Zaz at Starlite: The Sweet French Reconquest

As happens to many musicians throughout their careers, Zaz will always be followed by her first and greatest hit, 'Je veux', released in 2010 as the lead single from her debut album. A 'great hit' that, however, has not overshadowed the rest of her work, a bastion of the new 'chanson française'.

This bouquet of songs that draw from jazz, swing, blues, and even salsa resonated yesterday in the quarry of a Starlite enchanted by the French artist. Isabelle Geffroy, known artistically as Zaz, performed for the second time to the Marbella audience after her first concert at the festival in the 2023 edition. For this occasion, in addition to caressing with her characteristic voice some of her best-known songs like 'Je veux', 'Comme ci, comme ça', and 'Que vendrá', the singer-songwriter offered some previews from what will be her sixth studio album, 'Sains et saufs', set to be released on September 19.

The artist took the stage on time, and with her usual simple style, accompanied by four musicians. The vanguard was precisely one of the songs from her new work, a 'Je pardonne' with some segments in Spanish. Like 'Sains et saufs'—which titles her sixth album—with which the audience, filling the Marbella Auditorium, was already surrendered to her overwhelming energy. With 'On peut comme ça', it was she who surrendered to the rhythm of her talented musicians. And with 'Qué vendrá', the attendees at the Nagüeles quarry rose from their seats and joined in the dizzying 'salseo' alongside the French artist.

An Electric Rhythm

"What heat!", Zaz exclaimed from the soul, even though the temperatures had eased a bit on that Marbella night. But the singer-songwriter did not slow down and performed 'Les passants', one of the most representative songs of her new 'chanson française', showcasing her raspy voice and inexhaustible energy. France continued relentlessly with 'Comme ci, comme ça' while joking with her musicians. A sober and elegant scenography accompanied the show, as any artifice would have been overshadowed by the Frenchwoman's electricity.

The concert continued with some more intimate songs, but with the same passionate artillery. She defended several songs a cappella and even attempted to have the audience echo her impossible vocal flips as if mirroring them.

After the farewell, the first encore began with a guitar solo that announced one of the night's surprises, a version of 'Esta tarde vi llover' by Armando Manzanero, sung in Spanish. The charm continued with 'La Vie en rose', by Édith Piaf, which Zaz covered making it her own and demonstrated why she has always been considered the heir to the great French voice.

With the audience's love already won, ecstasy arrived with her great hit, 'Je veux', a song that, after 15 years of playing, still enters with the same freshness and warmth as a first kiss. Zaz thus ends a second date with the Marbella festival with the promise of future summer loves.