Canada certainly has its act together when it comes to jazz festivals. With some 20 member organizations, the Jazz Festivals Canada network enables events to share both costs and musicians on tour in the early weeks of summer. Starting this month, both native players and guests from down south and beyond will criss-cross the land, from Victoria to Halifax. With a wide selection of styles, ranging from pop to experimental jazz, fans of all stripes have more to choose from. Here are just a few acts to watch out for. Sure Bets Joe Lovano Classic Quartet Arguably the quintessential American…
Browsing: Experimental Jazz
François Bourassa’s Pianorama In the years following his breakthrough as winner of the Montreal Jazz Festival Competition in 1985, pianist François Bourassa has constantly evolved. Over time he has worked his way out of the Bill Evans bag he first played in (with a few touches of McCoy Tyner), delving into a wide range of music, from the mainstream to the avant-garde. The addition of tenor saxophonist André Leroux to his trio in 1997 provided extra grit, and from then on every new recording was like a stepping stone. More than that, he has shown some daring in his choice…
Whatever the season, there is always live music to catch somewhere, but the sap really starts flowing come spring. The New Trumpet Festival and the Effendi Jazz en Rafale event in March are the first wakeup calls, and by the looks of it the next two months have plenty in store for music fans of all stripes. For those who like their music with an edge, Monday, April 4, is a good start: The highly touted tenor saxophonist and flutist Anna Webber returns from her New York home base to the city with pianist Matt Mitchell and new Montreal resident,…