“We want to transmit this incredible music that is jazz”: The Amazing Keystone big band takes over the “Carnival of the Animals”

Chaque famille de musiciens interprète un personnage dans cette lecture revisitée du “Carnaval des animaux” de Saint-Saëns version jazz. Maxime de Bollivier/Scène de Bayssan

The 17 musicians of this big band take on this masterpiece of classical music for a playful, colorful and spirited reinterpretation, accessible to all audiences, even the youngest. A joyful moment to experience with the family, this Saturday, December 14, at 8 p.m., at the Michel-Galabru theater of the Bayssan estate.

Described as a “Great zoological fantasy”, “The Carnival of the Animals”, composed by Camille Saint-Saëns in 1886 for a Mardi Gras concert and above all, it seems, to make people laugh, is today a classic in the history of music. David Enhco, brilliant trumpeter and one of the co-founders of The Amazing Keystone big band, returns to the joyful and playful essence of this instrumental suite, which the jazz group will present this Saturday, December 14, at 8 p.m., at the Scène de Bayssan. Interview.

Who is The Amazing Keystone big band ?

The Amazing Keystone is a big jazz orchestra of 17 musicians. You should know that the big band is the largest formation that is made in jazz. It is similar, if we want to dare a comparison, to a symphony orchestra, except that we are not 100 or 120 but 17 musicians on stage. Among them, there are four trumpeters, four trombonists, five saxophonists who also play the flute and the clarinet, as well as a rhythm section with piano, double bass, guitar and drums. And in addition to all this joyful team, there is an actor who tells the story on stage with us. Not forgetting two sound and light technicians who accompany us everywhere.

What is the repertoire that you like ?

In fact, we have a very broad repertoire. We are a versatile orchestra, which does a lot of shows for children and families but also more traditional concerts. We mainly play our own programs but we also sometimes accompany other artists like Dee Dee Bridgewater, Quincy Jones, Didier Lockwood or Ibrahim Maalouf…

200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000

It is true that what made us known, two years after the creation of the orchestra, is our jazz adaptation of “Peter and the Wolf” by Prokofiev, our very first show aimed at families. This allowed us to access large venues and beautiful stages, such as the one in Béziers.

What is special about your “Carnival of the Animals” ?

We are a jazz orchestra, so our main characteristic is being able and knowing how to improvise. We don't do it throughout the concert, but we alternate between what is written on the scores and improvisational moments. It goes from music from the 20s to today's, it's very varied. “The Jazz Carnival of the Animals” was designed as a fun show to allow you to discover or rediscover jazz in all its expressions, whether you are already an expert and an adult, a neophyte or a child.

How does this translate on stage? ?

We associated each protagonist of the story with a jazz style and a group of instruments. For example, the wolf, who is the main character in our version, adopts a very energetic jazz-rock while the lion will rather be associated with a big band like Count Basie from the 40s and 50s. Many styles and facets of jazz will thus parade each time we move from one character to another to finally sweep through the entire 20th century. Be careful, this is not a lesson or an anthology but a very joyful representation of jazz. However, if parents or spectators want to extend the experience, they can find all the references to the musicians and eras in the show booklet.

Why did you choose this work? ?

Probably because many generations of children discovered classical music with “The Carnival of the Animals” or “Peter and the Wolf”. It brings everyone together. The origin goes back to 2012 when, at the request of the Jazz à Vienne festival, we created a jazz version of “Peter and the Wolf”. We played in front of more than 6,000 children and it was an extraordinary experience. So, the logical next step was to tackle the work of Saint-Saëns.

What motivates you when you choose these classics of music? ?

What motivates us is the transmission of this incredible music that is jazz. When we see little children dancing on their seats with pleasure or laughing at the antics on stage, that is our reward. Especially since there is sometimes a double level of understanding, which can make adults laugh too.

The wolf is not at the center of Saint-Saëns' libretto, why did you make him your main character??

When we played and filmed our jazz adaptation of “Peter and the Wolf”, we said to ourselves that the wolf was a little under-exploited and we made him our main character in the Carnival. His goal is to get into the animal festival and eat them all, but obviously, that's not going to happen…

“The Jazz Carnival of the Animals”, by The Amazing Keystone big band, Saturday December 14, at 8 p.m. Théâtre Michel-Galabru, Scène de Bayssan, route de Vendres. All ages 5 and up. Prices: €28; members, €22; reduced, €14, children members, €12. Information and reservations: 04 67 28 37 32; www.scenedebayssan.fr.