Interviews with Melody Gardot, Erik Truffaz, Renaud Garcia-Fons, Chucho Valdés, André Leroux, Chris Botti, Lorraine Desmarais, Sophie Milman, Yannick Rieu, Vic Vogel, Jill Barber, Baptiste Trotignon, The Bad Plus, Eliane Elias, Bill Frisell and Rudresh Ma
Christophe Rodriguez interviews with Melody Gardot, Erik Truffaz, Renaud Garcia-Fons, Chucho Valdés, André Leroux, Chris Botti, Lorraine Desmarais, Sophie Milman, Yannick Rieu, Vic Vogel and Jill Barber at the 30th Festival International de Jazz de Montréal.
These interviews were translated to english by Claude Thibault.
Christophe Rodriguez
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See our video interviews live from the 30th FIJM with Baptiste Trotignon, The Bad Plus, Eliane Elias, Bill Frisell and Rudresh Mahanthappa
Interviews by Claude Thibault and Myreille Bédard
Baptiste Trotignon (FR) interview in french part 1 part 2
to see a clip of his concert, click here
The Bad Plus interview (US) part 1 part 2
Eliane Elias interview (Brazil) part 1 part 2
to see a clip of her concert, click here
Bill Frisell interview (US) part 1 part 2
to see a clip of his concert, click here
Rudresh Mahanthappa interview (US) part 1 part 2
to see a clip of his concert, click here
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All photos below provided graciously by the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal
Femme Fatale (Melody Gardot - United States)
She created quite a stir at her last FIJM participation in 2008. Like a persona out of a 40s american crime novel, beautiful ingenue, Jessica version of Who's Afraid of Roger Rabbit, young singer Melody Gardot breathes mystery. After Worrisome Heart, she now gives us : My One and Only Thrill, where violons, ballads and dark love stories meet. Having cleared for this interview the accident that practically took her life, jazz, composition and this new CD was enough : « Jazz singer, a great honor, but I'm not so sure. Ella, Billie, Carmen, yes, but me and my little voice. I love the world of Duke Ellington, Perry Como, Patsy Cline and the sounds of nature. Ideas pop up and right away I try to give them some sense with music and words. After my accident (a year of convalescence), music saved me and it all comes from that way of doing things ». If the last CD was « groovy », My one and Only Thrill is often dark : « You think love is something difficult, but don't despair...like me (laughs) »
Wednesday, July 1st and Thursday, July 2nd
Théâtre Maisonneuve of Place des Arts
6pm
To see a clip of her concert, click here
Musical Travels (Erik Truffaz - France)
Ten years ago in 1999, we discovered trumpet player Erik Truffaz. For many, he was the successor of the music of Miles Davis, but since then, things have changed. Closer to the europeans such as : Enrico Rava and Paolo Fresu, his path is one of an honest worker on an adventure, mixing musical culture and interdependance. With this carte blanche, everybody has his place : « Hopefully and it's also a great honour, to have offered three nights where we can elaborate musical ideas for three nights ». On that subject, how will you manage to fuse : Bénarès, Mexico and Paris ? : « As the title says (Rendez-vous), we're talking about meetings and not necessarily fusions. I like mixing styles and genres, such as tablas (indian percussions ) in the Mexico concert. I see myself as a messenger that observes and tries to live in the present tense ».
Benarès, Mexico, Paris
Wednesday July 1st, Thursday July 2nd and Friday July 3rd
Gesù Centre de Créativité
6pm
To see a clip from his concert, click here
The soul of jazz (Vic Vogel - Québec)
He was part of the 1st FIJM, thirty years ago, and after a fifty year musical carreer, the fire is still alive and burning. Vic Vogel, bandleader, composer, friend to all musicians, teacher without really trying to be, he pays a tribute to those who made jazz an important part of our culture. For this 30th birthday, souvenirs abound. : « Dizzy Gillespie, the one who created be-bop. Always funny, but also masterful, one of the last concerts of trumpet player Freddie Hubbard, even if he wasn't at his best and having seen this festival grow to what it is ». Never bitter, always ready to take up a new challenges, Vic Vogel is a link: « Jazz is a passage in time. There was the Main and it's nightclubs, and now a festival that draws millions of people. We can only be grateful but always keep in mind that it has to stay alive and close to people ». As we said, this is of man of heart.
