Words: courtesy of Festival International de Jazz de Montréal

Festival International de Jazz de Montréal

The City of Festivals is more enthusiastic than ever for the music to start—and with its 28th edition, the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal delivers a plethora of riches! The world’s largest musical event offers an indoor program in the very image of Montreal— cultural and multicultural metropolis par excellence. From June 28 to July 8, 2007, North America’s francophone capital beats at the heart of the music world, welcoming the greatest names in jazz and its musical cousins, revealing best-kept secrets and hosting a massive urban celebration unique to this city. This year, Montreal welcomes Bob Dylan, Manu Chao, Van Morrison, Keith Jarrett, Mike Stern, Wynton Marsalis, Harry Connick Jr., Richard Bona, Chaka Khan and Sean Lennon just to name a few!

Over 11 days and nights, Montreal rolls out the red carpet for over 3,000 musicians from every corner of the globe. From jazz to soul to blues, with detours through traditional music, electro and folk, Montreal conjugates in every style, speaking the universal language: music! With a total of 500 concerts, including 350 free outdoor performances, no wonder close to 2,000,000 people attend this world-renowned festival each year!

A free trip around the world in three major outdoor events!

True to its long-standing tradition, the Festival will present no less than three free outdoor mega-concerts on the main stage of the Festival.

This series of free mega-concerts gets underway with a rhythmic and colourful concert blowout, Brazilian carnival bash with Carlinhos Brown (Thursday, June 28, 9 p.m.). With more than a half-dozen albums to his name, Carlinhos Brown is a prolific, committed and caring artist, a citizen of the world who shares his boundless talents with his people and the favoured composer of the nation’s biggest performers. Accompanied by the standout drummers and dancers of the Carnaval de Bahia, this superbly talented musician kicks off the 28th Festival on a carnival note. Let’s get the party going!

True to its long-standing tradition, the Festival will pause at midpoint to present Seun Kuti: Afrobeat party with over 20 musicians and dancers (Tuesday, July 3, 9:30 p.m.). Worthy heir to Fela Kuti, who left us a decade ago this year, Seun Kuti is the principal proponent of the Afrobeat movement pioneered by his father. The Nigerian singer and sax player is the front man and natural successor of Egypt 80, the legendary group founded by Fela Kuti. Brass, keyboards, percussion, guitars and chorus lend a rich and compelling colour to this unique blend of funk and jazz. Powerful!

Arabian Night with Rachid Taha and special guests will bring the curtain down with a great closing party.   A darling of Montrealers since his 1988 appearance at the FrancoFolies de Montréal, Rachid Taha now takes the stage at the Jazz Fest with a who’s who of special guests—the beautiful Lynda Thalie, high-energy Yann Perreau and ex-Clash guitarist, Mick Jones, to name a few—for a mega closing party that will be the highlight of the Montreal summer! A show that promises to be unforgettable, in the spirit of hope, humanity, vitality and musicality!

Festival International de Jazz de Montréal

Move to this!
Rythmes Hyatt Regency Montréal series

· Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood (June 28), talk about a cult phenomenon! When MM&W welcome John Scofield, the room is gonna shake! Opening act: Apostle of Hustle.

· Son de la Frontera / Ojos de Brujo (double bill) (June 29), It’s a wild Spanish night with Barcelonan underground flamenco, and to open, the gypsy tradition of Son de la Frontera!

· Antibalas / Femi Kuti & The Positive Force (double bill) (June 30), an electrifying evening marking the 10th anniversary of the death of Fela Kuti, the father of Afrobeat. First up, Brooklyn’s hard-core Antibalas, followed by the incandescent Femi Kuti, worthy successor to his father! ?

· Amon Tobin (July 1), breakbeat, drum’n’bass, downtempo… the Brazilian-turned-Montrealer opens the doors on his Foley Room for a complex and hypnotic DJ set! Opening act: Ghislain Poirier Live.

· Chaka Khan (July 2), an unforeseen pleasure—welcome back the most sensual, soulful voice in funk! Not to be missed!

· Kieran Hebden (Four Tet) and Steve Reid / Tortoise (double bill) (July 4), on one side, the refreshing post-rock of Tortoise; on the other, an electrojazz duet/duel between drums and samples.

· The Besnard Lakes / Patrick Watson (double bill) (July 5), a Made-in-Montreal evening, featuring the hymnal sound of Patrick Watson, and the complex rock textures of the band everyone’s talking about!

· Dolores O’Riordan, singer of The Cranberries (July 6), her voice was The Cranberries, so all fans are eager to hear her solo debut, Are You Listening? We will be.

· Buddy Guy and his musicians / George Thorogood & The Destroyers / (July 7 & 8), a double bill serving up back-to-back shots of blues-rock legends!

Nightowls on a musical prowl
Nuits Heineken series

· Afrodizz Massive Afrofunk Session (June 28), Montreal’s grooviest group pays homage to Fela Kuti on the 10th anniversary of his death. On the program: dance, trance and celebrations with special guest musicians, singers and dancers!

· Mr. Scruff (June 29) back for the first time since 2003, Manchester’s ambience expert brings treats from a new album to fuel Club Soda with energy! ?

· Girl Talk / Ghislain Poirier (DJ set) (June 30), when it comes to the mash-up, mild-mannered biomedical engineer Gregg Gillis—aka Girl Talk—is the king, and the dancefloor is his kingdom! And before anyone catches their breath, Ghislain Poirier takes over to keep the beats pumping!

· The Coup (July 1), East Oakland rap revolutionaries The Coup bring politics, funk, humour—and dissidence. Incisive rhymes, and beats against the empire!

· The Jazzland Community with Bugge Wesseltoft (July 2), the best of Norway isn’t just on Jazzland—it’s at this Festival! Bugge Wesseltoft’s Oslo label celebrates its 10th anniversary with us, showcasing the finest of its musicians. A cool breeze in Montreal summertime!

· Swayzak Soundsystem (Brun & Roger 23) (July 4), England’s James Taylor and David Brown have floored the critics with their minimalist house—now it’s our turn to feel the Swayzak sound! Opening act: Kate Simko.

· Cinematic Orchestra (July 5), returning to the Festival after sets in 2001 and 2003, this Brit band’s sound is in constant evolution—from turntablism and samples to electro-jazz and further on the latest, Ma Fleur. Lights…camera…Cinematic!

· Oxmo Puccino & The Jazzbastards (July 6), calling it rap doesn’t cut it. Mali-born-Parisian Ox brings a heightened sense of metaphor and a grasp of American street-smarts to a film noir concept on his Lipopette Bar album. Welcome to his world!
· Kid Koala (July 7), Montreal’s Eric San is not your average scratcher. From intermission bingo games to Radiohead tours to his own graphic novel, he’s a   whimsically creative personality without peer on the turntables!

Not to be missed
Silky, seductive, sweet… and now solo! Formerly the voice of Morcheeba, Skye steps out on her own with an acoustic guitar and songs from her former group, her album Mind How You Go, and a few surprises—including the magnificent I Believe, composed with our dear friend Daniel Lanois. (June 30)

And don’t forget this Big Bang!
On Sunday, July 1: Manu Chao with Radio Bemba Sound System and guests at Parc Jean Drapeau! Get ready for a fiesta stage-managed by none other than the “Clandestino”. If there were a roof, the wildly versatile former Mano Negra singer would blow it off with his polyglot fusion of latin, rock, reggae and   blues rhythms—a show that’s certain to enter Montreal  concert history!

For more information, call the Bell Info Jazz Line at   514-871 1881, or toll-free at 1-888-515 0515, or visit montrealjazzfest.com.