Jazz - my/maSCENA

Soloist Paul Merkelo, conductor Adam Johnson, and the OCM. Photo: Tam Lan Truong

Review | OCM Unable to Swing for Stellar Jazz Soloists

By Heather Weinreb on 28 February 2025 Concert Reviews, Jazz, Montreal, Orchestral, Piano

On Feb. 25, Orchestre Classique de Montréal (OCM) presented Jazz & Jeans in Montreal’s Pierre Mercure Hall. A program of great symphonic jazz repertoire—from Gershwin to Ellington to arrangements by Miles Davis—was played by an orchestra of jeaned musicians. Jeans are worn on casual days at work. For many, especially classically trained musicians, jazz is thought to be a more casual, laid-back style of music. Yet jazz has its own set of rules. Chord changes, swinging eighth notes, improvisation … the aspects that distinguish jazz from classical music demand serious study. Though they may have worn jeans, soloists Paul Merkelo…

Marc-André Hamelin (piano) and Orchestre symphonique de Montréal conducted by Rafael Payare. Photo: Antoine Saito

Review | Marc-André Hamelin & OSM Swing in The Roaring Twenties

By Amanda Wong on 24 February 2025 Canadian Music, Concert Reviews, Jazz, Montreal, Orchestral

The Roaring Twenties was an age of dramatic social and economic change, fabulous fashion, and of course, great music. A century onwards, Orchestre symphonique de Montréal celebrated the 1920s with Montreal native Marc-André Hamelin on keys and Rafael Payare conducting in an evening of jazz, swing, and ragtime tunes popularized by the era. What you missed Hamelin’s dapper white jacket stood out in the spotlight as he played Edward Elzear “Zez” Confrey’s Kitten on the Keys solo on a small upright piano to the right of the stage, the program opener. The piece’s jaunty and ragtime feel imitated a cat…

Bourgie Hall. Photo: Julia Marois.

Jazz: Bourgie Hall

By Félix-Antoine Hamel on 31 January 2025 City, Jazz, La Scena Online, Montreal, Scena Jazz

A Chick Corea Rarity Since its opening in 2011, Bourgie Hall has become an indispensable venue for Montreal concertgoers. Situated within the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, the concert hall—a beautiful, converted 19th-century Romanesque Revival-style church—has presented, within its walls, such renowned performers as Víkingur Ólafsson, Alexandre Tharaud, The Tallis Scholars and Andreas Scholl. While such a setting is ideal for chamber music and singers, jazz also plays a growing part in the hall’s programming. In the 2024-25 season, no fewer than nine jazz concerts are featured. For Olivier Godin, the venue’s artistic director for three seasons, the hall’s added…

La Nef: Montréal la magnifique

By Arnaud G. Veydarier on 31 January 2025 Jazz, Montreal, Quebec Music, Strings, Winds

Although few traces remain of Montreal’s Roaring Twenties era, the city was once renowned as an oasis of pleasure and transgression—where cabarets, illegal gambling and prostitution drew crowds in search of daring theatrical presentations and clandestine parties. This cultural and social ferment shaped the city’s nocturnal imagination, an era that La Nef intends to bring back to life with its concert Montréal la magnifique. Presented on April 2 under the direction of singer-songwriter and accordionist Steve Normandin, the show will bring together the talents of Guillaume Bourque (clarinet), Serge Lavoie (guitar), Clinton Ryder (double bass) and Catherine Meunier (percussion). “Sin…

École de musique Vincent-d’Indy’s Open House

By Newswire on 7 January 2025 Classical Music, Education, Jazz, Montreal, Newswire

On February 4th, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., École de musique Vincent-Indy opens its doors! During this lively evening, visitors will be able to learn about the pre-university programs in classical and jazz music (501.A0) and the double DEC offered in collaboration with Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf (Musique et Sciences de la nature (200.11), Musique et Sciences humaines (300.11) et Musique et Arts, lettres et communication (500.11)). Teachers and students will be on hand to present the four profiles offered to : Perfect your playing techniques: Interprétation profile (classical – jazz); Deepen an interest in musical composition: Création profile (classical -…

