We met him a few months ago when he had just arrived in Doha, and already he was talking about it. Philippe Bonnot is the manager of the Movenpick Tower and Suites and also a keen music lover. His ambition ? To launch an annual jazz festival in Doha.

A few months to get used to the place, and that’s it… The project is taking shape. Doha will host its first jazz festival in February 2009! The leader in the background is Philippe Bonnot, with several previous experiences: one week of classical music concerts in Bora Bora to commemorate Chopin’s 150th death anniversary, Jazz festival in Cairo, ‘Jazz Marathon’ in Brussels… His main quality: stubbornness. “If you really want something, you can get it… When I was in Egypt I harassed the Minister of Culture. It paid: the Cairo Opera participated in the event.”

Talking about the Qatari project, he indicates that he has secured the agreement of the Qatar Foundation Music Academy. The Festival will also enable exchanges between jazz musicians and the National Philharmonic Orchestra. If the government institutions sponsor the event, success is guaranteed! Philippe cannot hide his excitement and already dreams of the many musical performances that we will be able to enjoy. ‘When classical music meets jazz’, ‘Jazz from here and there’, ‘Jazz from yesterday and today’ are the main axes of the programme. Himself an amateur musician (ten years of clarinet), he would almost fancy playing in the programme!

Saxophonists, clarinettists, trumpet players, double bass players, guitarists, pianists, singers… From France, the United States, India or Guadeloupe… The first festival has already finalized its line-up of artists: Ronald Baker Quintet (France), Tricia Evy Trio (Guadeloupe), Manosh Bardhan and Debi Prasad Ghosh (India), Alain Brunet (France)...

The organizer must however collect all the sponsorship promises. Because of the crisis, the budgets are suddenly tighter. But Philippe is adamant: “The festival will take place! The essential part is to cover all the costs: the Movenpick, the CCF, the French Embassy, The Qatar Foundation, Qatar Airways, the American Embassy, the National Theatre, everyone is working on it! The opening of the Islamic Arts Museum and all the other cultural projects in Qatar, such as the planned ‘Cultural Village’ and more museums also give us energy. We feel that we are on very favourable grounds for this type of initiative, a snowball effect!”

We are definitely seduced by so much enthusiasm, and we close the interview by wishing Philippe the best of luck! Only a few weeks to wait, and we will be able to enjoy the music…

Beatrice Grossi (Jan-Feb09 Issue)

For more details log onto www.movenpickdoha.com