Montreal Jazz Festival celebrates 30th 'music party'
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The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal (Montreal International Jazz Festival) celebrates its 30th anniversary with a 13-day soiree that starts Tuesday and runs until Sunday, July 12. Submitted photo |
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By TOM HUNTINGTON Arts Correspondent - Published: June 26, 2009
Started in 1980 as a series of concerts designed to liven up a sleepy summer music scene, the Montreal International Jazz Festival is perhaps stronger than ever as it gears up to celebrate its 30th anniversary with a 13-day soiree that starts on Tuesday and runs until Sunday, July 12.
Case in point: The fest will debut its new permanent home, the Maison du Festival Rio Tinto Alcan. Over a decade in the making, the year-round concert venue and seven-story complex will also house an exhibition center and Jazz Hall of Fame. The festival will debut another new venue, the nearby Place des Festivals, in style with a free show by iconic American songwriter Stevie Wonder.
Of course, there will also be some 650 concerts — 370 of them free on 10 outdoor stages - featuring some 3,000 artists from 30 different countries.
"It is a music event put on by music fans for music fans," said festival co-founder and President André Menard recently in the Toronto-based newspaper, the Globe and Mail. "This, to me, is my biggest source of pride, that we have not lost perspective and are still excited by it. It's a big music party, first and foremost."
"There are two festivals, on top of one another - the outdoor and the indoor festivals," added Menard, referring to the free, family-friendly outdoor events and the ticketed indoor shows that are organized into 17 different series.
"Each of the concert series are mini-festivals," said Menard. "So it's a bunch of little festivals that add up to this big thing."
In honor of the occasion, here are 30 reasons to check it out:
Free Outdoor Shows
370 of them! Here are six biggies:
Tuesday: Stevie Wonder - The iconic tunesmith gets the party started - and christens the new Place des Festivals — with classics from his impressive repertoire. Giant screens throughout the festival site will simulcast the event. Scene General Motors, 9:30 p.m.
Thursday: Puerto Plata - Octogenarian Jose Manuel Cobles, aka Puerto Plata, is a Dominican guitar legend who has been garnering rave reviews for his stellar and long-overdue debut, "Mujer de Cabaret." Scene Bell, 8 p.m.
Saturday, July 4: Wale - The Washington, D.C.-based rapper and mix-tape maestro, 23, is creating a sizable buzz on the strength of his nimble flow and intelligent lyrics. Scene Bell, 10 p.m.
Sunday, July 5: Patrick Watson - The lauded Montreal rock musician, known for his spellbinding voice and highly orchestrated melodies, performs with a string section, horns and special guests in addition to projections and pyrotechnics. Scene General Motors, 9 p.m.
Tuesday, July 7: Rocksteady: The Roots of Reggae - Inspired by the new documentary of the same name - produced by Muse Entertainment of Montreal and premiering July 4-12 at the Musee d'art contemporain - the concert assembles living legends of the genre, including former Bob Marley backup singers Judy Mowatt and Marcia Griffiths. Scene General Motors, 9 p.m.
Sunday, July 12: Fiesta Cubana with Los Van Van and Afro-Cuban All-Stars - Scene Rio Tinto Alcan, 7 p.m. Followed by Ben Harper and Relentless7, Scene General Motors, 9:30 p.m. A dynamite Cuban double-bill is followed by Harper and his hard-rocking new band.
Ticketed Indoor Shows
180 of them! Here are 20 noteworthy contenders:
Tuesday: Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra featuring Wynton Marsalis with Chano Dominguez and His Quartet - The famous trumpeter and his Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra join forces with Spanish pianist Chano Dominguez and his quartet. Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, 7:30 p.m. $75.50, $65.50, $49.50 Canadian.
Tuesday-Wednesday: Bad Plus - Since forming in 2000, the trio of 30-somethings has been playfully and impressively blurring the lines between jazz and rock while infusing the genre with some serious juice. L'Astral, 11 p.m. Tuesday, 9 p.m. Wednesday. $34.50 Canadian.
Wednesday: The Monterey Quartet with Dave Holland, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Chris Potter and Eric Harland - The all-star quartet has been stirring up a sizable buzz since they first started performing together two years ago. Theatre Maisonneuve, 9:30 p.m. $52.50, $45.50, $38.50 Canadian.
Thursday: Melody Gardot - The sultry 24-year-old jazz-blues-pop chanteuse - called "the genuine revelation of last summer's festival" - returns in support of her recently released sophomore CD, "My One and Only Thrill." Theatre Maisonneuve, $39.50, $34.50, $29.50 Canadian. (Her Wednesday show is sold out.)
Thursday: Chucho Valdes Quintet - The renowned Cuban pianist is a powerhouse performer known for his rhythmic command and seemingly effortless fusion of Latin, jazz and classical styles. Theatre Maisonneuve, 9:30 p.m. $39.50, $34.50, $29.50 Canadian.