Photo: Tam Photography

Review | Rhapsody in Blue‘s 100th: Romance and American Jazz with Jean-Philippe Sylvestre

By Amanda Wong on 4 October 2024 Concert Reviews, Jazz, Montreal

George Gershwin was born on September 26, 1898; it was only fitting that his most beloved piece Rhapsody in Blue, written 100 years ago, would be celebrated in Montreal on what would have been his 126th birthday. In a night of romance and American jazz, Montérégie’s very own Jean-Philippe Sylvestre filled Maison Symphonique on Sept. 26h for a solo piano concert that also included Frédéric Chopin’s Nocturnes and Leonard Bernstein’s “Symphonic Dances” from West Side Story. Sylvestre has won many awards worldwide, the First Prize and Audience Prize from the OSM Competition, the esteemed Virginia Parker Prize, and the John…

Darcy James Argue, Ph. L. Beyerstein

Summer Festival Record Round-up

By Félix-Antoine Hamel on 31 May 2024 CD and Book Reviews, Jazz, Scena Jazz

To supplement to our summer issue, here are a few record reviews from artists touring Canada this season. On the one hand, one could say that the group Bellbird, singer Sarah Jerrom and saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin are birds of a feather; on the other, composer and bandleader Darcy James Argue offers what certainly ought to be his magnum opus; finally, saxophonist journeyman George Coleman is caught in full flight for a set that measures up to many a classic live album of yesteryear. Root in Tandem Bellbird — Self-released, 2023. The bellbird (or Procnias) is known as the world’s loudest…

Photo: Mark Miller

Newswire | Canadian jazz legend Dr. Phil Nimmons dies at 100

By Newswire on 10 April 2024 Jazz, Newswire

April 10, 2024 – With deep sadness, the family of Phil Nimmons announces that on Friday, April 5th, Phil passed away peacefully at home. As Phil would say, he has “gone to the land of 2 ‘n’ 4.” He is survived by his children Holly, Carey and Spencer, his grandchildren Sean, Justin, Melinda, Sasha, Phillip, and Colleen, his great-grandchild Atticus, and countless more whom he considered family. Born in Kamloops and raised in Vancouver BC, Phil, as he would have you call him studied at the University of British Columbia before heading to the Juilliard School of Music in New…

Newswire | Maison Musicale de Warwick: Yannick Rieu & Generation quartet

By Newswire on 28 March 2024 Jazz, La Scena Online, Newswire

Warwick, March 28, 2024 – For his new project “Generation Quartet”, Yannick Rieu will be surrounded by 3 musicians among the most talented of their generation. This group will be made up of pianist Jonathan Cayer, double bassist Guy Boisvert and drummer André White. As its name suggests, the “Generation Quartet” project makes possible a dialogue between two generations of musicians who, over the years and shared experiences, have developed a particular chemistry, a sound of their own. One foot in the jazz tradition, the other in innovation, this group is characterized by the great cohesion of its members, who…

Marielle Roberts, Anna Webber (Photo: Evan Shay)

Something Old, Something New – Two Recent Montreal Performances

By Marc Chénard on 19 March 2024 City, Concert Reviews, Jazz, La Scena Online, Montreal

It might not be too well-known for those outside of North-America that February coincides with Black History Month, a tradition set in 1976, exactly a half century after its initial instalment on a smaller scale, originally designated as Negro History Week. While the bulk of activities take place in the United States, Canada also has its hand in the pie, so to speak. FIRST ACT: Charles Tolliver—Africa Brass (and more) / Febr. 28, McGill University In Montreal for instance, the month came to a close with a performance befitting of the occasion. The fact that it took place on the eve…

Browsing: Jazz