Le Baiser Salé

About the Venue

In March 1983, the Gibson Brothers, three successful musicians from the Antilles opened Le Baiser Salé, aiming at creating a café-concert where people could enjoy a drink while listening to live music. Maria Rodriguez then introduced weekly programming instead of a single resident band, marking the real beginning of the Baiser Salé Jazz Club. From January 1984, the club’s mission was to go beyond the boundaries of a traditional jazz venue by embracing creative, mixed musical forms, with a particular focus on jazz fusion and cross-cultural experimentation.

Its Monday jam sessions, hosted by percussionist François Constantin, became legendary opportunities for young musicians to be noticed. However, the small stage hosted many talented musicians who would later rise to international acclaim. Artists such as Richard Bona, Angélique Kidjo, Monica Passos, Ultramarine, Sylvain Luc, Etienne Mbappé, and many others began or developed their careers there, making the club a true launchpad for emerging talent.

Here, musicians are encouraged to merge different styles, experiment, and even form new collaborations on stage, leading to the creation of celebrated groups like Chic Hot and Ultramarine. Alongside the music, its late-night bar, open until 6 a.m. and shaped like a horseshoe, offers a warm social space where musicians and audiences mingle, cocktails are shaken in a rainbow of colors, and rare jazz concerts are projected on screen. This creative energy, born from cultural diversity and late-night exchanges, has made the club a true cornerstone of Paris’s jazz scene.