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Place des Arts
This fall, Place des Arts’s programming includes a Dance of Sands concert presented by Lebanese artist Aleph and his orchestra on Oct. 21 at Théâtre Maisonneuve. On the menu: a refined blend of jazz, flamenco and oriental music. On Nov. 22, Greek singer Nikos Vertis presents a selection of hits and songs from his latest album at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier.
Next year kicks off with a Chinese New Year’s gala on Jan. 12 at Théâtre Maisonneuve, with Feng Hua Xue Yue 2025, directed by Singaporean lyric coloratura soprano Han Yong, accompanied by China-ASEAN host Chen Mingzhen. The celebrations include dance performances, ballet, classical song and dance, instrumental pieces, and martial arts demonstrations.
On Nov. 26, Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier celebrates the 60th anniversary of the career of the great Mediterranean artist Enrico Macias, who is making his final tour of Quebec. And on March 13, that venue welcomes the Japanese collective Kodo, who present their new work Warabe. It showcases performances to the sound of drums, with pieces from the classical repertoire inspired by Japanese stories. The opening number features a traditional deer dance (Shishi Odori) with a blend of taiko (Japanese drum) sonic expressions and haunting vibrations, evoking a wide range of profound emotions. www.placedesarts.ca
Mundial Montréal
North America’s leading world-music summit is holding its 14th edition Nov. 19-22, with the participation of some 30 showcase artists and more than 300 Canadian and international world-music professionals in a series of concerts, panels, meetings, workshops and networking sessions.
Pending the unveiling of the full program, organizers have announced the first wave of official showcase artists: the Jeremy Ledbetter Trio (contemporary jazz), with pianist Ledbetter joined by Grammy-winning drummer Larnell Lewis of Snarky Puppy and electric bassist Rich Brown; Les Rats d’Swompe, with their fusion of rock, trad, pop and punk; Haitian-born Montreal singer Magdala, with her soulful vocals on songs from her repertoire inspired by gospel, zouk, kompa, dancehall and R&B; the instrumental trio Misc, whose musical explorations combine jazz with a variety of musical influences including electro, pop and rock; and Mexican artist NUNNE, whose acoustic Latin music features poignant lyrics rich in history.
Also on the program are Hawaiian-born guitarist Ron Artis II, whose compositions span rock, blues and jazz, as well as classical, flamenco, rap and R&B; Montreal artist JACE Carillo, who explores the sounds of electro-pop and contemporary folk-tronica; and Spanish artist Laura Low, whose daring mixes of Canary Island folk, pop, R&B and classical music set her apart. As for the Rabie Houti Band, their fusion of traditional Algerian violin, blues guitars and modern percussion is a real treat. Mundial Montréal 2024 will also feature the participation of Innu multidisciplinary artist Soleil Launière, Radio-Canada 2024 revelation, as part of the Accents Indigenous series. www.mundialmontreal.com
African Nights
The year-round program of Nuits d’Afrique begins on Sept. 5 at Club Balattou with the Senegalese artist Sahad. A musical journey through a range of genres: African music, jazz, blues, folk and funk.
As part of its Acoustic Cabaret, on Sept. 6, Nuits d’Afrique presents Team Salsa Sextet. This collective led by Marc Knight offers a fusion between New York and Afro-Caribbean salsa, featuring powerful trombones and energetic percussion. On Sept. 7, Aboulaye Koné and Bolo Kan presents an evening dedicated to the musical riches of West Africa with compositions combining modern and traditional, jazz and Mandingo , bringing guitar into harmony with the djembe, a traditional percussion instrument. On Sept. 8, Pawket People, a group formed in the United States, mixes funk, soul and R&B, drawing from a wide variety of musical influences. They combine syncopation, energetic horn sections, and striking harmonies for a result that is as innovative as it is classic. www.festivalnuitsdafrique.com
Gesù Amphitheater
At the Gesù church’s side space, watch out for two exciting concerts. On Nov. 21, Montreal soprano of Algerian origin Fairouz Oudjida presents Arab Divas. On the menu, interpretations of works by big names in Arabic song: Oum Kalthoum, Fairuz, Asmahan and Warda. This tribute to these legends of Middle Eastern music by a singer nicknamed the “Diva of the Desert” is presented by the Festival du Monde Arabe de Montréal.
On Nov. 30, meet Mohsen Namjoo, a singer-songwriter of Iranian origin. This New York-based artist presents, with his orchestra, a selection of his successful pieces in Farsi and English. The originality of this artist, considered the voice of the hopes of his country’s youth, lies in his works harmonizing compositions for electric guitar, particularly in rock and blues styles, with music from the classical Persian repertoire and his traditional avaz songs. This great representative of new trends in world music has attracted the attention of major media, such as the New York Times, The Guardian and the BBC. www.legesu.com
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