Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Montreal Jazz Festival announces more artists for 37th Season

37th edition of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds,
Ms. Lauryn Hill,
Chick Corea trio with Christian McBride and Brian Blade, Emilie-Claire Barlow Orchestral, Jay-Jay Johanson, Avishai Cohen trio
and Fred Hersch
Exclusive pre-sale for Spectra Newsletter subscribers:
Thursday, January 28 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The program of the 37th edition of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal presented by TD in collaboration with Rio Tinto just got even better! Tickets for these new concerts go on sale Friday, January 29 at noon. Exclusive pre-sale for Spectra Newsletter subscribers: Thursday, January 28 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (register free at infolettrespectra.ca).

Ms. Lauryn Hill - July 5, 7:30 p.m., Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, PdA - Catapulted to fame as a member of the Fugees, grande dame of R&B Lauryn Hill returns to the Festival after a long absence-14 years, to be exact. In the meantime, she has enhanced a rich repertoire blending rap, soul, reggae and R&B with two major projects we can't wait to discover: the acoustic concert series Small Axe, an intimate window on her musical world, and her recent homage to Nina Simone, folding her magnificent voice into the music of the queen of jazz.

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - July 9, 7:30 p.m., Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, PdA - Soaring in the same supremely talented ether of Britpop predecessors Oasis, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds continue their UK hitmaking trajectory with their 2nd album, Chasing Yesterday (2015), topping the charts out of the box. Here we find Noel at the height of his estimable powers, fully inspired and surrounded by a handful of excellent musicians digging into supremely catchy pop-rock that matches classicism with new musical energy. Gallagher wings in with music that sings like a bird. Co-produced with evenko.

Chick Corea trio with Christian McBride and Brian Blade - July 1, 7 p.m., Maison symphonique - The legendary pianist's last visit dates back to 2012, when he shared the bill with Gary Burton. As part of a tour marking his 75th birthday, Chick Corea arrives this time with a trio and settles into the Maison symphonique, accompanied by virtuosos Christian McBride on bass and Brian Blade on drums, longtime collaborators as part of the famed Five Peace Band, with whom he released the Grammy-winning album Trilogy (2014 Best Jazz Instrumental Album).

Jay-Jay Johanson - July 6, 6 p.m., Club Soda - Quite simply astonishing in the Ges in his last Montreal visit back in February 2015, Jay-Jay Johanson arrives with material from his latest album, the 11th in a marvelous 20-year career spent exploring the boundaries of otherworldly sound. A master melancholist weaving a musical world between electro, jazz and trip-hop, the Swedish artist once again invites us to a magical evening of delicate melodies and airy rhythms from the soul of a man possessed.

Avishai Cohen trio - July 2, 8 p.m., Monument-National - One year after having to cancel his Festival show to our great disappointment, illustrious Israeli double bassist Avishai Cohen returns to his Montreal audience. Accompanied by pianist Nitai Hershkovits and drummer Daniel Dor, with whom he shares a rare creative chemistry, he'll unveil pieces from the album From Darkness, music of remarkable finesse featuring 11 rich and eclectic jazz compositions that shimmer with bold playing and subtle harmonies.

Fred Hersch solo - July 5, 10:30 p.m., Ges - "When it comes to the art of solo piano in jazz, there are currently two classes of performers: Fred Hersch and everybody else", according to All About Jazz. With some 50 albums to his credit as a bandleader or accompanist, Fred Hersch is considered one of the most talented composers on the current jazz scene, recognized for the immense beauty and sensitivity of his style. In other words, combine the intimacy of the Ges and a player of this caliber, and this is a musical event you simply cannot miss

Emilie-Claire Barlow Orchestral - July 6, 7 p.m., Maison symphonique - After winning over critics with her exacting, airy voice, this newest star of Canadian jazz became the darling of the Festival after her revelatory 2007 debut. With her latest album, Clear Day, the artist met a most daunting challenge: revisiting an eclectic repertoire including Brad Mehldau, Simon & Garfunkel, Coldplay, Van Morrison and Queen, featuring orchestral arrangements, strings, brass and piano. Best of all, Emilie-Claire Barlow brings her gem of an album to the Maison symphonique, where she will perform in that orchestral format!

Tickets go on sale this Friday at noon!

Place des Arts and Maison symphonique de Montréal: 175 Ste. Catherine Street West; 514 842-2112, 1 866 842 2112 or placedesarts.com

Monument-National: 1182 St. Lawrence Boulevard; 514 871-2224; 1 866 844-2172; admission.com or 1 855 790-1245 - monumentnational.com

Club Soda: 1225 St. Lawrence Boulevard; 514 286-1010 or clubsoda.ca

Ges: 1200 De Bleury St.; 514 861-4036; admission.com or 1 855 790-1245 - legesu.com

To get the jump on the crowd, sign up for the Spectra Newsletter (infolettrespectra.ca) and have the scoop on the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal emailed to your inbox. For further information, call the Info-Jazz La Presse+ Line at 514 871-1881, toll-free at 1 85JAZZFEST, or visit montrealjazzfest.com.

The 37th edition of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal will be held from June 29 to July 9, 2016.

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