The Michel Fernandez Quintet has established itself as one of the most striking ensembles on the contemporary French jazz scene, driven by a powerful, free, and intensely expressive aesthetic. With their latest album Live au Hot Club de Lyon, awarded “Choc Jazz” by Jazz Magazine (07/2025), the quintet confirms its unique musical identity, blending hard bop tradition with avant-garde exploration.
An Evening at the Alliance Française de Lyon
The Alliance Française de Lyon will host the Michel Fernandez concert on May 12 at 8:00 PM.
Admission is free, subject to availability, offering audiences a rare opportunity to experience this project in an intimate and privileged setting.
Music of Trance, Freedom, and Fire
Rooted in a direct lineage with the great figures of modal and spiritual jazz, the project follows in the footsteps of musicians such as John Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders, Sonny Rollins, Archie Shepp, and Don Cherry.
The music unfolds a dense and hypnotic universe, where the rhythm section—deeply Coltrane-inspired in its drive—supports a tenor saxophone with a broad, powerful tone and an almost theatrical vibrato. The eight compositions explore uncompromising modal jazz, volcanic and at times trance-like, where collective energy becomes the main driving force.
More than just a concert, this performance offers a true sonic journey: a free, blazing, and organic jazz experience, where improvisation and collective power intertwine to create an immersive atmosphere, balancing tension, lyricism, and trance.
DETAILS
Michel Fernandez Quintet
When: May 12, 8:00 PM
Where: Espace Culturel de l’Alliance Française de Lyon – 11 Rue Pierre Bourdan – Lyon 3rd district
Information: info@aflyon.org
