The European Jazz Companions program is a mentoring initiative for emerging musicians led by art director Pierre Bertrand and his organization SYL Productions. This project was born out of a desire to promote artistic creation through intergenerational transmission, professional training, and musical creation, in a unique approach to stimulate the European jazz scene.

The European Jazz Companions project is a musical mentoring program that brings together experienced musicians who are big band experts, known as “coaches,” and young professionals from European conservatories, the University of Montreal, and the PACA region within a single musical ensemble. Selected to participate in this training and professional integration program, the young musicians are coached in section rehearsals with leading professionals and participate in the creation and dissemination of professional projects from start to finish in diverse regions across Europe.

Videos of European Jazz Companions

In 2024, the European Jazz Companions program is expanding rapidly. The agreement between SYL Productions, the Provence-Alpes Côte d'Azur Regional Directorate for Cultural Affairs (DRAC PACA), the launch of a partnership with Marseille Jazz des Cinq Continents and the APJMA association based in the Hautes-Alpes region have enabled the project to establish a residency program designed to host the initiative on a permanent basis in the Alps at the Cité Vauban.

In 2025, the program will continue to pursue its ambition of becoming an essential tool for the professional development of young musicians:

An increasingly prominent European presence, enriching the contemporary jazz scene through the expansion of the program's reach.
An opportunity for young musicians to join a professional big band, go on tour, and perform on stage.
Preparation for the next generation of professional musicians to evolve in a demanding artistic and professional environment.