Jazz AN BA TOL’ will take place on May 30, 2026, from 4 pm to 10 pm, in Monique Dostaly’s garden in Le François. Led by Jam Do Over, this #LaKouSamuel edition will make Afro-Caribbean jazz a terrain of memory, creation, participation and responsibility.
An open stage for memory
On May 30, Monique Dostaly’s garden will be no ordinary concert venue. It will become an artistic lakou, a communal space for meeting, circulating and expressing oneself. Jazz AN BA TOL’ will pay tribute to Samuel Tavernier, former mayor of Le François, a dedicated and committed man who was a loyal supporter of Jam Do Over. The mention #LaKouSamuel will give this edition an intimate and territorial dimension.
The event is also part of the commemoration of “22 mé”, a major moment of remembrance in Martinique. This depth will be reflected in the presence of the Nèg Gwo Siwo, linked to the figure of the runaway slave. Their artistic performance will recall the history of the maroon slaves and the resilience of Afro-descendant peoples. In this context, jazz will be approached as a living memory, born of history, resistance and creation.
A format that breaks away from the classical concert
Jazz AN BA TOL’ defends a different way of experiencing art. Audiences will not be assigned a fixed place in front of a single stage. Monique’s garden, designed with an open-air 360° stage, will offer an evolving itinerary. Each zone will have its own distinct atmosphere, with music, dance, visual arts, performances, painting, crafts, catering, eco-responsibility awareness and time for exchange.
This approach will give the event its uniqueness. In Martinique, music already occupies a central place in cultural life. Here, the challenge is to break down the barriers between disciplines. Musicians, dancers, painters, craftsmen and spectators will share the same space. Jazz AN BA TOL’ will thus seek to strengthen a multi-artistic, cultural, social, economic, tourist and civic ecosystem, in Martinique as in the Caribbean.
Three sets for an Afro-Caribbean evening
The musical program will be organized around three stages. Resident musicians Tilo Bertholo on drums, Stéphane Castry on bass, Miki Telephe on percussion and Mélodie Spartacus on flute and vocals will provide the backbone of the evening.
The first set will be devoted to the world of Mario Canonge. The pianist will share his experience with the Martinican public and guests, including Ralph Thamar on vocals and Alex Bernard on double bass. The second set will be directed by Thierry Vaton. It will feature several artists from the local scene, including Ralph Thamar, Kélia Paulin, Alex Bernard, Joël Lutbert, Chris Suffrin and JOacHIM DesOrmeaux.
The third set will open the jam, the collective improvisation session that gives the event its energy. Emerging musicians, guests and spectators can join the resident band. This is where Jazz AN BA TOL’ comes into its own: an open stage, built on listening, spontaneity and sharing.
Painting, craftsmen and eco-responsibility
Music is only part of the experience. The painting area, led by painter Syldia Zobeide, will enable the public to participate in a shared fresco. This place of free expression will give spectators the chance to express their emotions, feelings and desires through color and gesture.
The artisans’ village will showcase creations from Martinique and the Caribbean: honey, kombucha, fashion accessories, jewelry, lithotherapy and other short-circuit productions. It will also serve as a meeting place for creators and the public, with a view to networking, clientele and promoting local know-how.
Eco-responsibility will be an integral part of the organization, with a focus on waste management, the reduction of single-use materials and new selective sorting standards. The Salon de Eta will also have an awareness-raising dimension, in keeping with the origin of the event, which was born of a family tribute to Eta, a sister and cousin who passed away too soon.
An association born of a tribute
Behind Jazz AN BA TOL’ is Jam Do Over, a socio-cultural association created in 2022 by two cousins: Patrick Suffrin, president of the association, and JOacHIM DesOrmeaux, artistic referent. Their project has a clear ambition: to highlight the wealth of local and overseas artistic talent, to transmit the values of humanism, creation and sharing, while supporting emerging artists in their professionalization.
Pre-sales are priced at 35 euros on Monipass and Bizouk. On-site admission will be 40 euros, with free admission for children under 12. On May 30, at Le François, the question will be simple: how far can a jam expand the audience’s role in Caribbean creation?
Jazz AN BA TOL’ will take place at Monique Dostaly’s garden in Le François, Martinique, on May 30, 2026, from 4 pm to 10 pm.
Jazz AN BA TOL’ is a multi-artistic event focusing on Afro-Caribbean jazz. It brings together music, open jams, painting, performances, artisans, memory and eco-responsibility.
The 2026 edition will feature Mario Canonge, Thierry Vaton, Ralph Thamar, Alex Bernard, Kélia Paulin, Joël Lutbert, Chris Suffrin, JOacHIM DesOrmeaux and resident musicians from Jam Do Over.