Hommage aux grands maîtres du jazz
Wednesday July 1st
Scène Général Motors
9pm
Tropical Jazz (Chucho Valdés - Cuba)
Sacred monster of the piano, founded of legendary group Ikarere, Chucho Valdés comes from a line-up of great musicians. Son of illustrious Bebo, exiled in Europe since Fidel Castro, Chucho for many reasons stayed in his island. An interview with this great player that could easily cover four pages is practically a bet. Modest, always referring to the ones who've made cuban jazz, he accepts to talk about Irakere : « A group that bridged tradition and a certain modernism. Unlike like what's been said, I don't see this as latin jazz, but rather the evolution of cuban music in it's writing and style. In 1977, just like many others, rock influenced us but we never left our foundation ». While in this group, you've always played in small bands where jazz, cuban and classical music meet : « One must stay open-minded as classical music, listen to the departed Ruben Gonzalez - is a foundation of cuban music. Many years ago, in a carte blanche concert at the Festival de jazz de Montréal, I tried to demonstrate this influence in a piano solo that become a record ». A souvenir never forgotten.
Thursday July 2
Théâtre Maisonneuve of Place des Arts
9pm
To see a clip from his concert, click here
Star Trumpeteer (Chris Botti - United States)
Having played with Sting, Yo-Yo Ma, Josh Grohan, trumpet player Chris Botti « collects » the stars. He's been described by some as an oversweet player. Closer to Clifford Brown than Miles Davis, with a sound that recalls Harry Edison, Frank Sinatra's trumpet player, Chris Botti works hard. His lastCD/DVD : Live in Boston (Sony) is a gem. « Thanks and I'm not counting all the invested time. I love these meetings at the top that obviously bring me great satisfaction and there's nothing wrong with mixing pop and jazz. Whether I'm with a symphonic orchestra, my quintet or special guests, my work ethic remains the same ». With over 200 concerts per year, where do you find the time : « I don't have kids or many hobbies, work is important, scales, arpeggios and other studies are part of my daily routine. One has to be strict to stay in shape (laughs) ». In Montréal, what will differ ? : « In fact, there is string orchestra, my musicians, singer Sly Smith and violinist Lucia Micarelli ». A poetic night, no doubt..
Thursday July 2
Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier of Place des Arts
7:30pm
To see a clip from his concert, click here
Joy ! (André Leroux - Québec)
A long time ago, saxman André Leroux and I played in the same stage band. To say that this great horn player, member of many many Montreal jazz bands is sought after is an understatement. Of all his projects, solos and collaborations, the only thing missing was a CD. Seven years later and some ups and downs he give us : Corpus Callosum. A tribute to the great John Coltrane, with no standards and 100% original material. He says : « Yes, in a certain way, but mostly because of the work and the shared passion of this music with longtime friends. A record is a long maturing process and I just wasn't ready. Over the years, I've experimented, working on many things and this is what it leads to. ». And we're proud about it : « Many thanks to Christian Lajoie (drums), François Bourassa (piano), Frédéric Alarie (bass), Normand Deveault (piano) and Alain Labrosse on percussions. I'm fundamentaly a group person and that's essential for creating ». We'll be there.
Saturday July 4
L'Astral (Maison du Festival Rio Tinto Alcan)
6pm
Authentic (Sophie Milman - Canada)
No wanting to overglorify it, but it is in Montréal that singer Sophie Milman got her musical debut. Just under thirty, this young singer leads her electrifying career with a velvet touch on a hand of steel. From Paris to London and from Tokyo to L.A., her tour schedule is like the agenda of future icon…but with songs in under belt. Always in the jazz realm that doesn't rock the boat, she presents her lastest CD : Take Love Easy. « A really important project because many guests joined in the adventure. To my big surprise, saxophonist alto Wynton Marsalis : Wessel Anderson wanted to record with me, and then, with some courage, I welcomed bugle player Guido Basso as well as Vancouver saxophonist : P.J Perry ». It's important to work with local musicians : « Yes, because canadian musicians are underestimated and you might as well work with the pros ». Will we see them in Montréal : « Unfortunatly not as a tour budget is not that elastic, but, I hope to bring them all together on stage one day ». Sounds good.
