KlaXson Tap Dance School

Jazz Fest Review

My review is unreasonably late this year because as I get older, I seem to be milking our Montreal summer of festivals more and more and hence the lateness of this review. It has been yet another great jazz fest in continuous evolution. Since their departure Andre & Alain’s jazz fest has evolved. here are promising trends moving forward with hits and misses which is part of the game. Perhaps most surprisingly the festival still has a significant amount of jazz music. Changing musical trends further away from jazz music puts pressure on jazz festival organizers across the world. Even New Orleans Jazz festival has a fair amount of pop music or none jazz. In fact, the festivals that strictly present jazz music exist, but only last a weekend, i.e. Detroit Jazz festival throughout labor-day weekend. The longer 10-day jazz festival present a wide range of music like Montreal and Montreux. I would say playing jazz music along with pop trends like Aayra Starr, PJ Morton and Nas is the best way to introduce a younger generation. Once on site to see their favorite artist, they’ll be introduced to the sounds of Jazz “live” which is way more effective then online. It’s safe to assume they won’t spend time on Spotify looking for jazz music.

This being said this challenge won’t change with social media keeping people at home in front of a screen, jazz festivals will provide a breath of fresh air which will only increase in demand as people, young and old alike, find the desire to leave the screen and return to living in the present moment. The “live” experience is making a comeback as more and more people are finding the need to go out and be with other people to live in the moment. Case in point arcades and vinyl shops are making a comeback as the need for “being social” grows. In addition to trends in music, and social needs funding which is also a problem, I will presume will follow. Whether it be from government or private sources, as habits change or revert back to social live experiences then government funding or private funding will follow the customers as they always do.

As for our festival, the Montreal International Jazz festival remains healthy and very much in demand. With a lot of money to spend or none at all the festival remains an attraction that is truly not bias and open to all. Contrary to paying only options like the Ile Notre dame “field” festivals or the exclusively indoor shows, jazz fest offers options that suite everybody. It suggests that the festival will only grow, maybe back to its original size. When Evenko took over the summer festivals of Francopholies, Jazz fest, Montreal en Lumiere, Metropolis (renamed M-Telus because of the main sponsor Telus), and theatre Outremont, the festivals became more corporate and cost saving measures were put in place. More particularly jazz fest was literally cut in half. All daytime programming from 12 – 5 was cut in addition to trimming outdoor shows. The constant construction in cartier des spectacles also gives the impression that the festival is much smaller than it once was. However, the street parades, dixie bands and daytime programming is slowly making a comeback and new layers are added every year. This is very encouraging. The volume of new young listeners is rapidly increasing which suggests the “training” of new listens has begun and is part of the plan. Jazz needs to be listened to for its appreciation to grow. Jazz is not a “one hit wonder” which you hear and instantly love. All this to say the festival in going in the right direction. The festival must hold onto its free component surrounded by the wealth of indoor venues all within a downtown core in a 1 square km area called “Cartiers Des Spectacles”. It’s a festival which needs its intimate moments as well as its festival of mega outdoor concerts. You cannot split those up. The soul and foundation of most jazz festivals around the world relies on this mix. The Montreal Jazz Festival remains the biggest jazz fest in the world because the proportion of free versus paying is 50/50. Some festivals are mostly paying or offer fewer shows which explains why their attendance is much lower. Montreal leads 3 to 1 over the second biggest jazz festival New Orleans an estimated 500 000 and Montreux at 300 000 people. Furthermore, a festival site like the one created in Montreal is unique. Cartier Des Spectacles was created with a cost well over a billion dollars including, the renovated space, new symphonique hall, Wilder dance building, new headquarters of the national film board of Canada, the contemporary museum (MAC) renovation sited to reopen in 2028 to complete the cartiers des Spectacles, and last but not least featuring the biggest concert hall complex (also entirely renovated and ongoing) in Canada Place Des Arts. All located within a downtown core is unique in the world. Financially speaking jazz fest at a cost of 40 million receives 10% funding from the government, 4 million, which makes it above and beyond the most lucrative festival in this province above and beyond F1. The advantage the festival has and will always have is that it’s length 10 days expands the stay of visitors from out of town and government funding is relatively low in comparison to the cost of the event and amount of money it brings back to the economy. A 10 year study conducted by the festival sited 1-billion-dollar economic spin off (100 million per year), 20 million visitors (2 million per year) 3 million out of town visitors (300 000 per year). Yes, Grand Prix over a weekend is the most profitable event in Canada however the cost of hosting the event at well over 20 million per year will keep jazz fest as most lucrative going forward.

