July 11 - 24

well...i'm taking a little holiday this week, trying to get away from the constant Paris rain! so i'm putting a few suggestions here for out of town events: If you're looking for a few days' sidetrip from Paris, why not try Gaou, a little place outside Toulon? July 11th through to the 26th, check out "Les Voix du Gaou"--a festival that includes the Buena Vista Social Club (July 24) & Peter Gabriel (July 25)...a combination you just don't see everyday! Call them for reservations 04.94.74.77.79.


Or go all-out and head south for a solid two weeks...first to Antibes for the Jazz A Juan (July 13-22) with a line-up that includes Norah Jones, Keith Jarrett, and the bluesman Lucky Peterson (04.97.23.11.11 for info) and second for the Nice Jazz Fest (until July 25) featuring its usual wild melange of jazz/funk/soul headliners--this year, Sly Stone AND Marcus Miller on July 19, Dee Dee Bridgewater (July23)--normally i'm not a rabid DD fan, but her current Mali-inspired album has me! and of course she'll be singing tracks from this album, accompanied by several of the musicians.

Meanwhile in Paris...on Thursday, head to the New Morning for ZUCO 103, a Dutch trio with Brazilian influences, should be a lot of fun (23.10€, 7-9 rue des Petites-Ecuries, metro Château d'Eau, call 01.45.23.51.41 for reservations/details). later, if the weather's half-decent, head out to the Parc Floral (out at Vincennes, see previous listings for more details) as the Paris Jazz Fest continues this weekend.

And for Bastille Day, July 14th, it's Caravan Palace: gypsy jazz fans should gather at La Villette's Cabaret Sauvage (a gorgeous old guinguette dance hall rebuilt by the industrial canal) starting at 8pm for a whole soiree of music...and a great dancefloor, too. (22 euros, metro Porte de la Villette, 01.42.09.03.09 for tix/info).