Virtual Jazz Fest is
good news for jazz fans

Free live-streaming of the 41st Montreal International Jazz Festival available until July 30

By Byron Toben

Hey, jazz (and good music in general) fans…

If you missed the innovative 2020 four-day live-streamed version of the 41st Montreal International Jazz Festival, you can still view portions or the whole at your leisure until July 30!

In my last article, I re-visited the history of this ever-popular event and suggested a few of my own tips “sound unheard” for the 24 selections.

Having watched the whole from June 27 to June 30, I am satisfied with my gut feeling recommendations and now add below a few others that impressed me after actually viewing them. But first, some overall comments.

Bia

The organizers succeeded admirably in retaining the “feel” of the massive indoor/outdoor doings, although limited to 20 streamed local performers augmented by 4 filmed headliners from the past.

The three major supporters had a virtual location all within the specially retrofitted L’Astral jazz space. They all took place between 6 pm and 8:23 pm each evening. Each streaming lasted 20 minutes and the filmed Trésors, 67 minutes each.

If you missed the innovative 2020 four-day live-streamed version of the 41st Montreal International Jazz Festival, you can still view portions or the whole at your leisure until July 30!

The SAQ sponsored four shows, the TD sponsored eight and Rio Tinto sponsored eight. Also, the TD and Rio Tinto jointly sponsored the 4 filmed Trésors of past years. Loto Québec sponsored a lone 10 pm late show on the opening night.

A cheerful spokeswoman announced the next appearance en français between acts. Sorry, I missed her name. Let us know if you have it.

To view the festival until July 30 go to montrealjazzfest.com where you will be presented with “buttons”, one for each date of the original show. Click and off you go.

Marianne Trudel

My post fest comments

FOUR FILMED CLASSICS (Trésors)

Oscar Peterson and Oliver Jones (2004)
… did not seem to include Oliver. It was apparently clipped from a longer show with both, but no complaint. Oscar on piano was wonderful and Oliver can be seen independently on other platforms.

Miles Davis (1986)
… was as inventive and eccentric as always, wandering around with his specially built trumpet and generously giving time to the various talented soloists in his band.

Sarah Vaughan (1983)
I love the versatility of this vocalist. Ranging from two of my favourite composers – George Gershwin (Someone to Watch Over Me) and Cole Porter (From This Moment On) – to pop standards to just “riffing”, a real delight.

Charlotte Cardin

STREAMED LOCAL ACTS

Those I particularly enjoyed… seemed to be all female.

Bia
… on guitar and song has a bit of a Latin beat influence.

Marianne Trudel
… on piano, was the only performer wearing a mask throughout her show, accompanied by drum and guitar.

Charlotte Cardin
A cool singer on keyboard

Elisapie

Elisapie
This vocalist included some songs in her Inuit language.

The future

The Montreal International Jazz Festival has included occasional shows between its June extravaganzas, so should this (expletive) virus continue, the know-how gained this June may prove valuable both to it and other musical outdoorsies.

In the meantime… keep smiling and jiving!

Feature image: Bia
All images: courtesy of the Montreal International Jazz Festival – L’Équipe Spectra

Read more articles from Byron Toben

Byron Toben, a past president of The Montreal Press Club, has been WestmountMag.ca’s theatre reviewer since July 2015. Previously, he wrote for since terminated web sites Rover Arts and Charlebois Post, print weekly The Downtowner and print monthly The Senior Times. He also is an expert consultant on U.S. work permits for Canadians.