June 27 - July 3

The weather isn't doing us any favours these days, but let's hope the temperature warms up soon because there's some great outdoor programming this week! Above, a picnic painting by Picasso to inspire you. Don't miss the really interesting bassist Avishai Cohen, playing Thursday lunch on the La Defense Esplanade, the entertaining Beat Assailant for Friday lunch (both are noon to 2pm, free) and the incomparable Ahmad Jamal on piano, Sunday night (8pm on the Esplanade, also free)

Also on Sunday, during the daytime, there's the kick-off event for the FESTIVAL MUSIQUES & JARDINS...outdoor events in different small parks of the 18th arrondissement (yes, my home turf!) The fantastic programming last year is being followed-up by an equally-good line-up now, including Angelique Ionatos & Michael Nick on Sunday at 4pm. (Parc de la Turlure, rue Chevalier de la barre & rue de la Bonne, near metro Lamarck-Caulaincourt.)

This weekend also: the Django Reinhardt Festival out in Samois-sur-Seine (get all the info 08.91.70.05.53 or here) Avishai Cohen on Friday night, Patrick Saussois & Alma Sinti on Saturday night. And a brief historic note...the festival takes place here because Reinhardt spent his last years in Samois, mostly fishing & playing billiards on the island when he wasn't playing clubs in Paris. So if the weather's good, you might want to make a day of it.

AND if that weren't enough...there's always the Paris Jazz Fest, shows start at 3pm Sat & Sun, this weekend the line-up features new faces on the scene including the Sophie Alour Quartet.

In the usual joints around town, you can find Jobic Le Masson at Autour de Midi (starts at 9pm), Pierre Sibille quintet at the Bilboquet tonight & tomorrow night, and Magic Slim et The Teardrops on Monday & Tuesday night at the Petit Journal Saint-Michel. (love the little French "et" in their name there...)

And a little something to plan ahead: the Jazz a Vienne festival gets going on the 28th. Worth the trip out towards Lyon for this festival, because many of the concerts take place in the largest surviving Roman amphitheatre in Europe...just think about those accoustics! Archie Shepp plays the closing show the 13th (tix 08.92.70.20.07)