by André Ménard
artistic director
and cofounder
The music we’ll be hearing will engrave this year’s
edition of the Festival in our memories forever! Now more than ever, the additions to the indoor and
outdoor programs are simply overwhelming! Music lovers from here and abroad already savour the
unique delight of concocting their own festival from among the hundreds of concerts featured.
The diversity of the big events at this year’s Festival
will simply take our breath away. For the opening
event, a heartfelt tribute to a Montreal artist and
hero, the great singer/songwriter Léonard Cohen.
After appearing at three Festival pre-openers,
Cohen will be paid musical tributes by several
musician and singer fans from here and elsewhere.
Right in the middle of our musical journey, Bran Van
3000 and his daring leader, and Jack-of-all-Trades
James Di Salvio will be making a long-awaited stage
appearance. And to wind things up, a rare visit by
the African Mory Kanté, whose voice and energy do
the great masters of the Black continent proud, the
ranks of whom he has long since joined.
Indoor concert offerings exceed our wildest
dreams . What else can we say but that once again,
a vast and select collection of musical works defines
this Festival, whose range is as mind-boggling
as its great musical coups. The line-up includes,
of course, some of the legendary icons that have
forged the history of the music we love so much,
those artists to whom we owe such a great deal.
In terms of vocals, the party goes on!
For teasers, we’ll just drop some first names, like Dee
Dee, Aretha, Omara, Abbey, Cassandra
, Buffy, Nikki, Coral,
and Ima. Montrealers who have already bought out the
hall know Katie Melua, who will be launching the
Festival with a special opening concert. America
will follow soon after. As will Yael Naim, who will be
putting a face to the global song made famous by
a commercial. And hailing from Philadelphia is the
most bewitching female jazz singer heard in a long
time: Melody Gardot. Leaving the standards behind,
she delivers original songs that send the shivers
of an instant classic down your spine. Seeing and
hearing her at the Théâtre du Nouveau Monde will
be a privilege that may well not present itself again. Be there!
As for male performers, Melingo, the Argentinian
singer known for his amusing theatricality, will
be showcasing his provocative renewals of the
modern tango. A true exclusive and gem worth
discovering in the Cinquième Salle. For the first
time, Gino Vannelli will be revisiting his repertoire
in a piano-vocal duet, and actor Joe Piscopo will
reveal his boundless admiration for Frank Sinatra,
the legendary entertainer whom he had the nerve
and wit to impersonate on Saturday Night Live for
several glorious years.
Among these legendary figures, let us cite first
those pianists whose presence alone will instantly
evoke Oscar Peterson, the spiritual and historical
godfather of everything that has happened in
Montreal in terms of jazz history— in fact, the 2008
Festival is dedicated entirely to him.
The inimitable Dave Brubeck, the powerful
McCoy Tyner and the
elegant Hank Jones, who together boast over
200 years of music making, will be giving a formidable
impetus to this summer’s Invitation Rio
Tinto Alcan series. Their prolific progeny this year
will include none other than Chick Corea, Gonzalo
Rubalcaba, Brad Mehldau, Roberto Fonseca, Jacky
Terrasson, François Bourassa, Esbjörn Svensson,
Matt Herskowitz, Yaron Herman and Marc Cary.
STRINGS GALORE
Thanks in part to the Montreal Guitar Show, “strings”
continue to feature big on the indoor program! On
the other hand, Daniel Lanois will be making four
appearances in three different performance halls.
Harry Manx will be back to expand his circle of fans
at the Festival, also with four stage appearances.
Robben Ford, who has rubbed shoulders with the
likes of Miles Davis but also with the biggest names
in rock and blues, will be here to showcase the
merits of eclecticism, while Vieux Farka Touré continues
to wage his own African revolution. Richard
Thompson will at last be treating the Festival to a
taste of his dazzling fingering dexterity, and Rodrigo
Y Gabriela, a high-impact duo whose raw talent has
toured the globe in recent days, will be paying us a
visit. And of course, the classic Guitarmania event,
where 11 great masters and as many concerts will
feature, among others, Martin Taylor and Pierre
Bensusan in the intimacy of the Cinquième Salle
for four straight evenings.
