Malia opening for Jazz Métis

It was with her velvety voice that Malia opened the 3rd edition of Jazz Métis on Thursday evening, offering the Tarbes audience a jazz that doesn't hesitate to draw creative inspiration from other genres. A confluence of cultures that perfectly reflects Malia, born in Malawi before growing up in England. This genetic and cultural mix nourishes her approach to jazz and the repertoire of Nina Simone, which she revisits in her latest album, "Black Orchid." The result is splendid! "My skin is black, my arms are long, my hair is woolly, my back is strong, strong enough to take the pain, inflicted again and again." On the Parvis stage, we find all the anger of "Four Women," composed by Nina Simone, a song fighting against racial inequality and all injustices, interpreted with intensity and tenderness by Malia. And even if her accompaniment on piano, drums, and double bass is somewhat uneven, we are swept away by this delightful blend of sensuality, tenderness, and pain, always authentic. An hour and a half concert and three encores bring the grande dame's repertoire back to life with some great standards like a languid "My Baby Don't Care," a superb "I Love You Porgy" by Gershwin, and pieces we take pleasure in rediscovering, such as "Baltimore." A wonderful opening night for the 2012 Jazz Métis festival, which resonates as an invitation to the four concerts that will follow, from Omar Sosa on Saturday evening to Emel Mathlouthi next Friday.