Montreal Jazz festival

[Popkin]

I'm planning to go see McCoy Tyner and Ravi Coltrane remember John Coltrane. However, some of the comments about Tyner's playing in recent years has dampened my enthusiasm a bit . . . I figure even if it's not great, at least I will have seen Tyner in person once in my life . . .

[Hot Ptah]

I'm planning to go see McCoy Tyner and Ravi Coltrane remember John Coltrane. However, some of the comments about Tyner's playing in recent years has dampened my enthusiasm a bit . . . I figure even if it's not great, at least I will have seen Tyner in person once in my life . . .

I saw McCoy two years ago with Charnett Moffett and Eric Gravatt. I thought it was his best playing in many years, and that he was generally quite inspired. It may depend on the specific concert you see, and perhaps the listener's expectations.

[B. Clugston]

I'm planning to go see McCoy Tyner and Ravi Coltrane remember John Coltrane. However, some of the comments about Tyner's playing in recent years has dampened my enthusiasm a bit . . . I figure even if it's not great, at least I will have seen Tyner in person once in my life . . .

Based on what I saw two years ago, he's still well worth seeing, he just didn't knock my socks off.

[Joe G]

JOE PISCOPO SALUTES FRANK SINATRA WITH LIVE JAZZ ORCHESTRA CONDUCTED BY JOE MUCCIOLI

From 1980 to 1985, American comedian and singer Joe Piscopo cracked up Saturday Night Live viewers with his famed impersonations of Frank Sinatra-who apparently enjoyed the send-ups himself. Today, Piscopo pays full tribute to his idol, with the unmistakable voice, the gestures and mannerisms, and an excellent group turning out classics including "I've Got You Under My Skin", "Night and Day", "Come Fly With Me", "It's Witchcraft" and "That Old Black Magic". Welcome back to the glory days of the Rat Pack. Frank and funny!

[Joe G]

If you think that's bad, try the Litchfield, Ct. Jazz Festival with Bebe Neuwirth headlining the first night's final concert.

Montreal can top that one!

JOE PISCOPO SALUTES FRANK SINATRA WITH LIVE JAZZ ORCHESTRA CONDUCTED BY JOE MUCCIOLI

From 1980 to 1985, American comedian and singer Joe Piscopo cracked up Saturday Night Live viewers with his famed impersonations of Frank Sinatra-who apparently enjoyed the send-ups himself. Today, Piscopo pays full tribute to his idol, with the unmistakable voice, the gestures and mannerisms, and an excellent group turning out classics including "I've Got You Under My Skin", "Night and Day", "Come Fly With Me", "It's Witchcraft" and "That Old Black Magic". Welcome back to the glory days of the Rat Pack. Frank and funny!

[paul secor]

If you think that's bad, try the Litchfield, Ct. Jazz Festival with Bebe Neuwirth headlining the first night's final concert.

Montreal can top that one!

JOE PISCOPO SALUTES FRANK SINATRA WITH LIVE JAZZ ORCHESTRA CONDUCTED BY JOE MUCCIOLI

From 1980 to 1985, American comedian and singer Joe Piscopo cracked up Saturday Night Live viewers with his famed impersonations of Frank Sinatra-who apparently enjoyed the send-ups himself. Today, Piscopo pays full tribute to his idol, with the unmistakable voice, the gestures and mannerisms, and an excellent group turning out classics including "I've Got You Under My Skin", "Night and Day", "Come Fly With Me", "It's Witchcraft" and "That Old Black Magic". Welcome back to the glory days of the Rat Pack. Frank and funny!

Montreal "wins".

[Van Basten II]

Finally here's my concert (sometimes jazz) schedule for june and july,

June 1st

Glen Hall/William Hooker/Dominic Duval

June the 4th

Roswell Rudd & Mark Dresser

June the 5th

Hard Cell (Tim Berne/Craig Taborn/Tom Rainey)

June the 7th

Carla Bozulich's Evangelista + Oneida

June the 8th

Nels Cline Singers + Scarnella

June the 11th

Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band + The Witchies

June the 13th

Vic Chesnutt w/ Silver Mt. Zion & Guy Picciotto + The Ideal Lovers

June the 14th

Sun Ra Arkestra

June the 15th

Barnyard Drama (Christine Duncan + Jean Martin + Justin Haynes + Bernard Falaise) + All Up In There (Gordon Allen + Frank Martel + Michel F. Coté) + Lauzier / Martel / Myhr / Tétreault

June the 16th

Pierre-Yves Martel - Quartetski Does Satie

Philippe Lauzier : alto sax and bass clarinet

Gordon Allen : trumpet

Pierre-Yves Martel : doublebass and arrangements

Isaiah Ceccarelli : drums

Lina Allemano (Ontario)

