Montreal: The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, presented by TD in collaboration with Rio Tinto Alcan, is entering its 33rd edition. In other words, for 33 years, the Festival has spun out its annual celebration of musical pleasure, a jazz groove that also crosscuts with musical forebears and relatives, from blues to world music, showcasing all the timeless hits and classics as well as the rarities, “B-sides” and unknown gems that we delight in discovering. After over three decades of existence, the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal is itself a massive “compilation album” of the music of our era, with jazz at its very heart, an ever-shifting, evolving genre always open to new discoveries and invigorating and enriching musical cross-pollinations. Just drop the needle anywhere in our program to experience the infinite richness of Planet Jazz, ready to welcome any and all fans and engage their musical passions. As proof, witness the indoor program that awaits us for this edition, which runs from June 28 to July 7. Tickets for these concerts go on sale this Saturday, April 28, at noon… although Spectra Newsletter subscribers can buy them starting tomorrow upon reception of their latest issue of the newsletter, and until Friday at 6 p.m.
True to their reputation, Festival programmers have delivered a schedule packed with quality, of course, but also a most delightfully dazzling diversity, from the purest jazz to its youngest musical cousins. The marquees will light up with legendary names, including James Taylor in a pre-opening concert, Liza Minnelli, Tangerine Dream, Miles Davis Award winners Stanley Clarke (2011) and Ron Carter (2012), Al Stewart, Van der Graaf Generator, Wayne Shorter… And the list of great names only gets longer and more varied when we consider concerts by Seal, Norah Jones, Melody Gardot, Sophie Milman, Esperanza Spalding, Gianmaria Testa, Victor Wooten… It’s also a program with planetary scope, with musical ambassadors who effortlessly transcend borders and genres: Emir Kusturica, CéU, Jovanotti, Johnny Clegg, Strunz & Farah, Lila Downs, Tord Gustavsen and his Scandinavian guests, the Free Flamenco Trio with Dorantes, Garcia-Fons and Spassov, as well as hybrid concerts that transport us, from Harry Manx and his World Affairs and World Kora Trio Longsworth-Soumano-Di Fraya. Not to be outdone, the hottest sensations of the moment will be everywhere, with Get The Blessing, Adam Cohen, The Barr Brothers, Moriarty, Caravan Palace, Ziggy Marley, Timber Timbre, Janelle Monáe and Fishbone. Québec and Canada will once again be honorably represented, with concerts by Patrick Watson, Adrian Vedady, Misstress Barbara, Oliver Jones, Peter Appleyard (this year’s recipient of the Oscar Peterson Award), Jorane and I Musici, Lorraine Desmarais, Vic Vogel, Rafael Zaldivar, Patricia Deslauriers, Rémi Bolduc, Ranee Lee… Finally, let’s not forget concerts that put a different spin on the music, including Flamenco Hoy, by the super-celebrated Carlos Saura, The Rat Pack Is Back!, a painstaking-and hilarious-recreation of the famed foursome of ’60s Bad Boys, the resurrection of a blues queen with The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith, and the eagerly anticipated return of GRUBB, the humanitarian musical adventure that so deeply moved the Festival and its fans during its North American premiere last year.
A pre-opening concert with the icon of ’70s folk: James Taylor
After the Leonard Cohen pre-opening concert at the Festival in 2008, it’s another programming masterstroke by organizers of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal-James Taylor in Place des Arts! In 2008, the Festival and Evenko collaborated to offer us a magnificent concert by James Taylor, returning to Montreal after an 11-year absence, in the Bell Centre. As the many fans who flocked to the show can confirm, it was a genuine musical event! This year, they collaborate anew to invite the famed American singer-songwriter back, just after his recent European tour, but this time in the exquisitely intimate confines of Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier-a truly rare opportunity, since his last appearance in the prestigious hall dates back to 1994… and was completely sold out. For devoted fans, it’s an opportunity to bask in the glow of his unique vocal timbre-surrounded by the finest musicians-and his timeless greatest hits, including How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You), Carolina In My Mind, Fire and Rain and, of course, You’ve Got A Friend. Copresented par evenko. James Taylor, June 27 and 28, 7:30 p.m., Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, PdA.
