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JAZZ NEWSFLASH A Special Opening Event Starring the Neville Brothers! The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal lends its support to the City of New Orleans By Ann Braithwait
Montreal, Tuesday, June 27th, 2006 - Few groups so thoroughly embody the spirit of the City of New Orleans as The Neville Brothers, and this year it's the legendary natives of the Big Easy who'll be launching the 27th edition of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal (Montreal International Jazz Festival), the biggest event of its kind, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Presented in collaboration with the State of Louisiana, which will be serving both figuratively and literally as backdrop to the event, artists will be appearing before a giant reproduction of a painting by the remarkable Louisiana native Francis X. Pavy, whose work is being honoured this year at the Galerie du Festival. The free exterior show represents an extraordinary opportunity for festival visitors to see and hear the group formed way back in 1977. Get ready to hear their greatest hits plus selections from their new album Walkin' In The Shadow Of Life-probably their best since the classic Yellow Moon. The special event marking the opening of this year's festival will take place on the Main Stage, directly in the heart of downtown Montreal, on Thursday, June 29th starting at 9 p.m. Quebec and Louisiana share deep historical and cultural ties. Organizers of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal created the show in the hope of sensitizing the general public to the importance of re-embracing the southern states and supporting those who continue to make it their home. Almost a year after Katrina, New Orleans is once again ready to welcome tourists whose return is essential to its complete revival. The cradle of jazz and the melting pot of so many musical influences is open for business again. Festival organizers hope to give Louisiana a push in the right direction, while at the same time giving festival goers a super-special treat. Also appearing at the 27th edition of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal will be McCoy Tyner, Brad Mehldau, Etta James, Salif Keita, John Pizzarelli, Dave Brubeck, John Zorn, Wayne Shorter, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Pharoah Sanders, Ravi Coltrane, Aldo Romano, Yusef Lateef, Bonnie Raitt, Baaba Maal, Amadou and Mariam, Keb' Mo' and hundreds of other artists.
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Altogether there are about 150 ticketed interior shows and over 350 free exterior shows taking place on the vast downtown Festival site, which is closed to traffic for the duration of the 11-day event. JAZZ EVENTS "A Tribute to Dick Hyman," Bill Charlap. Jazz in July at the 92nd St. Y , 92nd St. Y. Wednesday, July 19th, 2006 8:00 PM. Ted Rosenthal Trio, Watercolor Cafe. Larchmont, NY, Friday, July 21st, 2006 8:30 PM. Bill Charlap/Ted Rosenthal Master Class with students from Juilliard and Queens College. Jazz in July Master Class, 92nd St. Y, 92nd St. and Lexington Ave. New York. Monday, July 24th, 2006 8:15 PM.
Photo: Drummer Reuben Hoch. Drummer Reuben Hoch celebrates the release of his new CD "Of Recent Time" (The Naim Label) in two NYC concerts: Thursday, July 20 at 7:30 p.m. with The Chassidic Jazz Project at Makor, 35 W. 67th Street (at Central Park West), NYC. The Chassidic Jazz Project features Hoch with Dave Liebman on saxophones, Pete McCann on guitar, Lev Ljova Zhurbin on viola, Will Martina on cello,and Ed Schuller on bass. As Bill Donaldson says in Jazz Improv Magazine: "Unapologetically liturgical, the music of the Chassidic Jazz Project celebrates the music of Jewish religious observances with the improvisational freedom of jazz, energized by Hoch's drumming. Indeed, many of the racks are distinguished by the incorporation of unconventional meters, which drive the tunes with swirling and arresting movement. " Sunday, July 23 from 7:30 - 9 p.m. Hoch performs on the 4th McMahon Jazz Medicine Concert, 545 West 45th Street, 7th Floor, NYC. Tickets $35 in advance, $50 at the door. Joining Hoch are long-time collaborators saxophonist Dave Liebman, pianist Don Friedman and bassist Ed Schuller. CONTINUES ON P129
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Photo: The
Neville Brothers.
DRUMMER REUBEN HOCH
CELEBRATES RELEASE OF TRIO CD "OF RECENT TIME" IN TWO NYC CONCERTS:
THURSDAY, JULY 20 AT MAKOR WITH HIS CHASSIDIC JAZZ PROJECT. SUNDAY, JULY 23.