2001 Jazz Fest has plenty of high points
22nd Festival International de Jazz de Montréal
June 28 to July 8, 2001
With some 500 shows (yep) on the calendar this year, the same rules apply this year as they have since the Jazz Festival made the move from St-Denis to Ste-Catherine Street - and rapidly turned into the monster it is today. For outdoor concert trawling, you need a good pair of shoes and plenty of bottled water, a couple of copies of the schedule, and maybe a little foldy chair if you're very organized. It's understood you must be capable of tolerating crowds, obstructed views, and the words "Jazz" or "Jazzy" affixed to every surface and product imaginable.
So why do some Montrealers (and many repeat-visit out of towners) go through it every year? Once in a while, amid the din and confusion of the jazz festival machinery, you get to hear some onstage magic. Chances are good there will be several such moments this year.
For indoor concerts, the 2001 edition has trumpet and tenor sax players in particular comin' out the proverbial... That, and a more jazz intensive line-up than we've seen in a while make for what could be a vintage year. A few shows to look for, then, and some random notes:
Outstanding tenor and soprano sax player David Murray kicks it off with a two part performance with a tribute to John Coltrane, then the 25th anniversary celebration of Murray and Co.'s famous World Saxophone Quartet (June 28 - Théâtre Maisonneuve).
It's another show indoors this year for Vic(tor Stéphane) Vogel. The inventive and inspiring band leader and pianist - he has never missed an appearance at the fest in 22 years - is always worth seeing. Guest trumpeter Freddie Hubbard and pianist Carol Welsman make it a can't miss (July 5 - Théâtre Maisonneuve).
Vocalist Jane Monheit has been getting a lot of attention since her first CD Never Never Land came out last year. She has a light and breezy sound with nice control for a young singer; swinging with ease in her cover of Joni Mitchell's Twisted (July 1 and 2 at Club Soda).
Trumpeter Roy Hargrove splits the jazz fest Invitation series at the Monument National with Michael Brecker. This series can be among the best to follow, with performers changing the line-up at each date - new sounds, new possibilities. Hargrove will bring two different trios, a quintet, and the I Musici orchestra to the stage on successive nights. Brecker plays June 28 to July 2, Hargrove finishes the fest with shows from July 4 to 8.
Wynton Marsalis will head the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra in what should be the show of the year. Followers of Jazz at Lincoln Center on PBS have heard just how hard these guys can swing. With Marsalis' impeccable technique and Duke Ellington arrangements (among others) bringing it all together, this should be a memorable Canada Day (July 1 - Théâtre Maisonneuve).
Info-Jazz Bell Line: 514 871-1881, 1 888 515-0515
Tickets for the Montreal Jazz Fest are on sale at:
Spectrum de Montréal
Admission Ticket Network
Place des Arts Box Office (for Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier and Théâtre Maisonneuve shows)
Montreal Jazz Festival Web Site (schedule, tickets, venues)
318 Ste-Catherine Street W.
514 790-1245, 1 800 361-4595
514 842-2112
(Top photo shows Joel Miller. All photos courtesy Festival International de Jazz de Montréal)
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