Arts & Opinion.com
  Arts Culture Analysis  
Vol. 8, No. 3, 2009
 

     
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  Editor
Robert J. Lewis
 
  Senior Editor
Mark Goldfarb
 
  Contributing Editors
Bernard Dubé
David Solway
Robert Rotondo
Marissa Consiglieri de Chackal
 
  Music Editors
Emanuel Pordes
Diane Gordon
Serge Gamache
 
  Arts Editor
Lydia Schrufer
 
  Graphics
Mady Bourdage
 
  Photographer
Marcel Dubois
 
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Emanuel Pordes
 
 
 
  Past Jazz Contributors
 
 

Tommy Emmanuel
John Stetch
Susie Arioli
Coral Egan
Diana Krall
Stacey Kent
Carol Welsman
Aldo Romano
Denzal Sinclaire
Madeleine Peyroux
Bireli Lagrene
Sonido Isleño
Provost & Lachapelle
Samina
Kevin Breit
Sophie Milman
Annie Poulain
Coco
Badi Assad
Donato & Bouchard
Ingrid Jensen
John Roney
Russell Malone
David Binney
Kurt Rosenwinkel
Mimi Fox
Voo Doo Scat
Coral Egan
Martin Taylor
Jordon Officer
Melody Gardot
Jean Vanasse
Yves Léveillé

Montreal 2009 Off Jazz Festival - Montreal
Montreal Guitarissimo 2009 (Russell Malone, Stanley Jordon, Sylvain Provost etc
2008 Jazz en Rafale Festival (Montreal) - Mar. 27th - April 5th -- Tél. 514-490-9613 ext-101 (featuring David Binney)
Montreal Jazz Festival 2006 Montreal Guitar Show 2008

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Piano Keyboard

from Montreal

2009 OFF JAZZ FESTIVAL

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report filed by Marcel Dubois

 

© Marcel DuboisOne of the most overlooked aspects of jazz is its natural ability to combine with other genres of music. From gypsy to rock, or classical to rap, when music looks hard at its DNA, it invariably discovers itself in some sort of relationship with jazz. © Marcel DuboisThis fact was very much in evidence during Montreal’s 10th Off Jazz Festival, a relatively small festival that puts a big emphasis on its no holds barred programming – which makes it a favourite of musicians who want to try out new concepts and listeners who are tired of what is formulaic in music.

This year festival featured over 200 musicians and 36 concerts, many of them memorable. Unlike any other festival, the OFF is a referendum on the status of melody. Every group voiced an opinion on it. At one extreme, the avant-garde insisted that melody has nothing to do with the © Marcel Duboisdisjoined times we live in, while at the other end of the rainbow there were musicians who made the case that melody is as dear to the ear as oxygen is to the lungs. Whatever your views, the OFF guaranteed the spectrum of views got their fair hearing, without ever compromising the exploratory sprit of jazz.

Among this year’s festival highlights were the dazzling, Zappaesque guitar work of Stephen Johnston; the creative musicianship of Jean Vanasse and his Sextet, the thoughtful invention of saxophonist Chet Doxas and his trio, and a revelatory tribute to the creative genius of Charlie Mingus.© Marcel Dubois

One of the most interesting evenings was dedicated to the spoken word, accompanied by music. If the test of any jazz musician’s mettle is measured by his ability to listen in order to more effectively participate in the overall musical experience, bassist (and festival organizer) Christophe Papadimitriou accompaniment was © Marcel Dubois of Christophe Papadimitriouboth note and word perfect.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo © Marcel Dubois

 

 

 


 

 
John Coltrane
Miles Davis
Thelonius Monk
Charlie Mingus
Oscar Peterson
Charlie Parker
Dizzy Gillespie
Wes Montgomery
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