The Invitation TD series featuring Charles Lloyd, Vijay Iyer and their respective guests, is presented 6pm at Théâtre Jean-Duceppe of PdA during the 34th edition of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal.
The Invitation TD series kicks off with famed American reedman Charles Lloyd, back after an 8-year absence. He'll be offering the fruits of his most recent sonic explorations, and heading up a fearless quartet with Jason Moran, Reuben Rogers and Eric Harland (June 28). For his second performance, Charles Lloyd teams up with eminent tabla player Zakir Hussain and his faithful drummer Eric Harland. Together, they present a true masterpiece called the Sangam Project, which was conceived as a tribute to drummer Billy Higgins (June 29). For his third and final concert, Charles Lloyd shares the stage with Jason Moran and Bill Frisell (June 30).
Moreover, brilliant pianist Vijay Iyer will set foot down at the Festival accompanied by Justin Brown and Stephen Crump (July 4). You will also find him playing in duet with another magician of the keys: Craig Taborn (July 5). Finally, Vijay Iyer rewards us with a solo concert, a format in which he truly shines (July 6)!
Tickets and info available at montrealjazzfest.com ! The Invitation TD is presented at the Théâtre Jean-Duceppe of Place des Arts - 175 Ste-Catherine W.
Les Couleurs SAQ series is presented 7pm at Club Soda during the 34th edition of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal.
Les Couleurs SAQ series starts off with a party, son don’t miss the joyous parisian troupe Caravan Palace (June 28). The multi-talented Sarah Slean with Strings, will also blow us away (June 29)! The young and charismatic trombonist Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue will certainly get the party started (June 30)! Fall under the spell of a legend in the making, Gregory Porter (July 1). Discover the intensity of Serena Ryder who will deliver a spectacular performance (July 2).
You'll be seduced by the legendary Vieux Farka Touré and his mix of malian blues, rock, reggae and soul (July 3). The famous reggaeman Alpha Blondy & The Solar System will stop by our Festival with his new album Mystic Power (July 4). Feel the vibe with Alex Cuba and his sweet melodies and irresistible rhythms (July 5). Discover the seductive Molly Ringwald (July 6). Finally, get totally entertained by Mother Mother, who'll deliver an intense performance (July 7)!
Tickets and info available at montrealjazzfest.com ! Les Couleurs SAQ is presented at the Club Soda - 1255 St-Laurent.
A few words with cuban-born pianist/composer Chucho Valdés in concert with the Afro-Cuban Jazz Messengers, Friday, June 28th at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal and Thurday, June 27th at Québec City's Palais Montcalm.
Congestion, large crowds and difficult choices are ahead at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal. In between saxman Charles Lloyd at the Théâtre Jean-Duceppe of Place des Arts, the bop adventures of pianist Barry Harris at Upstairs, trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln jazz Orchestra at the Maison Symphonique de Montréal, and of course, a giant among giants, pianist Chucho Valdés with the Afro-Cuban Jazz Messengers, we'll be hanging out by the entrance of the Théâtre Maisonneuve of Place des Arts.
In a resolutely Jazz Messengers spirit, an influence he doesn't deny, pianist/composer Chucho Valdés presents Border-Free, a tribute to Native Americans, to his family, but mostly his father - legendary pianist Bebo - recently departed, and of course, cuban music.
On a european tour, we spoke for a second time (2009), about jazz in it's many forms and his influences.
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Chucho - "Of course the Jazz Messengers and Art Blakey's powerful presence, his own brand of the jazz/blues/soul that's also the basis of long-gone Irakere (cofounded with clarinetist/saxophonist Paquito d’Rivera - who's playing May 31st in Montréal at the MCMF). For me, music's always evolving, keeping in mind my foundations and Cuba, my country. This country, home to so many influences and genres that have changed for decades, allows me to connect it all by including social and political references as well as my vision of the world""
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CR - Is Border-Free (World Village/Harmonia Mundi), a "power" CD, featuring saxophonist Branford Marsalis on two tracks, the continuity of Chucho Steps (2010)?
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Chucho - "In a certain way, but this project is more personal as I pay tribute to my father (a major influence) : Bebo, as well as the forgotten peoples of world, (Afro-Comanche). Border-Free as the title says goes behond frontiers, without necessarily making it a world music project."
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CR - So, long live the Afro-Cuban Messengers !
