This year’s the Jazz Festival aims to underline the exceptional musical contributions of Stevie Wonder, Toots & The Maytals, John Pizzarelli, Susie Arioli and Ornette Coleman -an American jazzman and a World March for Peace and non-violence supporter. These musicians, artists and singers will also respectively see themselves receiving some prestigious awards namely: the Montreal Jazz Festival Spirit award, the Antonio ‑ Carlos-Jobim award, the Ella – Fitzgerald award, the Oscar ‑ Peterson award and the Miles – Davis award.
Several musicians such as – Beirut, Chris Botti, Jackson Browne, Pink Martini, Maria Schneider, King Sunny Ade and Femi Kuti & The Positive Force, Wayne Shorter Quartet, The Lost Fingers, Gary Burton Quartet Revisited with Pat Metheny, Steve Swallow and Antonio Sanchez, George Wein and the Newport All-Stars will be performing. Look out also for the “Battle off the Bands” with the Glenn Miller Orchestra and Harry James Orchestra. Outdoors free concerts will be presented in public places downtown Montreal from June 30th to July 12. The amazing closing out free outdoor concert will be with Fiesta Cubana with Los Van Van and Afro-Cuban All-Stars, followed by Ben Harper & Relentless7.
The Montreal International Jazz Festival became one of the largest festivals of its kind in the world. Ray Charles initiated the first edition in 1979, and in the following years, Miles Davis, Bubby Rich, Ella Fizgerald, Sarah Vaugh, Tony Benett, Jonny Clegg and several other great musicians and singers joined the Festival.
According to Laurent Saulnier, Festival Vice-President, the Jazz festival owes its growing success to the city if Montreal, it’s public and to the spirit of the event. Because of this the Jazz festival has a considerably expanded over the last thirty years. Every day more than 200,000 people enjoy the festivities. Among these people are young, and old; families, from children and tourists, alike; all from different cultural and religious backgrounds. All, those partaking in the festivities share the same passion: “music and being with others. “Alain Simard, Festival President”, notes Saulnier, “often said that the Festival was like a “Utopian village” where colors and religions didn’t matter and where racism or sexism were not present because everyone were bound by the music”. For Saulnier, gathering people from different backgrounds, in peace and harmony, is one the Jazz Festivals’ fundamental missions. According to him, “no declaration needs to be spoken of, the most important thing is to enjoy a Festival which is diverse in music, cultures, religion and demonstrates that this is a possibility each year”.
Saulnier, is also convinced that Montreal welcomes all nationalities without distinction, and this makes possible the creation of the “Jazz Festival Spirit”. As it is, 35% of the Montreal population comes from all corners of the planet. Montreal is the only North-American metropolis which is fully multi-cultural and French and English is predominant.
The Montreal International Jazz Festival will take place from June 30th to July 12th , 2009. For further information visit the website: www.montrealjazzfest.com
