Mario Canonge, Arnaud Dolmen, improvisation and the riches of the Caribéennes de Mai

We were delighted to welcome Mario Canonge and Arnaud Dolmen for this exceptional evening to mark the opening of the 20th edition of our festival Les Caribéennes de Mai! We were delighted to see the audience turn out in force and fill the hall for this concert, which was all about sharing, transmitting and musical complicity.

This meeting was deeply symbolic for us: Mario and Arnaud both began a major part of their musical adventure here at the club. Seeing them together on our stage today, in a dialogue that was as free as it was inspired, was a particularly powerful and moving moment.

Musically, the evening was simply marvellous. Between Mario's luminous, inhabited piano and Arnaud's inventive, powerful and incredibly subtle drumming, the two artists offered a concert of immense virtuosity, driven by a rare ability to listen and an obvious connection. Standards revisited, vibrant improvisations, Caribbean beats: every exchange exuded freedom, elegance and the pleasure of playing together.

And the icing on the cake was Mario's signature piece, "Lese Pale", at the end of the set, requested by the audience!

This encounter between two major generations of Caribbean jazz deeply moved the audience, who turned out in force to celebrate this magnificent opening to the Caribéennes de Mai. It was an intense, warm and inspiring evening that we won't soon forget.

Thank you to everyone who turned out to make this opening night such a wonderful success. ✨

📸 Take a look back at the images and an extract from the concert below. And a short video clip, to relive part of the concert!