Monday July 6th
Théâtre Maisonneuve of Place des arts
6pm
ÜberJazz ! : (Yannick Rieu - Québec)
Having just launched Spectrum (Justin Time CD & DVD), saxophonist Yannick Rieu is already on tour in China. A man of many talents, sensitive creator, « spiritual son » of Coltrane and Rollins, he's one of the expected guests of this 30th edition. On the phone from the other side of the planet, we spoke to the « wise » young man. So what is Spectrum exactly ?: A large tableau, a work in progress or a connection : « A bit of all that, but also a project that's ripened over the years. Quite different from St-Germain (mostly ballads), this double record presents many compositions that mark my evolution, such as the times we're living in ». So should we expect a epic and lenghty concert : « No quite because of time constraints, but there will be no lack of ideas ». Without a doubt.
Wednesday July 8
L'Astral (Maison du Festival Rio Tinto Alcan)
6pm
Elegant and charismatic (Lorraine Desmarais - Québec)
True powerhouse and a pianist to reckon with, Lorraine Desmarais, « our Lorraine » has transformed herself into a big band leader. With her big band, and old and grand projet that we've been following for many years, the pianist will present her new compositions. Alert and enthousiastic, even when overburdened with work, she talks about the project. : « It all started with the U.S. band Diva Jazz Orchestra (mostly woment) and the possibillity that all my compositions could be adapted to the big band format and an important formation rhythm section ». Of course, but that kind of extrapolation isn't always easy : « Oh no and I've listened a lot of : Maria Schneider, Gil Evans, Dave Holland. I had a lot of really positive comments ». You're quite faithful to your musicians : « These musicians are from my generation : Jean-Pierre Zanella, Camil, Belisle and mostly they know my music ». To top it off, Oliver Jones is our guest of honor : « A great gift with many surprises! ». This will be a great night.
Thursday July 9
Théâtre Jean-Duceppe of Place des Arts
8pm
The cello leads to many musical paths (Renaud Gracia-Fons - France)
Quite friendly but discreet, cellist Renaud Garcia-Fons has something a lot of musicians can be jealous about. Switching from jazz to classical music and worldbeat, let's not forget his work in the Orchestre National de jazz, he masters harmonies and musical colours. Is this pure imagination, according to the man « : I like to present my ideas, but I don't consider myself a genius (laughs), as you imply. Each morning, I do my scales, as well as revisit the jazz scales, check out my classical charts and try to discover ». In Montréal, this three night carte blanche is quite a challenge. : « Let's say I'm proposing a musical voyage led by many encounters. July 9th it's flamenco de andalusian music, the music of my childhood while July 10th is getting together with an old friend, the accordeonist Jean-Louis Martinier. Jazz of course, but improvisation as well and new compositions. July 11th a night of world music, which is also the heart of my new project : La Linea del Sur ». Garanteed exoticism.
Thursday July 9, Friday July 10 and Saturday July 11
Centre de Créativité Gesù
6pm
Entertaining (Jill Barber - Canada)
Fairly unknow in Montréal, young Ontario-born singer-composer Jill Barber, now based in Vancouver is a nice surprise. Originally riding the folk wave, her influences have evolved to jazz and soul such as as Martha and The Vandellas and Diana Ross, The Supremes period. In between two tours, the author of Chances (Outside/ Records) answers with excitement : « First of all my musical education was mostly rock : Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and then pop, of course. Jazz comes from my childhood but much later in my career. I love Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holliday obviously, Carmen Mc Rae Nina Simone, etc. » When we discuss the fact her record has no standards, she answers right away : « I composed twelve songs in the manner of the great classics, which is different but which will hopefully create some interest. We could've just used the well-known standards but then, where's the motivation to sing and generate recognition ? ». To discover!
Saturday July 11
L'Astral (Maison du Festival Rio Tinto Alcan)
9pm
All photos except Christophe Rodriguez provided graciously by the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal
