Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette will perform July 3, organizers for the Montreal International Jazz Festival revealed Tuesday while announcing the festival's final group of ticketed indoor shows. The three musicians last appeared together at the festival three years ago.
DeJohnette's incomparable drum work will also be present - in spirit, at least - when an eclectic group of Miles Davis disciples put their own spin on Davis's Bitches Brew on June 25. DeJohnette was one of the drummers on Davis's groundbreaking 1970 album, which will get a makeover from Vernon Reid, Graham Haynes, DJ Logic, Lonnie Plaxico, James Hurt, J.T. Lewis, Adam Rudolph and Antoine Roney.
Bitches Brew is not the only work by Davis that will be given a special homage during the festival. Porgy and Bess, the jazz icon's 1958 collaboration with Gil Evans, will be revisited by Montreal trumpeter Ron Di Lauro on June 30.
Herbie Hancock performs June 27 at Theatre Maisonneuve of Place des Arts. The same venue also hosts concerts by Victor Wooten (June 26), Nikki Yanofsky (June 27), the Roy Hargrove Big Band (June 28), Bobby McFerrin (June 30), John Zorn (two Masada Marathon shows July 1), Ahmad Jamal (July 2), Ben E. King (July 4) and the Dave Brubeck Quartet (July 5), among others. Brubeck, who turns 90 this year, will receive a special Miles Davis award during the festival.
Jazz fundamentalists who complain annually about the many rock and pop artists who play the festival will have to reach for their smelling salts again - but one man's persona non grata is another man's bucket-list must-see. Eric Burdon (June 27) and Smokey Robinson (June 28) are two of the finest singers of the '60s. The Moody Blues (July 6) will also be here to evoke the era.
The Metropolis will be the site for a double bill featuring Plants and Animals and The Besnard Lakes (June 25) and a triple bill celebrating 20 years of the Ninja Tune label, featuring Spank Rock, Kid Koala and DJ Food (June 26). Andreya Triana, Bonobo and Mr. Scruff also join in the Ninja Tune festivities July 3. The Roots (June 30), Daniel Lanois's new group Black Dub (July 2), Cyndi Lauper (July 4) and George Clinton and Parliament (July 5) will be at the same venue.
Among other highlights are the new Musique au MAC series at the Musee d'art contemporain, featuring Basia Bulat (June 25 to 27), Lewis Furey (June 28 and 30 and July 1) and NEeMA (July 4).
The 31st Montreal International Jazz Festival runs June 25 to July 6. For more information, visit montrealjazzfest.com.
The first taste of the indoor (a.k.a. ticketed) shows was revealed a few weeks ago, with an announcement that included the names Lionel Richie, Steve Miller Band, Boz Scaggs, Doobie Brothers and Sonny Rollins.
For more information contact All About Jazz.