Finally, the discussion on my review of music, hits and misses based on my 120 hours on site and these following indoor concerts; Gabi Hartmann, Django festival Allstars, Azymuth, Natalia Lafourcade
Wynton Marsalis, Caity Gyorgy, Chris Botti, Samara Joy, Charlie Cunningham, Dianee Reeves, Jeff Goldblum, Branford Marsalis, Holly Cole, Anomalie, Mon Ferte, Madeliene Peyroux, Isabella Hallia
Lara Somogy & Jean-Michel Blais, Vijay Iyer & Wadada Smith.

A note on my concert choices, I tend to look out for legends or concerts that are rare on one side and with the time remaining I blindly buy shows without having any idea who the artists is or what they sing or play and totally trusts The Jazz festival as being a quality presenter. I won’t give you a detailed description of every show but rather general comments and impressions.

Le Gesu, very intimate hall where you hear and see perfectly where ever you are hosts two series of mostly jazz music one at 6pm and the other at 10:30. I tend to blindly buy all the shows at 6pm because it allows me to run into the major events at 7:30 or 8pm at Place Des Arts especially. Cathy Gyorgy, Gabi Hartmann and Azymuth were my highlights in this series. Cathy Gyorgy has a seasoned jazz voice with an amount of control which is remarkable. Old style jazz singing Crooner like with a very distinctive style. Gabi Hartmann with a more discreet and soft style. Much softer but regardless very good young singer as well. Azymuth on the other hand is an older group from Quebec who’ve been around for 30 years. Great jazz with a bit of fusion and funk. At Place Des Arts on the other hand, I saw standards of jazz who have been touring for many years like Brandford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Chris Botti, and Dianee Reeves. They are and remain sure bets without any surprises always good and easy shows to watch. Also need to mention, most of the legends and friends of the festival have died off. These 4 performers are now also increasing in age and ending an era for jazz where there was a buzz about their stops and press conferences and excitement. These are performers who can fill Place Des Arts and have earned it throughout the years. It’s not to say that the younger generation coming up are not good but their influence and resources, buzz, press conferences, and ability to fill a hall like Place Des Arts is rapidly diminishing and disappearing. The jazz fest announcements, line up, and buzz after 2010 were on the decline simply because the legends who visited the festival regularly have all passed away. If your line up includes Oscar Peterson, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Tony Bennett, Kool and The Gang, and Stevie Wonder (free Outdoor) to name a few varied acts, will generate the buzz and excitement that once was. The younger generations coming up do not have the platforms to rise to legend status or create the buzz and excitement that the names above did. It will be interesting to see how festivals across the world navigate through this in future line-ups.

Another trend on the increase is the invite of Stars from other countries in the Latin world. Yes, the festival always invited jazz Latin artists but pop star Latin singers is a newer trend. Two of which I saw Natalia Lafourcade and Mon Laferte. There was no wow for these two shows and for sure the cultural difference versus English performance or more specifically American has a very different approach and feel on stage. Simply put my first impression is, there’s a “punch” missing in the performance. That can be said for all entertainment, film, music, and dance not produced by the American giant of entertainment. However, it is greatly needed and makes the various communities come out to the festival to discover the same way the younger generations show up in crowds to see Aayra Starr. You know how people from Latin America often live to their own timing, well true to this tradition yes, the show did start late. Both of these shows started late in true South American fashion. The reason why I mention this little detail is because for paying customers like me, it makes a difference arriving late or missing the end of shows. Case in point and as a segway to a back-to-back race between Mon Laferte and Madelaine Peyroux who I admit I had no idea who she was. The fact of the matter is because Mon Laferte was late breaking a consistent festival protocol, I missed the opening act for Madelaine Peyroux which was actually fantastic. When I arrived in the hall I heard her last tune, her name is Isabella Hallia. Ansolutely vibrant and sounding like she’s from the classic jazz era. She was recently or still is studying at Mcgill music faculty, an excellent find.