Four

Lina Allemano : trumpet

Brodie West : alto sax

Andrew Downing :doublebass

Nick Fraser : drums

June the 17th

Matana Roberts' Mississippi Moonchile feat. Jeremiah (voice) + Gordon Allen (trumpet) + Shoko Nagai (piano) + Hill Greene (bass) + Tomas Fujiwara (drums)

June the 18th

Chet Doxas

Le mur

Based on 5 short stories by Jean-Paul Sartre

Chet Doxas : composition, tenor sax and clarinet

Stéphane Allard : 1st violin

Zöé Dumais : 2nd violin

Jean René : alto

Sheila Hannigan : cello

Zack Lober : doublebass

Jim Doxas : drums

John Sadowy : conductor

DAME / Ambiances Magnétiques improvises

Jean Derome : conductor, saxophones and flûtes

Joane Hétu : saxophone and voice

Charity Chan : piano

Diane Labrosse : sampler

Lori Freedman : bass clarinet

Guido Del Fabbro : violin

Rainer Wiens : guitar

Pierre Tanguay : drums

June the 19th

Tren Brothers (Mick Turner et Jim White of The Dirty Three) + Spar and Automatic ( Mary Margaret O’hara et Aidan Closs) + Bernier/Trottier

June the 20th

Normand Guilbeault - Projet Riel

Fortner Anderson : narrator

Paul Chaput : narrator

Normand Guilbeault : doublebass, voice

Lou Babin : accordion, voice

Jean René : alto, voice

Marie-Soleil Bélanger: vioin, voice

Jean Derome : alto and baritone sax, flûte, voice

Ivanhoe Jolicoeur : trumpet, flugel horn.

Mathieu Bélanger : clarinet et bass clarinet

Jean Sabourin : tuba,bass trumpet

Sylvain Provost : guitar

Claude Lavergne : drums

Pierre Tanguay : drums and voice

Bernard Grenon : sound engineer

Raphaëlle Lambert :video projections

June the 21st

Septuor Marianne Trudel

Marianne Trudel : piano andcompositions

Anne Shaefer : voice (Vancouver)

Lina Allemano : trumpet (Toronto)

Jean-Olivier Begin : trombone (New-York)

Jocelyn Veilleux : french horn

Normand Guilbeault : doublebass

Jim Doxas : drums

June the 22nd

Roscoe Mitchell solo

June the 25th

Free Fall (Vandermark/Wiik/Haker Flaten) + Paal Nilssen-Love/Magnus Broo duo + Ken Vandermark

June the 26th

MICHEL PORTAL and JACKY TERRASSON

Evan Parker/Barry Guy/Paul Lytton

June the 27th

CHRISTINE JENSEN INGRID JENSEN NORDIC CONNECT

Powerhouse Sound (Ken Vandermark/Nate McBride/Jeff Parker/John Herndon)

June the 28th

STACEY KENT

DON ROSS

GONZALO RUBALCABA QUINTET

Opening act: DOMINICK FARINACCI QUINTET

June the 29th

FRANÇOIS RICHARD NOUVEL ORCHESTRA

SATOKO FUJII and NATSUKI TAMURA DUO

June the 30th

DIANNE REEVES

CORKESTRA

July the 1st

TV ON THE RADIO

July the 2nd

ORCHESTRA BAOBAB

YVES DORMOY - RODOLPHE BURGER PLANÉTARIUM

RENAUD-GARCIA FONS TRIO

July the 3rd

STEVEN BERNSTEIN'S MILLENNIAL TERRITORY ORCHESTRA MEETS LAUREL & HARDY

McCOY TYNER BIG BAND WITH THE BERKLEE CONCERT JAZZ ORCHESTRA AND SPECIAL GUEST CHRISTIAN SCOTT

July the 4th

JOSEPH ARTHUR SOLO

KEB' MO' SOLO - TAJ MAHAL

July the 5th

BETTYE LAVETTE

JEAN VANASSE - MIROSLAV VITOUS

[Van Basten II]

My summer of shows started last night although weather wise it felt more like late autumn. Anyway saw the Glen Hall/William Hooker/Dominic Duval trio last night. Very enjoyable evening with great musicians, they all did a very fine job, pretty tough to say that one standed out more than another.

They played an eclectic set, played an Ornette Coleman and Annette Peacock composition, some blues, and a few Hall compositions. Music ranged from a Hat Huttish avant-garde improvisation style to a more robust traditionnal free jazz. A Toronto based now livin' in Montreal trumpet player, can't remember his name, joined in the second set, horrendous haircut but musically he fitted in fine

Turnout was really poor, although it was expected programming a late jazz gig a sunday night ain't gonna attract plenty of people, we were about 15 to attend the gig. Other thing that turned out to be as fascinating as the music itself was the fact that the musicians mingled and chitchatted with the crowd prior and between the sets. Just listening to these people you could get a glimpse of their personnalities, you could easily figure out why Hall is the leader of the group he's the most assertive of the bunch, while at the other end of the spectrum Hooker is the kind of soft spoken fellow that rather let his sticks do the talking

At the end of the evening, it felt like a get-together of people who visited a few friends who offered us entertainment, drinks and all, couln't help myself as they were packing to salute them like they were old chums.

