A fireworks barrage helped close out Ben Harper and Relentless7's second encore late yesterday night as the 30th edition of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal wound to a halt after thirteen days. Look through the festival's website to get an idea what a colossal undertaking this was. A revelation, really, to this calcified and culturally-deprived observer - I saw more quality shows in the last week and a half than in the previous fifteen years in my former Calgary digs. And it was all free!* So, a very large merci beaucoups to this year's organizers and volunteers for making it possible.
*In addition, of course, were a number of indoor paid-attendance shows unattainable to this moth-pocketed blogger. Among the performers: Wayne Shorter, Joshua Redman, Kenny Garrett, Kool and the Gang, Jackson Browne, Tony Bennett, Buddy Guy, King Sunny Adé, Branford Marsalis, Charlie Haden... update...Jeff Beck
In this post, a few select photos from Friday, July 10, plus some crowd shots from last night:
Above, bet.e, bossa nova stylings from Montreal. Below, Quebec-born keyboardist Valérie Cormier with her five-piece band (drummer not shown), high energy electro-jazz with rock-inflected guitar licks and incandescent horn solos.
Unfortunately, I missed the big Patrick Watson extravaganza. Just couldn't get down here every night.
Part of the fun was just milling about with the crowds. I should say thanks to the thousands of anonymous visitors who provided me with subject matter as we waited for the shows to begin. I've posted a few of my favorites.
Note: And thanks, also, to you readers for tolerating the dodgy focus and grainy image quality of many of my Jazzfest images. Handheld telephoto and low light - dangerous combination. Enthusiasm got the better of me.
Below, I caught the tail end of these energetic and determinedly goofy acrobats cavorting to gypsy music and engaging with the crowd.
Random spectator stuff to follow:
