Photo : Balkis
Free jazz in France | Lecture by Vincent Cotro | French Jazz Series
The Médiathèque musicale de Paris - Christiane Eda-Pierre, the Conservatoire à rayonnement régional de Paris - Ida Rubinstein, and the Conservatoire du 11e - Charles Munch are teaming up to offer a series of six meetings on French jazz, from November 2026 to April 2027. Free jazz will be in the spotlight during this second meeting!
Médiathèque musicale de Paris – Christiane Eda-Pierre
About
The lecture is led by Vincent Cotro, a professor of musicology specializing in jazz at the University of Tours, and a columnist for Jazz Magazine/Jazzman.
He is the author of Chants libres, le free jazz en France 1960-1975, published in 2004 by Outre-mesure, Contrepoints. This work is the result of extensive historical and musicological research that provides a better understanding of the changes that have occurred in jazz and improvised music in France since the 1960s. The European socio-historical context helps to identify the deep desire of an entire generation of musicians to free themselves from the tutelage of Black American jazz. Jef Gilson, Jean-Louis Chautemps, and François Tusques were among the first to attempt this libertarian adventure, which would culminate, not without excesses or impasses, at the turn of the 1970s. This led to the emergence of collectives (Dharma, Perception, Cohelmec) and, with them, the search for a more structured affirmation of freedom.
Our take on this event
Forget standard jazz tropes and dive into the wild, rebellious history of the French underground scene during the late sixties. An expert guides you through the explosive shift when local musicians finally decided to break all the rules and forge their own avant-garde identity.
On Thursday, December 10, 2026, the Médiathèque musicale de Paris – Christiane Eda-Pierre hosts a lecture by Vincent Cotro focused on the development of free jazz in France. As a specialist in jazz musicology, Cotro examines the major shifts that redefined the French improvisational scene between 1960 and 1975. By studying the socio-historical context of the era, the session highlights how artists like François Tusques and Jef Gilson sought to establish a unique musical identity independent of American influences. Admission is free, making this an ideal opportunity for music enthusiasts to delve into the history of French jazz collectives and their creative evolution.
Vincent Cotro, a professor of musicology at the University of Tours and a long-time contributor to Jazz Magazine, leads this presentation on December 10, 2026, from 19:00 to 21:00. Based on his historical research published in his book regarding French free jazz, the lecture offers a deep dive into the artistic and social transformations that occurred in the music scene from 1960 to 1975.
The talk focuses on how a generation of musicians aimed to break free from traditional jazz structures, leading to the formation of iconic collectives such as Dharma, Perception, and Cohelmec. You will learn about the challenges, radical choices, and creative impasses that defined this era, exploring how these artists sought to structure their newfound freedom throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s.
The event takes place at the Médiathèque musicale de Paris – Christiane Eda-Pierre, located at 8 porte Saint Eustache in the 1st arrondissement. Entry is free to the public, providing an insightful look into the pivotal period that reshaped the landscape of improvised music in France.
