Montreal Jazz Festival Rolls Out 30th Anniversary Line-Up
-
Artist:
The International Montreal Jazz Festival or say it with me en francais "FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL DE JAZZ DE MONTRÉAL" attracts about 2.5 million festvalgoers and 3,000 artists from 30 countries each year for two weeks mid-summer. '09 will mark year 30 for the world reknown fest. More than 650 concerts will be held throughout the Quebecois city July 1st through 12th.
The fest cracked open the initial line-up today, which for a decade-marking blow-out is a little weak by "NOLA standards,":http://www.nojazzfest.com/. I'll give them diversity points, though.
Leading the bill are Jeff Beck, Wynton Marsalis, Ornette Coleman, Buddy Guy with Susan Tedeschi, Jackson Browne, Chris Botti, Madeleine Peyroux, Pink Martini, King Sunny Ade, Femi Kuti & The Positive Force. Young guns Beirut and Joshua Redman also are showing up this year which marks the introduction of two new stages part of a $120-million expansion.
Adding to the "international" felement of the festival will be the Miles Davis-inspired, east-meets-west series "Miles From India," featuring the jazz world's greatest musicians from the US and India interpretting Davis classics.
Presale tickets are available via the festival Web site. The festival plans to roll out more artists for the bill in the future.
Comments (2)
Went to this fest in 2002. Only negative was the heatwave that caught us- high 90's!
But saw Dianne Reeves and Wynton Marsalis- both were really good- and they do have an underground shopping area that helped us beat the heat for a while. Many shows are free on the streets, too. There are bandstands all over the place and they rotate artist through them. It was a fun experience. Also wanted to get there to check out the comedy Festival they have there in the summer, too.
Have to catch that sometime.
If you go, stay at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth. May not be the cheapest place but the staff was amazing- incredibly friendly and accomodating. And the location and their food are both great.
I have never been to the Montreal Jazz Festival. It sounds like the line up is awesome again. I'll put it on my list of things to do. Thanks.