Jazz is in the air!
The Montreal Jazz Festival is doing things a little differently this year.
With the current Covid-19 crisis preventing large gatherings, the 41st edition of the long-running festival will take over downtown’s iconic L’Astral in the heart of Quartier des Spectacles. For four days, some of the Festival’s favourite local artists will perform special sets that will be available to listen to live and for free via the festival’s digital platforms.
“The digital shift for 2020 allows the Festival to maintain its role as a prominent platform for jazz music by continuing to reach more communities while adhering to the government’s safety guidelines during the COVID-19 crisis,” says the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal website.
Each evening’s events will be divided into series, beginning at 6 p.m. with a one-hour performance by a festival favourite as part of the Apéro SAQ series. Next comes an hour of four short sets as part of the Sessions TD, followed by the Rhythmes Rio Tinto series.
Performers include:
Charlotte Cardin
Piano wiz Jean-Michel Blais
Indie rock and blues duo The Barr Brothers
JUNO and Polaris Music prize-nominated singer-songwriter Dominique Fils-Aimée
Inuk singer, the soulful Elisapie
Festival favourite Jordan Officer
Pierre Kwenders
Alain Caron trio avec Paul Brochu et John Roney
Jeremy Dutcher
Jack Broadbent
Fredy V. & The Foundation
Clerel
Malika Tirolien
Jacques Kuba Séguin
Bïa
Rafael Zaldivar
Marianne Trudel
Naya Ali
Djely Tapa
Carl Mayotte
Mateo
Among the archival recordings presented are concerts by legendary Montreal pianists Oliver Jones and Oscar Peterson, Miles Davis, and Sarah Vaughan.
Having taken place every summer since 1980, the Montreal Jazz Fest is the world’s biggest jazz festival. Every year it features roughly 3,000 artists from 30-odd countries, more than 650 concerts (including 450 free outdoor performances), and welcomes over 2 million spectators annually. This year, the event won't be as large but it is still something many Montrealers are looking forward to.
The 2020 edition of the Montreal Jazz Festival will take place from June 27-30. Visit the official website for more details.