cultural bridge between Lot-et-Garonne and Louisiana. Driven by the unwavering passion of Richard Roumagne and the Jazz 47 association, the festival has perpetuated for over thirty years the spirit of sharing and conviviality inherent in New Orleans music, in the heart of a medieval bastide in southwestern France.