Pianist Grégory Privat named best musician of the year by the Jazz Academy

The pianist-composer-singer Grégory Privat, aged 39, was awarded the 2023 Django-Reinhardt prize, the highest distinction awarded by the Jazz Academy, during a ceremony organized Monday evening in Montrouge (Hauts- de-Seine).

After the organist Eddy Louiss in 1964, the pianist Alain Jean-Marie in 1979 and the singer Cécile McLorin Salvant in 2017, Grégory Privat is the fourth West Indian musician, out of 71 laureates, to receive this distinction.

, a record,

told AFP.

combining jazz, pop and Creole songs.

The Django-Reinhardt prize is the most prestigious of an Academy created in 1954. It rewards a French jazz musician who has distinguished himself over the past year, following the vote of a college of 81 members this year (journalists, writers, photographers, musicologists, programmers, presenters, club owners, etc.).

Also read: The 10 best jazz albums in 2023

“Modernize, rejuvenate and feminize”

During an evening held for the first time under the presidency of Jean-Michel Proust, who succeeded François Lacharme last year, the French Disk prize was awarded to pianist-conductor-arranger Laurent Cugny for

.

The Jazz Academy grand prize, rewarding the best record of 2023, went to Cuban pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba and alto saxophonist Pierrick Pédron for their duo record

.

The Évidence prize, recognizing an exceptional new recording to emerge from anonymity, went to the trio of pianist Mark Priore for

.

Swiss vocalist Andreas Schaerer won the European Musician prize and African-American singer Billy Valentine won the Blues-Soul-Gospel Artist prize for his cover album

.

Since his appointment, Jean-Michel Proust - saxophonist, artistic director of the Jazz au Phare festivals on the Île de Ré and Montrouge Paris Guitar Festival - has wanted to

.

,” he told AFP.

This college now has 13 additional women, bringing their number to 15 out of 81 members.

Another initiative: reduce the number of prizes from 11 to 7,

.