Opening concert: Cécile McLorin Salvant
The first lady of vocal jazz comes to Kongsberg and the festival's opening concert with both Grammy awards and nominations in her bag.
The first lady of vocal jazz comes to Kongsberg with both Grammy awards and nominations in her bag.
We don't have to think much anymore about who will take over the vocal throne after vocalists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Dee Dee Bridgwater. Cécile McLorin Salvant has already taken the throne with the greatest naturalness. On Wednesday 3 July, she plays the festival's opening concert.
Within a few years, Cécile Mclorin Salvant has conquered a large and international audience. Her records are unanimously positively received, she has won several Grammy awards and is always at the top when various favorite lists are published at the end of the year. Thus, she was only overtaken by Joshua Redman in the vote for record of the year i Jazzwise autumn 2023. She has won the Grammy award for best vocal jazz three times, and for the Grammy awards in 2024 she has been nominated again in the same category.
Melusine was this year's album from Salvant, and it is mainly material from this album that she will perform at the Kongsberg Jazz Festival. Mélusine is a mythical figure from ancient European folklore. From the waist down, she was portrayed as half snake or fish. She had a deal with her husband that he wouldn't spy on her in the bathroom, but when he did, she turned into a dragon! Many songs can be spun from such a story, and Cécile McClorin Salvant is precisely the vocalist who can breathe life and epic weight into this old legend with her newly composed songs. She performs them with her usual personality and genuine empathy.
Her versatile background, with roots in both American and European – especially French – music culture, contributes to making her concerts special and personal and great musical experiences.
Cécile McLorin Salvant – vocals
Sullivan Fortner – piano
Yasushi Nakamura – double bass
Kyle Poole – drums
The doors open at 17:00 p.m
Concert start at 18:00
