the essential 20 years after the flight of the “little bull” towards other skies, via the waters of its Garonne where his ashes were scattered, the Aude village of Paziols does not forget the one who was undoubtedly its most illustrious inhabitant.
Claude Nougaro fell in love with this Corbières commune, its river, the Verdouble, with its predestined name – which he made into a song – and its fitou wines – God made everything, especially Fitou, he liked to proclaim – will be celebrated and feted this Wednesday, August 21 by the village in Aude.
A free tribute offered by the municipality for the 20th anniversary of the death of the great Claude with a concert reading “Book of words said” at 6 p.m. in the Saint Félix church by Claude Juliette Fevre, with Simon Barbe on the accordion, then at 9 p.m. on Place Claude-Nougaro (at the foot of the church) the concert “Monsieur Claude” by Leo & Co, with Philippe Léogé on piano and vocals, Denis Léogé on double bass and Jordi Léogé on drums. Philippe Léogé is well known for having led a famous jazz orchestra and is a regular on the small screen, just as he has long presided over the destiny of Jazz sur son 31. Still on Place Nougaro, there is also an exhibition “Nougaro: the journey of a beating heart”.
Hélène Nougaro bought the village bistro
Claude Nougaro had discovered Paziols thanks to his friend Bernard Champey, a bowls champion he met in Antraigues, the Ardèche village of Jean Ferrat. He had bought a small house at the top of the village opposite the church and the restaurant “Le Merle bleu” of his friend Jacqueline. This idyll with the superb landscape and the discreet but warm inhabitants of Paziols had resulted in the production, on site, of the album “L’enfant-phare”. Claude Nougaro had also created and organized a tribute to French song, which he loved, in the heart of the village with the participation of many artists, including himself, and his friend, former journalist of the Dépêche du Midi, Henri Rozes, also seduced by Paziols. Claude’s wife, Hélène, is still from Paziols since she bought the village bistro to continue to keep it alive. Paziols, to (re)discover, less than 2 hours from Toulouse and half an hour from the sea.