A dazzling closing concert with Norah Jones
Now this is truly a rare pleasure! After making a major impression at the Festival in 2002 and 2003, this versatile singer-songwriter has been busy, filling her CV with jazz, folk, blues and country projects, intercut with film appearances (My Blueberry Nights…). With 40 million albums sold and innumerable awards, and 10 years after the album that propelled her into the international spotlight, she finally brings her sensual voice and musical finesse back to the Festival to unveil a little gem of a pop album, Little Broken Hearts. Broken Hearts? More like a love affair! July 7, 7:30 p.m., Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, PdA (Événements spéciaux TD series).
True to their reputation, Festival programmers have delivered a schedule packed with quality, of course, but also a most delightfully dazzling diversity, from the purest jazz to its youngest musical cousins. The marquees will light up with legendary names, including James Taylor in a pre-opening concert, Liza Minnelli, Tangerine Dream, Miles Davis Award winners Stanley Clarke (2011) and Ron Carter (2012), Al Stewart, Van der Graaf Generator, Wayne Shorter… And the list of great names only gets longer and more varied when we consider concerts by Seal, Norah Jones, Melody Gardot, Sophie Milman, Esperanza Spalding, Gianmaria Testa, Victor Wooten… It’s also a program with planetary scope, with musical ambassadors who effortlessly transcend borders and genres: Emir Kusturica, CéU, Jovanotti, Johnny Clegg, Strunz & Farah, Lila Downs, Tord Gustavsen and his Scandinavian guests, the Free Flamenco Trio with Dorantes, Garcia-Fons and Spassov, as well as hybrid concerts that transport us, from Harry Manx and his World Affairs and World Kora Trio Longsworth-Soumano-Di Fraya. Not to be outdone, the hottest sensations of the moment will be everywhere, with Get The Blessing, Adam Cohen, The Barr Brothers, Moriarty, Caravan Palace, Ziggy Marley, Timber Timbre, Janelle Monáe and Fishbone. Québec and Canada will once again be honorably represented, with concerts by Patrick Watson, Adrian Vedady, Misstress Barbara, Oliver Jones, Peter Appleyard (this year’s recipient of the Oscar Peterson Award), Jorane and I Musici, Lorraine Desmarais, Vic Vogel, Rafael Zaldivar, Patricia Deslauriers, Rémi Bolduc, Ranee Lee… Finally, let’s not forget concerts that put a different spin on the music, including Flamenco Hoy, by the super-celebrated Carlos Saura, The Rat Pack Is Back!, a painstaking-and hilarious-recreation of the famed foursome of ’60s Bad Boys, the resurrection of a blues queen with The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith, and the eagerly anticipated return of GRUBB, the humanitarian musical adventure that so deeply moved the Festival and its fans during its North American premiere last year.
A pre-opening concert with the icon of ’70s folk: James Taylor
After the Leonard Cohen pre-opening concert at the Festival in 2008, it’s another programming masterstroke by organizers of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal-James Taylor in Place des Arts! In 2008, the Festival and Evenko collaborated to offer us a magnificent concert by James Taylor, returning to Montreal after an 11-year absence, in the Bell Centre. As the many fans who flocked to the show can confirm, it was a genuine musical event! This year, they collaborate anew to invite the famed American singer-songwriter back, just after his recent European tour, but this time in the exquisitely intimate confines of Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier-a truly rare opportunity, since his last appearance in the prestigious hall dates back to 1994… and was completely sold out. For devoted fans, it’s an opportunity to bask in the glow of his unique vocal timbre-surrounded by the finest musicians-and his timeless greatest hits, including How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You), Carolina In My Mind, Fire and Rain and, of course, You’ve Got A Friend. Copresented par evenko. James Taylor, June 27 and 28, 7:30 p.m., Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, PdA.
A dazzling closing concert with Norah Jones
Now this is truly a rare pleasure! After making a major impression at the Festival in 2002 and 2003, this versatile singer-songwriter has been busy, filling her CV with jazz, folk, blues and country projects, intercut with film appearances (My Blueberry Nights…). With 40 million albums sold and innumerable awards, and 10 years after the album that propelled her into the international spotlight, she finally brings her sensual voice and musical finesse back to the Festival to unveil a little gem of a pop album, Little Broken Hearts. Broken Hearts? More like a love affair! July 7, 7:30 p.m., Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, PdA (Événements spéciaux TD series).
