Albums from here
Small but rich selection of Quebec jazz albums to be released in the coming weeks: on February 16, the young Montreal composer and drummer Will Regnier will launch his first album, Traces, which he will then present at the Sala Rossa on March 23, in a quartet format – his jazz sometimes escapes towards folk, sometimes towards progressive rock. March 23 will also mark the return of Susie Arioliwho will offer the album Embraceable. The composer, pianist and band leader of French origin Simon Denizart will have the album Piece of Mind to be presented on March 29. The season will also be an opportunity to mark the 25the anniversary of the Effendi record company (we’ll come back to that!), which has three projects on the calendar: the release of the album Unicum of the composer and pianist Felix Stüssi and the whole SuperNova 4 (launch concerts on 1er and February 2 at Dièse Onze), an album from the quintet of the composer and saxophonist Elisabeth Provencher (sometime in April), and a duo album from the percussionist Marie-Josée Simard and the pianist Francois Bourassaexpected in May.
Jazz on stage
The composer and bassist Carl Mayotte had a good flash: why not do a tour of the music conservatories of Quebec? Six dates, between January 28 (Montreal) and March 28 (Trois-Rivières), including March 16 as part of the Rimouski Festijazz. But to the eminent American pianist Brad Mehldau to launch the jazz season, he who will come to the Maison symphonique on January 26 — the Montrealer Taurey Butler will in turn move the ivories as a trio the next day, at Upstairs. Six months after presenting her trilogy of recordings, the composer and pianist Marianne Trudel will join the saxophonist Yannick Rieu to present, at the Cinquième Salle of Place des Arts, a concert with the Orchester national de jazz de Montréal, February 17. Two other recommendations from international artists: first the singer Lady Blackbird, American by origin, but British by adoption, will be at Studio TD on February 24, then, on April 23, the young jazz singer-songwriter British R&B Jacob Collier will treat himself to nothing less than Place Bell.
Africa at large
The Nigerian afrobeat scene has not completed its global conquest; we will monitor two prestigious visits, starting with that of the Nigerian Burna Boy. Two years after his triumph at the Osheaga festival, we will see him again at the Bell Center — two evenings rather than one! —, February 28 and 29 (the 28th is already sold out). His colleague Davido, he will tread the boards at Place Bell on April 19. Until then, the Canadian singer of South African origin Lorraine Klaasen will celebrate his 40th career on February 10 at the Fairmount Theater. Headliner of the outdoor section of the last International Festival of African Nights, the composer and kora player Sona Jobarteh will return to the National on March 8. Finally, wassoulou music will be embodied first by the brilliant Malian musician Fatoumata Diawarawho will visit us on March 30 at the Beanfield theater (Corona), then by her colleague Oumou Sangaréexpected at MTelus on April 21.
Music masala
Great visit! On March 28, the tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain will perform at the Maisonneuve Theater, in the company of flautist Debopriya Chatterjee and Sabir Khan, sarangi virtuoso — it has been a long time since we have seen such a prestigious recital of Indian classical music in Montreal. But first, on January 28, it is the return to Quebec, after ten years of absence, of the German singer and actress Ute Lemperwho will offer a recital called From Berlin to Broadway at the Maison symphonique. Japanese percussion ensemble Drum Tao will mark its 30e anniversary at the Maisonneuve theater on January 30; for the first time in Montreal (at the Cinquième Salle at Place des Arts), the new star of tango Laura Cadabon, bandoneonist, will perform in an all-female quartet format on February 27. Fusing jazz, blues from his Louisiana origins, funk and pop, the composer and pianist Jon Batiste will give a concert at MTelus
on March 13.
Journey to the South
The year that has just ended has attracted many stars from the Latin American music scene to Montreal, and the year that has just begun promises to be just as fruitful. It begins with the stopover, at the Bell Center on February 22, of the tour The Trilogy heavy weights Enrique Iglesias, Pitbull and Ricky Martin. Next, a rare visit: the Mexican cumbia sonidera orchestra (in which traditional instruments share the stage with synths) Los Angeles Azules will be at MTelus on March 6. Eleven days later, the turn of the “king of reggaeton”, the Puerto Rican Don Omar, to ignite Place Bell (March 17). And speaking of royalty, two sons of Bob Marley, Damian And Stephen Marley, will share the stage at MTelus on March 26 — undoubtedly the biggest reggae concert of the year in Montreal. Apotheosis of the carnival calendar, Mardi Gras will finally be celebrated in Montreal as it should be, on February 13 at the Sala Rossa, in the company of Waahliof Winston Band and some Island fanfare.