Jazz - my/maSCENA

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…

Newswire | Julian Lage, Veronica Swift and SUMAC with Moor Mother to Perform at the 2024 Vancouver International Jazz Festival

By Newswire on 19 March 2024 Jazz, Newswire, Vancouver

(Vancouver, BC) – Coastal Jazz is pleased to announce performances by guitarist Julian Lage, vocal jazz singer Veronica Swift, and post-metal supergroup SUMAC with an opening set by poet and musician Moor Mother during the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, June 21 to 30, 2024. Tickets for all shows are available for purchase by the general public at www.coastaljazz.ca on Thursday, March 21 at 10:00 am PDT. The 39th edition of the Vancouver International Jazz Festival will offer a balance of free and ticketed performances, including the return of Downtown Jazz, a free concert series outside the Vancouver Art Gallery on…

André Leroux (au centre) avec François Bourassa, Karen Young, Rémi-Jean Leblanc et John Hollenbeck. Photo: Félix-Antoine Hamel

Leroux et le rythme – En concert

By Félix-Antoine Hamel on 19 March 2024 City, Experimental Jazz, Jazz, La Scena Online, Montreal, Scena Jazz

On ne présente plus le saxophoniste André Leroux au public montréalais : dans le dernier quart de siècle, il s’est imposé autant auprès des amateurs de jazz (par sa longue collaboration avec François Bourassa) que du côté du public de la musique contemporaine (au sein du quatuor de saxophones Quasar) Le 22 février dernier, à la Salle Bourgie, le ténor sexagénaire proposait une soirée baptisée André Leroux & ses amis ; les amis en question étant annoncés comme le batteur John Hollenbeck, le contrebassiste Rémi-Jean Leblanc, et évidemment le vieux comparse du saxophoniste, le pianiste François Bourassa, en plus d’une invitée…

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