As for Madelaine Peyroux, the main act, after hearing the first song I said to myself this is going to be a long concert. I got the impression she was warming up her voice, could not hit the notes and was ever so soft. I got this similar effect I have to say for the voices of Adam Levine, K.D. Lang, and Neil Diamond. With Adam Levine and K.D. Lang they need to sometime to warm up the voice for Adam Levine and relax for K.D. Lang. Neil Diamond similarly to Madelaine Peyroux started slow in their style and eventually manage to pull you in. They both needed 30 minutes or so. So eventually Madelaine Peyroux in all aspects voice, story telling and ease picked up and won me over. But nonetheless not for everybody. So left the concert saw another 2 outdoors before I headed to my Festival office Nyks. As luck would have it Madelaine walks in with two band members and sat at the bar for a few pints and nachos. So, when she walked by me, I had to say something, I just saw your show, and said in my honesty had no idea who you were, which got her interested. She then said so did it do it for you, looking worried with a smile, I said it did, got a hug and she was so happy and relieved to hear lol.

Samara Joy is regarded as the present-day Elle Fitzgerald. Young vibrant, and sings like she’s got a 40-yr old voice like Ella. Look out for her. Finally, Jeff Goldblum’s show was exciting and very interesting in seeing him on stage versus on screen. With every show with an opening act, there is always a stage set down and set up, with an intermission. The house lights are up half the hall is empty as people are trying to get to the bathroom or grab a drink. 10 mins into the set-up Geff Goldblum unannounced non challantly comes out on stage house lights still up and starts talking to us throwing random movie trivia at us playing a similar teaching role he had in the Jurassic Park movies. When he played his piano, he’d stop and theatrically look at us as if reacting in a Shakespeare play. It was hilarious. He is an average piano player especially in the context of Jazz, but a good band and all out entertaining show. Props to him for daring to develop another side to his craft.

Finally, a quick mention about outdoor programming, as mentioned jazz is holding its ground assuring its visibility with the new generations. There is always a variety, a groove stage with Latin, afro beats and hip hop, a main event series with a variety of pop music and jazz. This year it featured Aayra starr, Mavis Staples, Blue Rodeo, and Trombone Shortey to name a few as well as a closing show by Esperanza Spalding. Which leads to my misses of the festival. Esperanza Spalding is an amazing base player with talent, looks and new present day feel with an edge like no other. However, the main stage and main acts of the night often have a party vibe attached to them. Often attracting not jazz fans per say but a very mix crowd gathering for a music party. Esperanza Spalding is not a main stage party vibe at all and to close the festival this event was a mistake. Aayra Starr would have been a perfect choice for a closing or any of the mention outdoor main acts mentioned above. The crowd showed up but the density was nowhere as close to Starr. Also, as another miss there seems to have been an abandonment of a blues themed stage this year. The Labatt blues stages presently name Rogers had anything but blues this year. I am hoping that the blues theme returns. The grassy lawn, beer and hot dog vibe is a perfect match for this long-standing tradition at jazz fest for a founding musical style 20th century music. See ya all next year June 25th to July 5th 2026.

This week at KlaXson the road themes series part II featuring:
Truckin' Fats Waller
Night Train Wes Montgomery
Motorcycle Johnny Favorite Orechestra
Plus a special topic
Sweet Honey Buckin' Beyoncé

Last week's late post 😇😅

This week at KlaXson Rock music featuring
Queen Some to Love
Supertramp Take the long way home
Paul McCartney Jet