Edited June 2, 2008 by Van Basten II

[Van Basten II]

Saw last night Mark Dresser and Roswell Rudd last night, tell you more when i'll have time.

Edited June 5, 2008 by Van Basten II

[Van Basten II]

Average evening, last night, thought the first piece they did not really gel until a Dresser solo near the end. Second piece was a blues and was a lot of fun thanks especially to a great bass line, the third was the peak of the show a piece dedicated to a late writer from Zimbabwe which had a great urban african feeling to it. The last piece of the 1st set was a piece dedicated to Elton Dean, it started well but seemed tired and it kind of fizzled, so the break was more than welcome.

The second set started with a project of Rudd, to rediscover Herbie Nichols compositions, as promising as it sound can't say that neither pieces got off the ground. The 3rd piece was a long one that was a little too stretched out and to be honest unispired, both guys seemed to have ran out of ideas.

For an encore Rudd sang a tune about a mattress on a stick, which reminded me that i've passed my bedtime and i wanted to go to sleep.

Let's hope that Hard Cell will be able to offer tonight better quality throughout the evening.

[Van Basten II]

Saw thursday the formation Hard Cell which consists of Tim Berne, Craig Taborn and Tom Rainey. Very fine imaginative music. Craig Taborn is getting some recognition in Montreal. We now have people bringing signs for him, saw one that said Taborn is God, which gave Berne a chuckle.

Can't really say the same about the piano, it sounded llike like it went through a muffler, at one point Tabord had to do some repairs as one of the pedals broke off.. It is pretty tough to talk about specific pieces since Berne never bothered introducing the numbers.

All i can say is they were very long compositions with numerous changes of paces that would range from contemplatic to highly energic, let's point out the fine job by the drummer overall. Felt that the second set was less exciting than the first one. Maybe because the music despite all the invention gets a little formulaic at some point and you have a feeling of déja entendu. But overall that's a minor qualm. Very satisfying show.

Edited June 8, 2008 by Van Basten II

[Van Basten II]

Went to see or rather try to see Carla Bozulich. Although it sais doors open at 8;30 the live music only started past 10:00. First act was called Oneida a very hard, heavy rocking band that was way way way way way way way too loud. Forgot my earplugs at home, did not want to lose whatever remains of my hearing.

What's the point of playing music so loud, besides acheiving the goal of getting deaf at young age ? The gig was held in a small place that when you 150 people inside, it feels crowded, so there's no need to crank up the amps to such levels.

[Van Basten II]

Tonight Sun Ra Arkestra

[Van Basten II]

Pissed off right now, the idiots running the place have made this gig almost standing room only with a few chairs on the side with an obstructed view on the stage because of all the people standing up. If you want to be near the stage , you have to stand around for about 4 hours . One hour to wait at the door, at least another hour inside before the show starts , plus of course standing around during the show. Definitely not my idea of a good time.

[Van Basten II]

Among the stellar shows seen, i have to mention once again Matana Roberts project called Coin coin who did a 90 minutes non stop jazzopera. Emotion, musicability and great beat were au rendez-vous.

In also a jazz/folkish operatic way, Normand Guilbeault put on stage his project Riel relating the life of the metis leader who rebelled against Canadian government due to injustoice towards Amerindians people. Once again emotion and fine music were au rendez-vous from the more Mingusian musician from the place.

http://www.actuellecd.com/en/cat/am_073/

Finally lately saw Roscoe Mitchell in solo, very intense gig from such a small old man, not exactly music you'd listen in your living room, but in terms of performance arts it's as good as it gets.

[ValerieB]

Compare the lineup for the Montreal festivel with this summer's Kansas City festival:

*All entertainment is subject to change

if you're lucky, it changed!!!

[Van Basten II]

Among the gigs i attended the last few days, saw Michel Portal and Jackie Terrasson, nice good music, a little too mainstream for my tastes though.

A lot more satisfying was the trio of Evan Parker, Barry Guy and Paul Lytton. Was mostly impressed by the technique of Barry Guy , almost stobocospic at times

I know he has plenty of detractors here but i enjoyed the Vandermark set with Free Fall. In fact we had 4 mini gigs lasting around 25 minutes each. First Vandermark solo. Then the duo between Broo and the fantastic drummer that is Nilssen-Love. Then the main act and for desserts all the 5 guys played together on a few pieces .

