1Ì
ne way to define a music festi-
val: the sum of its memorable
moments. There were plenty
of those moments to savor during the
first four days of the 40th annual Festi-
val International de Jazz de Montréal,
which kicked off in late June on 20
stages in the city’s downtown Quartier
des Spectacles.
Which highlights were the most
resonant? Tough choice. Ravi Col-
trane, during his encore, did some
earth-scorching via his father’s classic
“Giant Steps.” Melody Gardot, after a
thunderous standing ovation, opened
her show with a hushed, affecting ver-
sion of vintage Americana gem “Way-
faring Stranger.” The War & Treaty,
under sometimes rainy skies, thrilled BENOITROUSSEAUOPENING CHORUS
40TH MONTREAL JAZZ FESTIVAL x PAUL JOST x ROMAIN COLLIN xThis Is 40
The Montreal International
Jazz Festival celebrates its
ruby anniversary—and the
end of an eraCALENDAR
Guelph Jazz
Festival
9/11-9/15 | Guelph, Canada
The long-running Guelph Jazz Festival
returns for its 26th year aiming to
showcase instruments seldom heard
in jazz. Accomplished pipe organists,
bagpipers, jaw harpists, and pedal
steel guitarists are all scheduled to
play during the five-day festival in
southwestern Ontario.
« guelphjazzfestival.com
Scarborough Jazz
Festival
9/20-9/22 | Scarborough, England
Award-winning reeds player
Alan Barnes hasn’t missed a gig
at the Scarborough Jazz Festival
since it started, and he’s set to be
there again for a 17th consecutive
appearance. Joining Barnes at the
three-day event will be the Clark
Tracey Quintet, guitarist Jim Mullen,
and pianist Dave Newton.
« facebook.com/
scarboroughjazzfestival
Monterey Jazz
Festival
9/27-9/30 | Monterey, CA
For 62 years the Monterey Jazz
Festival has drawn jazz legends and
rising stars to central California,
making it the longest continually
running festival of its kind in the
world. This year’s edition will feature
Diana Krall, the Christian McBride
Big Band, Chris Pot ter, Marcus
Miller, and Snarky Puppy.
« detroitjazzfest.org
Melody Gardot at the
Salle Wilfrid-Pelletierthe Saturday-night crowd with a soulful
explosion touching on “Ain’t Too Proud
to Beg,” “Here I Am (Come and Take
Me),” and “Respect.” Edmar Castaneda,
on the aptly titled “For Jaco,” played
his harp like a bass guitar, spinning
out long, lean lines and harmonics.
Afro-Cuban giant Chucho Valdés con-
cluded his set with several gorgeously
realized standards. Brad Mehldau,
leading an all-star group, dug deep into
gospel-blues terrain on Oliver Nelson’s
“Yearnin’.” Donny McCaslin cranked
it up on a roaring maelstrom of fusion,
art-pop, and newfangled prog-rock.
The festival, slouching toward mid-
dle age, is still considered one of the
world’s largest, with two million or so
locals and tourists expected to visit the
site during 11 days packed with more
than 500 concerts by an impressively
eclectic mix of jazz, blues, folk, electro-
pop (rising-star Montrealer Charlotte
Cardin), rock (Bryan Adams), metal
(Voivod), R&B, and hip-hop artists
from Canada, the United States, South
America, Central America, Europe,
Africa, and elsewhere.