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Chucho - "So far, tours succeed each other and the welcome is great. With this band, I've still got many ideas and my health is good. You know cuban music is
a potion of youth, just like jazz, if there's no excess"
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Chucho Valdés and the Afro-Cuban Jazz Messengers
Friday, June 28th, at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal - Thursday, June 27th at Québec City's Palais Montcalm
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Interview by Christophe Rodriguez.
Vocalist Kellylee Evans launches "I Remember When" at the Segal Centre for Performing Arts, Tuesday, May 28th.
The Segal Centre closes its 2012-2013 Power Jazz Series with dazzling Ottawa-based, Juno Award-winning vocalist Kellylee Evans in her new album release concert, I Remember When.
The voice of jazz singer Kellylee Evans, considered one of the most beautiful of her generation, received unanimous critical praise for her 2010 tribute to Nina Simone. And now she returns with her new opus, "I Remember When", showing her vocal skills yet again. This time she chooses songs by the likes of Eminem, John Legend and Kanye West, taking them into her own world of jazz, soul and hip hop while adding a few classics (Gladys Knight) and the quirky title "And So We Dance" (aka "Alors on danse" in Stromae's original version).
I Remember When, Kellylee’s fourth album in career, explores a new musical repertoire by this gifted jazz singer, hailed by JazzTimes Magazine for her “‘stunning’ crystalline voice,” both powerful and emotive, a quality that is multiplied exponentially when you see and hear the magic of her performance. With Andrew Craig (piano), Rich Grossman (guitar), Wesley Allan (bass), Larnell Lewis (drums). To see a clip, click here
Tuesday, May 28th at 8:00 p.m. at the Segal Centre for Performing Arts, 5170 ch. de la Côte-Ste-Catherine, Montreal. Tickets: $15-$25. Box-Office: 514.739.7944 or www.segalcentre.org
The Trio Jérome Beaulieu, the Révélation jazz Radio-Canada 2013-2014!
Congrats to Trio Jérome Beaulieu, the Révélation jazz Radio-Canada 2013-2014 ! The pleasure of playing music together, sharing accessible and refreshing jazz, that's what the Trio Jérôme Beaulieu is about, with pianist/compositer Jérôme Beaulieu, bassist Philippe Leduc and drummer William Côté.
To see "La Chute" at the Festi Jazz Rimouski 2011, click here
To see "Grands Jardins" at L'OFF Jazz 2012, click here
Christophe Rodriguez (CDJazz) gives us some good vibes with his 12 concert picks at the 34th Festival International de Jazz de Montréal.
A great 34th Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, lots of jazz and other things that'll give you good vibes. Dozens and dozens of great concerts, so here's my 13 concert picks.
Friday, June 28th.
Saxophonist Charles Lloyd and Quartet. The Invitation series is quasi-nirvana. Also June 29th-30th at 6pm at the Théâtre Jean-Duceppe of PdA. Pianist Barry Harris and Trio. 85 years old, fingers alive and well, the man's really sided some of the jazz greats. At Upstairs. June 28th and 29th at 7pm and 9:30pm.
Saturday, June 29th.
The story of jazz for the 80th birthday bash/concert of great saxophonist Wayne Shorter…a very very promising event. 8pm at the Théâtre Maisonneuve of PdA.
Sunday, June 30th.
Powerful swing, this trombonist/trumpeter is out of this world as well as a...singer. Trombone Shorty has got it all. 7pm at Club Soda.
Monday, July 1st.
Rock with jazz or jazz-rock, call it what you want, but you'll have a great time with The Bad Plus ! 10:30pm at the Gesù.
Tuesday, July 2nd.
A drummer that's done it all and a legendary bassist : Pierre Tanguay and Michel Donato revisit Bach in jazz! 6pm at l’Astral.
Wednesday, July 3rd.
A singer that's more than just a legend, a great and timeless voice : Helen Merrill. 7pm at Upstairs. Also July 4th.
Thursday, July 4th.
Benoît Charest et le Terrible Orchestre de Belleville - The Triplettes are ten years old. A true success story of our own. Party time! 9:30pm at the Théâtre Jean-Duceppe of PdA.
Friday, July 5th.
80 years old and the man can still drive that rhythm...drummer Guy Nadon and Big Band. 6pm at l’Astral. A beautiful voice and french classics : Emilie-Claire Barlow and in 1st part, pianist/singer Michael Kaeshammer with a tribute to the Meters founder, Allen Toussaint. 8pm at the Théâtre Maisonneuve of PdA.
