'Jazz Is Everywhere' At Festival International De Jazz De Montréal 2023

The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal (FIJM), presented by the TD Bank Group in collaboration with Rio Tinto, invites you to discover Jazz is Everywhere presented by TD with the financial support of Canada Economic Development, an innovative and accessible experience starting June 29 that allows people to access and enjoy all of jazz’s relevance and contemporaneity, including its influence on other musical styles and historical importance. It features three components: an augmented reality tour, a revamped the Wall of Legends as well as an exhibition. The project, which promises to bring together not only jazz lovers but also the musically curious, was co-developed by the FIJM creative team under the artistic direction of Vincent Croteau and Maurin Auxéméry with DPT., a Montréal studio that specializes in creating and designing interactive content. Key collaborators including André Ménard, Céline Peterson, Oscar’s daughter, and official Festival photographers contributed to showcasing the importance of Montréal’s history in the evolution of jazz music.

Just in time for the 43rd edition, the iconic Wall of Legends by the Maison du Festival has been given a makeover, featuring an augmented reality tour presented by TD. Equipped with their phones and headphones, visitors can go to montrealjazzfest.com and then watch the wall at the Place des Festivals spring to life. They can choose from among eight fascinating tableaux that immerse them in the different facets of jazz from yesteryear to today thanks to the rich FIJM archives:

Saint-Henri and jazz

Oscar Peterson’s music embodies the soul of the neighbourhood he grew up in; for the young black musicians of Saint-Henri, his title as the world’s greatest jazz pianist inspires them to dream big.

Montréal and the jazz sound

In 1950, a young literature student read his poems in the city’s jazz clubs. His name? Leonard Cohen. His unique perspective on day-to-day life continues to inspire songwriters around the globe. New music talents emanate from this Montréal magic; it’s a creative space and a hub for modern music.

The voice of jazz

What makes jazz voices so special? Some say it’s all in the soul… But voice is also about how emotion is communicated through facial expressions and the body. If the range of emotions conveyed by the great jazz voices is vast, so is their influence on contemporary music.

Innovators and the avant-garde

Herbie Hancock and his accomplice Miles Davis pushed beyond the strict rules of be-bop to experiment with new sounds. Inspired by Jimi Hendrix and 1960s rock, Davis becomes a pioneer of fusion jazz; Hancock, for his part, is one of the first jazzmen to integrate electronic, pop and hip-hop into his music.

From jazz to hip-hop

A new form of songwriting began emerging in the '70s: hip-hop, a sub-culture that revolutionized the music world once again. A number of artists, such as The Roots, Thundercat or Anderson .Paak made their way to jazz through hip-hop.

Musical geniuses

The brilliance of some artists leaves us completely spellbound. Imagine sitting in on a Charlie Parker saxophone or Wynton Marsalis trumpet solo. Or how about watching Chick Corea riff on the piano or Jaco Pastorius on fretless bass?

Legends and the next wave

Jazz enjoys a long history, and within it, Montréal has long been a fertile playing ground. Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, Diana Krall and Miles Davis have all performed here. Today, they still inspire talents such as Dominique Fils-Aimé, Charlotte Cardin or Alexandra Stréliski.

Improvisation in the soul

Improvisation is in jazz’s DNA. It’s the freedom of the artist, creating music as they play. While they follow some codes of improvisation it’s ultimately about following their instincts. And this kind of synergy can sometimes create soaring magical moments.

Want to pursue your discoveries and savour the full experience? The Galerie on the 2nd floor of the Maison du Festival will be presenting a free photography exhibition from June 29 to August 6 presented by TD inspired by the augmented reality experience. Come check out seminal works by many official FIJM photographers, including Denis Alix, Victor Diaz Lamich, Robert Etcheverry, Jean-François Leblanc, Frédérique Ménard-Aubin and Benoit Rousseau.

Jazz is Every the exhibition

June 29 to August 6, 2023
1 pm to 8 pm, Wednesday to Sunday (closed Monday and Tuesday)
305 Sainte-Catherine Street West, 2nd floor
Free!

Created in 2009, the Wall of Legends will be upgrading its lighting concept and refreshing the 24 giant portraits on the windows of the east side of the Maison du Festival at the corner of Sainte-Catherine and Balmoral Streets. You can come admire everything from the Place des Festivals!

Jazz is Everywhere presented by TD is part of the entertainment offered by La Maison du Festival, a veritable jazz culture hub and key attraction of the Quartier des Spectacles. It was inaugurated in 2009 in the century-old Blumenthal building and is also home to Le Studio TD concert hall.

Jazz is Everywhere presented by TD was also made possible thanks to:

Aire Commune / Ilôt 84
Cubico Project
Espace 3D
Store Urbain
GauFab
Bruno Rafie, Lighting Consultant
Juliette Sarrazin, Decor and scenography

The 43rd edition of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal will take place from June 29 to July 8, 2023 at the Quartier des Spectacles! For more information visit our website below.