Filmed one year before Al Jarreau’s passing in 2017, the documentary traces the career of one of the most distinctive voices in African-American music. Known for moving between jazz, pop, and R&B, Jarreau emerged in the 1970s and quickly stood out for his vocal style and musical freedom. The son of a pastor and a pianist from the Seventh-day Adventist Church, he developed a singular approach that left a lasting mark on contemporary music.

Al Jarreau, The Enchanter
Directed by Thierry Guedj
Produced by Jean-Pierre Brun
Co-producer: Olivier Gal

Length: 58 minutes

DATE: March 7

WHEN: 6:30 to 8:30 PM
(Doors open at 6:00 PM)

WHERE: Centre Culturel, Lycée Français de New York.

The screening will be followed by a conversation and Q&A moderated by director Stéphanie Valloatto, Head of French in Motion’s NY Chapter, with:
Yasmina Jaafar, Pr. Audrey Célestine, Margot Sergent, Pr. Jean Beaman

The conversation will explore themes from the film and Yasmina Jaafar’s book: “Ils ont choisi la France.”
It will examine why figures such as Nina Simone, Miles Davis, James Baldwin, and Josephine Baker left the United States during segregation to live in France, where they found greater recognition and freedom. It will also consider how, despite living abroad, they remained engaged in the U.S. civil rights movement and how their visibility in France amplified their voices globally. In contrast, Al Jarreau chose to stay, prompting a broader reflection on the enduring question of leaving or remaining in one’s country—then and now.