Saturday, July 6th.
To be discovered, the Orchestre National de Jazz de Montréal. With André Leroux (sax), Christine Jensen (sax), Marianne Trudel (piano) and many others. 9:30pm at the Théâtre Jean-Duceppe of PdA.
Sunday, July 7th.
The great Vic Vogel, piano solo, and the art of jazz storytelling. 7pm at the Cinquième Salle of PdA.
Good vibes at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal !
Christophe Rodriguez - CDJazz
Come to the funding concert of the Jazz Composers Series (in collaboration with the FIJM) with Rachel Therrien 5tet, Jérome Beaulieu, Benjamin Deschamps, Alex Lefaivre, Gabriel Vinuela, Ivan Garzon, Francois Jalbert and many, many others, at the Bleury - Bar à Vinyle, next Thursday, May 30th!
Jazz Composers Series - ’’This is an interesting new original idea during the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal’’
From Monday, July 1st to Saturday, July 6th at 11pm.
Every night, bands will be constructed of young professionals composers based mostly in Montreal, New York. Put together for their style similarities by the Montreal trumpet player Rachel Therrien, the invited musicians will have to put together their own original music for a ‘’once in a life time’’ show with a one day rehearsal only.
Most of those associations will be formed for the first time with musicians from different based cities. Every night the series will invite two out-of-town musicians and put them together in an ensemble with young Montreal jazz players. This will hopefully starts new friendships and music associations. We are certain that over the years we will make history with unforgettable stories of the new rising jazz composers and
performers within the Festival Internatioanal de Jazz de Montréal.
The concept of putting new rising jazz stars from different cities together for the first time to perform everyone’s original compositions, within a one day rehearsal preparation. This idea of that new form of ‘’Jam Session’’ was inspired to Rachel Therrien after she attended the 2012 Banff Center Jazz and Creative Music Workshop.
Help & support the jazz community!
To consult the July 1-6 schedule : Jazz Composers Series
Funding concert of the Jazz Composers Series
Rachel Therrien 5tet, Jérome Beaulieu, Benjamin Deschamps, Alex Lefaivre, Gabriel Vinuela, Ivan Garzon, Francois Jalbert and many, many others...
Le Bleury - Bar à Vinyle, Thursday, May 30th at 7pm
2109 rue de Bleury, Montreal, Qc.
CDJAZZ by Christophe Rodriguez
Éric Khayat - Arrêter le temps
Is this jazz? well...maybe not, but it's got great brazilian influences and will get you in the mood for the mojito/terrace season. Led by guitarist/singer Éric Khayat, with a list of top musicians such as guitarist Thomas Carbou, trumpeter Steve Moran, Ralph Télémaque at the keyboards, etc. that brings overall summer sounds to this new release. Well structured texts, a soft and beautiful voice, in short it's light and happy.
erickhayat.com
by Christophe Rodriguez
LoFi Octet - LoFi Octet
Now here's a group with an original type of instrumentation. For ambiance and something that'll surprise you, trust the LoFi Octet. Recalling/remindings us of Quartango, film music, yiddish music and even a bit of Feel so Good (Chuck Mangione).
With a string quartet, pianist Jérôme Beaulieu, trumpeter David Carbonneau, musical director/bassist Olivier Hébert and drummer William Côté, with titles such as Gélinotte huppée, Tangorganique, Lune hivernale and the token standard: Giant Steps. Happiness, weightless in between the past and present.
to see a clip, click here
by Christophe Rodriguez
TVJAZZ
May 17 2013
Chico Pinheiro Quartet - Arabesca - Église St-George - FMCM 2013, vendredi le 17 mai, 2013
Treat yourself to some great "canadian" jazz with great singer Kellylee Evans who'll conclude the Power Jazz Series 2012-2013 concert season.
Kellylee Evans, a "powerful" vocalist with a pure sound presents tracks from her 4th album, I Remember When, and on the Universal Music label, no less!
Tracks on this CD are a glimpse into the soul/jazz world of Evans. She revisits, in her own way, songs from Eminem, Alicia Keys, John Legend and Kanye West, does some classics and adapts some of her own compositions, written with Eric Legnini. All in good taste and artistic sensitivity.
The singer, originally from Toronto, considered "one of the most beautiful voices of her generation" will offer montrealers, for one night only, the gift of her beautiful voice for a Segal Centre concert that promises to be quite a night.
