The Festival International de Jazz de Montreal was launched 27 years ago when two forwarding-looking music-loving promoters got it into their heads to revitalize Montreal's decades-old tradition of showcasing (mostly American) jazz acts in the city's many clubs and cabarets. So it was that in 1980 the very first edition of the Festival took place, a modest affair that over the ensuing years and decades has become the Number One venue for jazz musicians and jazz fans the world over. Today, the Festival boasts in the vicinity of 150 ticketed indoor shows in 10 concert halls, plus about 350 free exterior shows, featuring not only jazz, but plenty of R & B, Latin, African, reggae, contemporary, electronic and hip-hop, as well. Over 2500 musicians appear from about 30 countries. Close to 2 million people including 250 000 tourists (among them 100 000 Americans) visit the site every year, a sacred ground where absolutely EVERYONE has played, from the late-lamented Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Celia Cruz and Astor Piazzolla to today's stars like Charlie Haden, John Pizzarelli, Gonzalo Rubalcaba and hundreds of their contemporaries. It was at the Montreal jazz fest that Wynton Marsalis and Pat Metheny first burst onto the international scene back in the early 80s. And it's an established fact that our biggest fans are the musicians themselves, who've roundly acclaimed our festival as the friendliest and best-organized anywhere.
THE 2006 Festival International de Jazz de Montreal
PLENTY OF BIG, BIG NAMES IN TOWN
The best way to find out everything there is to see and do at this year's Festival International de Jazz de Montreal is to visit our web site at www.montrealjazzfest.com where you'll find complete listings of the hundreds of free shows and activities scheduled. But just so you know, the hottest tickets this year have been for Paul Simon, B.B. King, McCoy Tyner, Brad Mehldau (winner of this year's Miles Davis Prize), Etta James (recipient of the Ella-Fitzgerald Prize) and Salif Keita (who'll be awarded the Antonio Carlos-Jobim Prize). Opening night headliner is John Pizzarelli in a tribute to Frank Sinatra, and closing the Festival will be the legendary Dave Brubeck. Also appearing will be John Zorn, Wayne Shorter, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Nils Petter Molvaer, Pharoah Sanders, Ravi Coltrane, Aldo Romano, Yusef Lateef, Bonnie Raitt, Baaba Maal, Amadou and Mariam, Keb' Mo' and hundreds of other artists. You get the picture.
FREE OUTDOOR MEGA-SHOWS
Every year, the Festival features several free outdoor mega-events, and this year is no exception. You won't want to miss any of the following:
June 29th, 9 p.m.: Direct from New Orleans, The Neville Brothers will appear live to kick off this year's Fest with a healthy dose of jazz, funk and R & B. Quebec and Louisiana go way back, don't forget, and New Orleans being the birthplace of jazz, Festival organizers are bent on seeing that city get back on the musical map after last year's tragedy.
July 3rd, 9 p.m. Tribute to Paul Simon. This year, Paul Simon will be appearing on stage at an indoor show. But to honor the presence of the great American singer and songwriter, a number of artists?including the great Elvis Costello--will be offering a free exterior show featuring Paul's original compositions.
July 9th, 9 p.m. The last mega-show for 2006 will be Goran Bregovic and his Wedding and Funeral Band Totally off-the-wall sounds that defy categorization, Bregovic's music marries gypsy-style brass band with electric/rock guitar + string orchestra + male choir.
THE 2ND ANNUAL MONTREAL MUSICIAN AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENT SHOW (MMMIS)
Last year witnessed the launching of the first MONTREAL MUSICIAN AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENT SHOW (MMMIS), a special event set to take place this year from July 6th to 9th and featuring the products of instrument makers from the most traditional to the ultra-eclectic. From the biggest brand names to individual hand-crafters of fine guitars, more than 140 exhibitors will be setting up their kiosks on the Festival site. Artists appearing at this year's event will be on hand to meet the public, and there'll be 70 workshops and over 100 guitar and instrument makers, as well, including legendary Quebec guitar-maker Robert Godin, one of whose creations can be bid for at a silent auction. It's a great way to find out what's new in the world of musical instrument making, and you might even take home a fine Godin guitar.
A SAFE AND SECURE FESTIVAL SITE
It all takes place in the heart of beautiful downtown Montreal, closed to traffic and transformed into a pedestrian mall for the duration of the 11-day event. Best of all is that the party happens entirely in a relatively concentrated area of about four city blocks, where concert halls, show bars, cabarets and 10 exterior stages feature live music, noon to midnight every day. The site's clean and secure, and there's always something to see and do, with plenty of refreshment and nourishment on site?besides Montreal's world-famous bars and restaurants, all within easy walking distance. The night-life in Montreal is always fabulous, in case you didn't know, and it only gets better during the Festival season.
THE FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL DE JAZZ DE MONTREAL:
A UNIQUELY FAMILY-FRIENDLY EVENT
From the outset, the Festival has been a family-oriented event. Kids will find plenty to see and do on the site, including the daily Petite Ecole de Jazz (Little Jazz School) where professional musicians lead young people through the ins and outs of music making. There's also the Alcan Musical Park, a secure playground where every jump and tumble results in a cacophony of musical sounds. There are also wandering clowns, street performers and face-painters on-site to keep the little ones amused.
SEE YOU AT THE FESTIVAL!
There's nothing like it anywhere, and if you haven't been up before, you've been missing out on the world's biggest celebration of music, the mysterious force that unites people of all cultures and walks of life. Montreal in the summer is a city like no other, an eminently hospitable urban oasis where the people are as warm as the jazz is hot. You've had it coming to you, so now's the time to make the move!
The Festival International de Jazz de Montreal
27th edition from June 29th to July 9th 2006
- The biggest jazz on Earth according to the Guinness Book of World Records
- Over 500 concerts in 11 days, including 350 free outdoor shows
- About 2500 musicians from over 30 countries
- The biggest names of jazz and its musical relatives and plenty of discoveries
- Over 2 million visitors each year, including 100 000 American tourists
- A safe and secure site
- The 2nd annual Montreal Musician and Musical Instrument Show
For more information contact All About Jazz.
