The Montreal Jazz festival has come and gone. Like Festivals from the past – it was a huge success. Unlike many Festivals from the past, what made this edition so unique was the diverse up and coming talent.
Willow delivered a jazz-infused set on the TD Stage and made a surprise appearance at Le Balcon. Kokoroko’s set of afrobeat and jazz on the Place des Festivals was an eye opener and Alfa Mist and pop sensation Izzy Escobar both captivated new audiences on the TD Stage.
Jazz-fusion and metal bassist Mohini Dey along with Canadian pianist Elysia Biro, both packed the house at Le Studio TD (ENTRÉE LIBRE TD). Flore Laurentienne and prodigy pianist Hania Rani raised the bar at the Maison Symphonique (LE FESTIVAL À LA MAISON SYMPHONIQUE ROGERS) causing a sensation.
Virtuosos took center stage, including trumpeter Skylar Tang, drummer Marcus Gilmore and saxophonist Tomoki Sanders. People of all ages discovered the Leeds-based outfit Gotts Street Park, who fused vintage soul with R&B. British singer Olive Jones, voiced, blues-infused eclectic magic on the Rogers Stage.
Palestinian star Saint Levant captivated the Place des Festivals and French Haitian singer Naïka drew praise from a massive crowd on the TD Stage. Zach Zoya and High Klassified re-established their dominance in jazz, hip-hop and contemporary music. Afro-Thai funk drummer Salin educated many drummers in attendance to levels they did not know existed.
Los Mirlos brought cumbia to the Rio Tinto Stage, El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico—a legendary salsa outfit with a career spanning over 60 years—honored the vast diversity of the Latin American diasporas in the crowd by inviting them to show their pride creating an unforgettable moment at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier.
Renowned worldwide as the largest jazz festival on the planet, the FIJM this year again solidified its status as an essential global cultural event. The festival continues to attract hundreds of thousands of tourists each summer, alongside journalists from every part of the globe. This year, 65 accredited journalists from 10 different countries and regions covered the festival, showcasing Montréal as an attractive destination and a major cultural epicenter for international tourism.
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