Kellylee Evans, voice
Andrew Craig, piano
Rich Grossman, guitar
Wesley Allan, bass
Larnell Lewis, drums
Tuesday, May 28th 8pm
Segal Centre
5170 ch. de la Côte-Ste-Catherine
514.739.7944
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Chrystelle - chrystelle@coolblahblah.com
Facebook / twitter
NY pianist Eldar Djangirov, Friday, May 24th, 8pm at the TD Jazz Series of the Montreal Chamber Music Festival!
The Montreal Chamber Music Festival’s TD Jazz Series presents Friday May 24, from New York, pianist Eldar Djangirov in a solo evening based on his recent Three Stories CD. Classical music, standards and a bit of Eldar all done in a very special and extraordinary way. There’s a reason everyone says he’ll be the next Oscar Peterson.
See Blink by Djangirov at the FMCM 2012 by clicking here
The Festival’s TD Jazz Series season closes with the Assad Brothers and Paquito D’Rivera on Friday, May 31st. Latin and brazilian jazz in the intimate surroundings of 2 classical guitars and clarinet. A truly beautiful evening.
Try out our contest and could win a pair of tickets for the Assad Brothers and Paquito D’Rivera, May 31st, by clicking here.
The TD Jazz Series of the Montreal Chamber Music Festival - Information : www.festivalmontreal.org / St-George's Church (corner Peel / de la Gauthetière) / Métro Bonaventure 514-489-7444. All concerts are at 8pm.
Good jazz looking for great ears : Québec City jazz pianist Vincent Gagnon launches a support and financial campaign for his 3rd CD with three concerts May 31st to June 2nd at Québec City's Palais Montcalm.
With the help of web platform Indiegogo, Vincent Gagnon's goal is the fill three nights of concerts at the Youville concert hall of Québec City's Palais Montcalm, May 31st, June 1st and June 2nd. All three concerts will be recorded to create a "live" CD to be released February 2014 on the Effendi label. The young pianist will be presenting a series of new compositions.
A support campaign? Yes! the public is an important actor of this project as public participation will help create a great ambiance and mood on the CD. It's really important, as this project will have a long life and travel abroad. The public is invited to visit Indiegogo , check out the video and subscribe to the campaign.
Participate in our contest and you could win a pair of tickets for one of these concerts. To participe, email us at claude.thibault@sortiesjazznights.com with complete name, mailing address, postal code and phone number - the contest will be held Tuesday, May 28th. Only contest winners will be contacted by Vincent Gagnon management.
Chrystelle (the jazz gig of the week) give us her concerts picks for the 34th Festival International de Jazz de Montréal.
The 34th Festival International de Jazz de Montréal is a great experience, if you can...
1) See/hear a least one jazz legend.
2) Broaden your jazz palette.
3) Discover great musicians, local and international.
4) Let it make you happy.
Friday, June 28th.
Kick it off in a grand way, 8pm at Théâtre Maisonneuve of PdA with pianist Chucho Valdés & The Afro-Cuban Messengers.
Saturday, June 29th.
The day after, follow-up with saxophonist Joshua Redman Quartet, 7pm at the Maison symphonique de Montréal. On to the Musée d'art contemporain at 8pm where Chassol lays down some cinematic electro-pop jazz, in film and music (also June 28-30). Change of mood, 11pm at Club Soda for some dancing to the jazzy hip-hop sounds of The Herbaliser.
Sunday, June 30th.
A ephemeral evening with the solo concert of british pianist Gwilym Simcock, 7pm at the Cinquième Salle of PdA. Then on to l’Astral were you'll be mesmerised by the delicate voice of korean signer Youn Sun Nah at 9pm.
Monday, July 1st.
You can only be a one place at the same time so your alter ago can go the Phronesis 9pm at L'Astral while you check out saxman David Murray Infinity Quartet and giant soul singer Macy Gray, 9:30pm at the Théâtre Jean Duceppe of PdA.
Friday, July 4th, Saturday, July 5th and Sunday, July 6th.
End the week with two superb pianists : Vijay Iyer Trio, July 4th at the Gesù 6pm (also in duo with Craig Taborn July 5th and solo July 6th) and Laurent de Wilde, July 6th 9pm at l'Astral.
Have a great 34th Festival International de Jazz de Montréal !
Chrystelle Maechler - the jazz gig of the week
