AUTHENTIC, MOVING, DELICATE COVERS: THE WORK OF THE GREAT ABBEY REVISITED WITH AUDACITY
FESTIVAL OPENING CONCERT / UNIQUE ENCOUNTER
Author and composer Marion Rampal is now recognized as one of the leading singers in French jazz. Winner of the Victoire du Jazz award in 2022 and finalist for the Académie du Jazz award in 2025, she continues to captivate audiences with her stage presence.
In November 2025, she released a sublime album, « Song for Abbey », which was unanimously praised by critics and crowned with a magnificent portrait in Le Monde newspaper. In it, she pays tribute to one of the greatest voices in the history of jazz, who deeply inspired her: Abbey Lincoln, singer, composer, and activist who left her mark on jazz with her unique voice.
From “Caged Bird” to “Learning How to Listen” and “The Music is the Magic,” the singer and her tight-knit quartet reinvent these marvels with fervor, gentleness, and power, in an intimately personal language at the crossroads of jazz, folk, and poetry.
Exclusively for the festival, Marion Rampal welcomes two prestigious guests for the first time: the captivating Sandra Nkaké with her generous voice, and the iconic saxophonist of the French jazz scene, Julien Lourau, who shared the stage and studio with Abbey Lincoln.
A moment suspended in time for this opening concert of the Festival’s 25th anniversary, worthy of the memorable musical encounters that the festival has been creating for sixteen years in one of the most beautiful theaters in Paris.
Marion Rampal: vocals
Matthis Pascaud: guitar
Thibaut Gomez: piano
Simon Tailleu: doublebass
Raphaël Chassin: drums
Special guests: Sandra Nkaké: vocals & Julien Lourau: saxophone
PRESS REVIEWS:
With “Song for Abbey,” Marion Rampal does full justice to the American singer’s songwriting talent. Le Monde
Marion Rampal, memory in her voice. France Musique, Au coeur du jazz
Marion Rampal celebrates Abbey Lincoln’s legacy on her new album, “Song For Abbey.” A classy collection, somewhere between jazz and folk. TSF JAZZ & MUST TSF
CHOC JAZZ MAGAZINE: Abbey Lincoln is no longer with us, but she will always be part of Marion Rampal’s world, which is also ours. A world where words are emotion and music is magic.
“Jazz album of the week” on FIP Radio
No. 1 jazz sales at FNAC