Friday, July 3: Wayne Shorter Quartet - The living sax legend returns with his storied quartet featuring drum dynamo Brian Blade, bassist John Patitucci and recent-addition pianist Geoffrey Keezer. Theatre Maisonneuve, 9:30 p.m. $64.50, $54.50, $44.50 Canadian.
Friday, July 3: Lee Konitz with Minsarah - A singular alto saxophonist for over six decades, Konitz performs with the creative trio that backed him on the highly acclaimed 2008 album, "Deep Lee." Gesu, 10:30 p.m. $36.50 Canadian.
Saturday, July 4: Susie Arioli - The winsome singer is a genuine Montreal treasure known for her lustrous renderings of jazz standards. Theatre Maisonneuve, 6 p.m. $36.50, $32.50, $28.50 Canadian.
Saturday, July 4: The Lost Fingers - One of the standouts of last year's fest, the distinctive Quebec City trio serves up gypsy-jazz versions of '80s classics. Metropolis, 6 p.m. $29.50 Canadian.
Saturday, July 4: Dave Brubeck "Time Out: Take 50" - The piano legend reinterprets choice cuts from his 1959 masterpiece, "Time Out," among others. Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, 7:30 p.m. $79.50, $69.50, $59.50, $49.50 Canadian.
Saturday, July 4: Miles from India - Inspired by the 2008 Grammy-nominated double-CD of the same name, the concert features two bands performing together: one assembles some of India's top instrumentalists while the other showcases American standouts such as trumpeter Nicholas Payton and saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa. Theatre Maisonneuve, 9:30 p.m. $44.50, $38.50, $32.50 Canadian.
Sunday, July 5: Madeleine Peyroux - The sepia-toned songstress - a major highlight of the 2005 Burlington Discover Jazz Festival - returns to Montreal in support of her gorgeous new CD, "Bare Bones." Theatre Maisonneuve, 6 p.m. $39.50, $34.50, $29.50 Canadian. (Her July 3 show is sold out.)
Sunday, July 5: Kenny Werner Quintet - An under-appreciated jazz giant, the master pianist is a mesmerizing maestro who graced Montpelier with a stunning trio performance in 2005. Theatre Jean-Duceppe, 8 p.m. $36.50 Canadian.
Sunday, July 5: King Sunny Ade with Femi Kuti and the Positive Force - Afro-beat fanatics will no doubt flock to this dynamite double-bill featuring two of the best artists in the dance-inducing genre. Metropolis, 8:30 p.m. $38.50 Canadian.
Monday, July 6: Pacifika - One of the most intriguing new world-inspired music groups, the intoxicating Vancouver-based trio is fronted by sultry Peruvian-born singer Silvana Kana. Club Soda, 7 p.m. $22.50 Canadian.
Monday, July 6: Estelle - The Grammy-winning British singer-rapper sensation fuses soul, hip hop, funk and reggae into her dance-inducing sound. Metropolis, 8:30 p.m. $29.50 Canadian.
Wednesday, July 8: Charlie Haden "Family and Friends" - The legendary free-jazz bassist celebrates his traditional country music upbringing with family members and musical friends, as on his stellar and star-studded 2008 album, "Rambling Boy." Theatre Maisonneuve, 6 p.m. $52.50, $46.50, $39.50 Canadian.
Wednesday, July 8: Bill Frisell Quartet - The unassuming master guitarist is known for his fluid fret work and gorgeously dreamy soundscapes. Theatre Jean-Duceppe, 8 p.m. $39.50 Canadian.
Thursday, July 9: Ornette Coleman Quartet - The revolutionary saxophonist - a major highlight of last year's Burlington Discover Jazz Festival 25th anniversary - plays the Montreal Jazz Fest for the first time in two decades. Theatre Maisonneuve, 9:30 p.m. $69.50, $59.50, $49.50 Canadian.
Thursday, July 9: Rudresh Mahanthappa - Just named the "Alto Saxophonist of the Year" by the Jazz Journalists Association, the 38-year-old standout performs with his Indo-Pak Coalition trio featuring guitar virtuoso Rez Abbasi and tabla whiz Dan Weiss. Gesu, 10:30 p.m. $29.50 Canadian.
Kid-Friendly Activities
Bring the kids! Here are a few of the family-friendly attractions:
The Little School of Jazz - The interactive and educational show is performed twice daily (11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.) July 1-11 at Grande-Place of the Complexe Desjardins.
La Parade du Festival - The new daily festival parade journeys through the redesigned festival site, transforming the downtown core into a Mardi Gras-style party complete with dancers, mascots and the music of Pierre Blais and his Swing Tonic Jazz Band.
Musical Park and Play Area - The 11,000-square-foot park includes an arts and crafts workshop and make-up area in addition to two play areas with giant musical "instruments."
Art
The Art of Jazz: 70 Years of Blue Note Album Covers - Located in the Village de la musique on the festival site, the exhibition features photographic reproductions of vintage album covers from the legendary record label's stellar collection.