My dream gig would involve a duo between Guy and Nillson-Love it would be like watching a ballet

[Ed S]

This evening - I'm packing. Tomorrow morning, I'll be headed east and north to my 16th Montreal Jazz Festival. Looking forward to hearing some blues, some groove and some jazz played by guys I've never heard of and probably never will again.

It's great fun and it's free! (I don't go to the ticketed shows). The beer though, is a somewhat on the expensive side..... c'est la vie.

[Free For All]

The beer though, is a somewhat on the expensive side..... c'est la vie.

I remember going to Montreal and enjoying....

......which I've never seen in the states.

[Van Basten II]

Saw Tyner and the big band, good news, bad news kind of deal. The good news is that they a whole lot longer than the 75 minutes that i heard they were scheduled to play. The bad news, well 75 minutes would have been enough.

Among the stellar acts seen in a jazz context, besides Cokestra and Fujii and Tamura, thanks Bill Barton for the tip. I have to urge you to check out Renaud Fons-Garcia who tore the house down with his trio. The guy is a virtuoso bassist but is able to bring musicality to his virtuosity, loved the way he used his bow to craft very inventive melodies. They mostly played musical pieces with a flamenco savour.

[Nate Dorward]

A Toronto based now livin' in Montreal trumpet player, can't remember his name, joined in the second set, horrendous haircut but musically he fitted in fine

Probably Gordon Allen, though I don't remember him having a rotten haircut last time I saw him (2006)....!

Sounds like you're catching a lot of great music, despite some ups&downs.

[randissimo]

The festival being dedicated to Oscar Peterson I am very surprised not to see Johnny O'Neal on the bill somewhere. He IS the only piano player I know who can really play in OP's style.. Jammed with him in Traverse City, Mi back in the summer of '76 when he was only about 18 and he could already play some of OP's tunes like Billy Boy and at breakneck tempos.. I could barely keep up!

[marcello]

The festival being dedicated to Oscar Peterson I am very surprised not to see Johnny O'Neal on the bill somewhere. He IS the only piano player I know who can really play in OP's style.. Jammed with him in Traverse City, Mi back in the summer of '76 when he was only about 18 and he could already play some of OP's tunes like Billy Boy and at breakneck tempos.. I could barely keep up!

I saw him last year and he sing on most tunes he plays. I think I'll see him again later this year when he's in town.

I first saw him when he was with Art Blakey and then with Milt Jackson. He lives in Detroit.

[Van Basten II]

A Toronto based now livin' in Montreal trumpet player, can't remember his name, joined in the second set, horrendous haircut but musically he fitted in fine

Probably Gordon Allen, though I don't remember him having a rotten haircut last time I saw him (2006)....!

Sounds like you're catching a lot of great music, despite some ups&downs.

Yep that's him

On paper it is average but you always find ways to get some greaat stuff but overall the big festival makes it a little harder each year. To give you an idea of what are we (fans fighting against, i've learned that they had the possibility of bringing Herbie Hancock, Potter, Holland and Cofor a gig june the 22nd and the organisation voted against it.

Anyway a top five of the jazz gigs attended in the last two months would go like this.

1 Matana Roberts sextet

2 Corkestra

3 Evan Parker, Barry Guy and Paul Lytton

4 Renaud Garcia-Fons trio

5 Fujii-Tamura

Other good shows that i had not the time to talk about; Steven Bernstein great music and Laurel & Hardy at the same time, it can't go wrong. Also almost against my will i enjoyed Stacey Kent, i'm sucker for cute anglophone girls who speak french with a sexy english accent, plus she sang a Gainsbourg song

Among those i had high hopes that did not materialized.

1 Gonzalo Rubalcaba The arrangements seemed so complicated that they forgot to make music pleasing for the ears

The rest of it was good without being all memorable.

Not jazz at all but Betty Lavette is a heck of a performer

[tkeith]

http://www.montrealjazzfest.com/Fijm2008/accueil_en.aspx

The programmation is all there, it is a very shitty year, can't tell you how much i'm disgusted , this festivan is an insult to my intelligence. I won't go to details, i'm just so angry...

As a person that would have to travel, I get your point.

On the other hand, I can drive an hour to Boston and pay $40 to see Curtis Stigers.

A festival is rarely going to please everyone, but the do tend to fall into patterns. Sadly, many musicians don't do a very good job of promoting themselves. I've missed some really excellent people locally (w/in a 15 minute drive) due to poor promotion (e.g. -- John Tchicai, William Parker, Frank Lowe, Andrew Cyrille, Sheila Jordan), and nearly missed several others (Daniel Carter, Donny McCasslin, The Fringe, Ernest Dawkins' New Horizons Ensemble). I don't know what the answer is, but part of it needs to start with solving the promotion issues.