Mathieu Jaton is the CEO and artistic director of the Montreux Jazz Festival, carrying forward the legacy of one of the world’s most revered music festivals.
Since stepping into this role in 2013, Mathieu has been on a mission to build upon the vision of the festival’s legendary founder, Claude Nobs who founded the event series in 1967.
The Montreux Jazz Festival takes place for two weeks every summer in Switzerland, on the shores of Lake Geneva. In its 50 years history, Montreux has hosted iconic performances by artists including Nina Simone, Miles Davis, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Prince, Leonard Cohen, David Bowie, Elton John and Stevie Wonder.
Under Mathieu’s leadership, Montreux has continued to evolve. He launched Montreux Jazz Digital, an ambitious project to make iconic festival performances accessible worldwide. He has also established the Montreux Jazz Artists Foundation, a platform that supports emerging talent, offering young artists the same legendary stage that shaped so many careers. And expanding beyond Montreux, Mathieu has also brought the festival’s spirit to global audiences, launching events in cities like Tokyo and São Paulo.
His work has turned Montreux into a global cultural phenomenon, bridging audiences and artists around the world with the magic that defines this unique festival.
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CHAPTERS
(00:00) Introduction: Mathieu Jaton
(01:41) DNA of Montreux Jazz Festival
(03:58) Origins of Music Passion
(15:53) Making People Happy
(18:35) Claude Nobs
(31:00) A Lesson in Hospitality
(40:08) Starting at Montreux Film Festival
(57:23) The End of an Era
(01:17:25) The Future of the Festival
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