Équipe de programmation 2008
Marc-André Sarault, Laurent Saulnier, Frédéric Poulin, Johanne Bougie, Marie-Pierre Blais.
With their powerful bassguitar
sounds, Marcus Miller and Charlie Haden will
be heading to the Festival to remind us that they
embody the two sides of this mountain. Michel
Donato will be celebrating a 50-year career on his
instrument in two concerts. And direct from Europe,
versatile virtuoso Renaud Garcia Fons will finally be
gracing our stage!
Breath held, at times subtle, at times stormy, wellestablished
masters and newer masters will again
be taking us by surprise, David Murray and Miguel
Zenón will do their thing at the Gesù, while a saxophone
summit will bring together Joe Lovano, Ravi
Coltrane and David Liebman. At last we’ll be seeing
trumpeter Christian Scott showcase his humungous
talent that is currently thrusting him to the forefront
of the up-and-coming generation of revolutionary
musicians. And we’ll be celebrating the return of
James Carter and Steven Bernstein in an unexpected
tribute to the films of Laurel and Hardy. Not
to mention that multi-talented personality, Woody
Allen, who will be sharing with us his second passion
(but his first ambition as a fledgling artist of
yesteryear): the clarinet.
A MAGNIFICENT CARNIVALESQUE TENT
A new, ephemeral Big Top will rock with energy
throughout the Festival. The Pavillon Heineken, featuring
decorative woodwork, mirrors, stained glass
windows, and old Europe ambiance, will welcome
unclassifiable artists to this venue where anything
goes.
Will come first, That 1 Guy, a solo madcap
singer playing his ingenious instrument (constructed
from pipes and electronic triggers) who creates
unusual surprises while seducing the audience
with his intelligence and humour. A great musician
is born. The second part of the Festival brings the
singer and guitarist Yoav, who makes bigger and
bigger waves each time he passes through here.
Very powerful!
At the end of the evening throughout
the Festival, we’ll get to see the show Belly of a
Drunken Piano by Australia’s D’Arrietta, a
stunning reincarnation of the musical career and
life of Tom Waits. Many saw him last winter here
in Montreal and were blown away by his musical
virtuosity and passion for the works of the legendary
Tom Waits. A must-see in this unique venue.
A MUSICAL SILENT FILM EXPERIENCE
A highlight worth noting: the Ciné-jazz series will
take on a completely new face this year with
10 silent film classics shown to the improvisations
of either Jean Derome or François Bourassa, solo
or with their guests. Falling at the end of the afternoon,
at 5 p.m., what a great way to start your wild
evenings at the Festival!
THE FREE OUTDOOR PROGRAM
What can we tell you about the incredible free, outdoor program?
Only that it brings together all the musical trends that
mark our times into a thrilling carousel of sounds.
But this program fit for all also offers an opportunity
to make some incredible discoveries. Among them,
The Lost Fingers, during Happy Hour at the Pavillon
Heineken, the magnificent Mayra Andrade from
Cabo Verde, the great Mexican jazzmen Sacbé,
the a capella vocal giants Naturally 7, Bjorkestra
(this name alone fills the program), Orquesta Tipica
Imperial for some Argentinian tango, the Beast duo
with Betty Bonifassi and Jean-Phi and European
jazz with noJazz (France) and Empirical (United
Kingdom).
Again this year, we will be treated to the
enthusiastic presence of numerous school bands
from all over. A stunning maturity. Not to mention
the many blues delights, over and above the
25 bands, including that of Sonny Landreth on
July 5, THE world’s greatest slide guitarist. And it’s
Eric Clapton who says so!
This titanesque programming is the work of a formidable
team, whom I salute once again for their
outstanding professional work. Kudos to them and
Happy Festival to all!