Behind the scenes in Montreux

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The band Moonlight Serenade giving a concert on the New Orleans Jazz Train Guy Le Querrec / Magnum

The cleaning team makes the Stravinski Auditorium shine Guy Le Querrec / Magnum

A festival poster attracts some love from some fans Guy Le Querrec / Magnum

The audience snapping away during the rapper Pitbull's concert Guy Le Querrec / Magnum

From left to right: American blues guitarist and singer Buddy Guy, festival founder Claude Nobs (1936-2013) and British guitarist John McLaughlin at Nobs' chalet Guy Le Querrec / Magnum

Technicians set up in the Stravinski Auditorium Guy Le Querrec / Magnum

Members of Chicago Blues: A Living History take a break Guy Le Querrec / Magnum

Mark Ronson does a soundcheck before the Freak Out! Night Guy Le Querrec / Magnum

The band Chic during the soundcheck Guy Le Querrec / Magnum

Time to rehearse Guy Le Querrec / Magnum

The British singer King Charles (left) gets into the groove Guy Le Querrec / Magnum

Fluid movements: an underwater dancer steals the show Guy Le Querrec / Magnum

Producer and guitarist Nile Rodgers during a rehearsal with his band Chic in Le Petit Palais Guy Le Querrec / Magnum

A technician naps during the Chic rehearsal Guy Le Querrec / Magnum

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Normally, photographers capture the stars on stage. But the acclaimed French photographer Guy Le Querrec focused on the backstage activity at the 2012 Montreux Jazz Festival: rehearsals, sound checks, stage preparation and clean-up.

Born in Paris in 1941, Le Querrec has worked for the Magnum photo agency since 1976. His work is closely associated with jazz as he’s been covering Montreux since the early 1970s. (All photos: Guy Le Querrec / Magnum)