Carnival of Soul

The world’s largest jazz festival has announced its plans. The full programme is HERE.

This year’s Special Digital Edition of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal will consist of:

– livestream concerts by extraordinary Canadian artists
– streams of archival concerts to include
– a 2004 set by Oscar Peterson with Oliver Jones
– a Jaco Pastorius concert from 1982
– Sarah Vaughan from 1982
– Miles Davis from 1985.

Here is a summary the official press release, courtesy of the festival’s publicist:

This  special virtual edition kicks off at 6 p.m. ET this Saturday, June 27th – Canadian Multiculturalism Day and runs through Tuesday, June 30, 2020.

All concerts are free and can be viewed on the Festival’s Facebook Page and will be available to watch again via the Festival’s social media platforms on Facebook, IGTV and YouTube.

Here’s a summary of the performances:

Saturday, June 27 – Canadian Multiculturalism Day – beginning at 6 p.m. EDT – Live from L’Astral

• Live performances from Malika Tirolien who recently picked up a Grammy for her collaboration with members of Snarky Puppy, followed by performances from Afro-Cuban pianist Rafael Zaldivar, Mali-born Juno nominee Djely Tapa, soulful singer-songwriter Clerel, and Brazilian-born songbird Bïa.

• Iconic and legendary 2004 performance featuring Oscar Peterson and Oliver Jones from the Festival archives.

• Wrapping up the first night is a virtual soirée with Pierre Kwenders for an after party broadcast live from L’Astral.

Sunday, June 28 beginning at 6 p.m. EDT – Live from L’Astral

• Live performances from guitarist Jordan Officer followed by performances from Radio-Canada’s 2020-2021 winner of the Artiste Révélation prize, Mateo, the Marianne Trudel Trio featuring Juno winner Morgan Moore and former Patrick Watson drummer Robbie Kuster, indigenous performer and musicologist Jeremy Dutcher, and Charlotte Cardin, one of Quebec’s most celebrated musical forces.

• An electrifying 1982 performance by inimitable bass virtuoso Jaco Pastorius’ from the Festival’s archives ends the evening.

Monday, June 29 beginning at 6 p.m. EDT – Live from L’Astral

• Live performances from funk and soul saviours Fredy V. & The Foundation, a set by Carl Mayotte (recently named Révélation Radio-Canada in jazz for 2020-2021), followed by performances from slide guitar master Jack Broadbent, as well as the pure fire of Inuk singer and Felix Award winner Elisapie, and a set from instrumental piano wiz Jean-Michel Blais.

• An archival 1985 Festival performance by the one and only Miles Davis ends the evening.

Tuesday, June 30 beginning at 6 p.m. EDT – Live from L’Astral

• Performances by Juno-nominated jazz trumpetist Jacques Kuba Séguin, Ethiopian-born, Montreal-raised hip-hop artist Naya Ali, former Uzeb bassman Alain Caron with his trio featuring Uzeb stickman Paul Brochu and jazz pianist John Roney, Polaris Music prize-nominated singer-songwriter  Dominique  Fils-Aimé, and blues rock band The Barr Brothers.

• A 1983 performance by the incredible Sarah Vaughan from the Festival archives wraps up this special digital edition of the Festival.

FIJM website