Edition #1 Jazz à Semur – July 2021

Presentation

The first edition of the Jazz à Semur festival took place from July 15 to 18, 2021 in Semur-en-Auxois, France.

This inaugural event offered an eclectic and accessible jazz program, covering a wide range of styles—from blues and funk to Latin jazz, salsa, Afrobeat grooves, hip-hop influences, and contemporary jazz expressions.

The festival brought together both established artists and emerging regional talents, with more than ten performances spread across several emblematic venues in the town, such as the Théâtre du Rempart, the Jardins du Faubourg, and Parc Joly.

The objective was to make jazz accessible to everyone while showcasing artistic diversity in a unique historic setting.

A first poster

Created from the imagination of Franck Dujoux, a graphic designer who has been a partner alongside us from the very beginning, our logo blends the towers of the medieval town of Semur-en-Auxois with the word Jazz, the festival’s central theme.

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An already eclectic program

Thursday, July 15, 2021

As part of the city of Semur-en-Auxois Summer Thursdays program. A large salsa orchestra stemming from Franklin Lozada’s workshop. Its repertoire consists of salsa dura, as well as merengue, bolero, guajira, paso doble, and cha-cha-cha, including original compositions.

Friday, July 16, 2021

Franklin Lozada, based in France since 1987, is a Venezuelan multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, who has performed among others with the Gipsy Kings, Pibo Márquez, Africando… He will perform his original compositions and popular Venezuelan tunes. He is accompanied by three renowned musicians: Leandro Guffanti, Juan Sebastian Jimenez and Gustavo Ovalles, percussionist for Omar Sosa.

A virtuoso saxophonist, after numerous experiences within groups such as Nojazz or the Andy Emler MegaOctet, Philippe SELLAM turns to the trio format with Alfio Origlio on keyboards and Zaza Desiderio on drums. Together, they produce much more than a beautiful meeting of sounds: an intense music where transitions occur fluidly, always maintaining a highly communicative energy.

Saturday, July 17, 2021

Selil Kadora is a group of five musicians from Lyon with influences of jazz, hip-hop and house. A mix of underground and multicultural colors, it is a groove electro music with colorful atmospheres and intoxicating rhythms. The group is working on its first EP to be released in summer 2021.

A pianist with a delicate touch and a solid classical background, singer, songwriter, composer, arranger and producer of her own albums, it was through experiencing jazz in New York that Macha Gharibian created her universe, blending traces of her three cultures: Armenian from her ancestors, Parisian at heart, and New Yorker by adoption. Revelation at the Victoires du Jazz 2020 for her third album Joy Ascension. With Arnault Cuisinier on double bass and Dré Pallemaerts on drums.

Hip-hop Afro-funk, the Roforofo Jazz collective takes its name from an album by Fela Kuti, Roforofo Fight. Martin Smith, guitarist of the afro-funk group Les Frères Smith, has brought together six other musicians around a shared love of hip-hop, jazz, and afrobeat, joined by Chicago rapper MC Days (aka RacecaR), the group’s only non-French member.

Sunday, July 18, 2021


Guillaume Orti works wonders with his jazz class at the Semur music school: ten musicians perform jazz standards and original compositions.


“At the Crossroads of Voices” : A sound walk experience.

A festive brass band from Cumbia to Rock’n’Roll

4 sites for one festival

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Key highlights

  • A multi-venue festival, spreading concerts throughout the historic town.
  • A diverse musical lineup, blending traditional jazz with modern and cross-genre influences.
  • Strong involvement from local volunteers and the JAS association, founded in 2019.
  • Attendance of several hundred spectators, despite variable weather conditions.

Summary

The 2021 edition marked the successful launch of Jazz à Semur, establishing it as a new cultural event in Burgundy. With its combination of artistic quality, diversity, and local engagement, the festival quickly positioned itself as a promising meeting point for jazz lovers.