The event: Diana Krall
She is capable of anything, Diana Krall: restoring luster to classics heard a thousand times, making contemporary jazz songs (her album The Girl in the Other Room remains a pearl in his discography), swing his piano and even the entire Bell Center. His last album, This Dream of You, is like several of the previous ones, that is to say quite soft. Those who have already seen her in concert know that you shouldn’t expect to be patted on the ear: Princess Diana has dog on stage. And that’s also a lot why we love him.
Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier at Place des Arts, Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
Alexandre Vigneault, The Press
Tribute show: Bïa sings Astrud Gilberto
PHOTO PROVIDED BY BÏA
Bïa with Elie Haroune and André Galamba de Maracuja
“That woman opened doors through which I am passing,” Bïa told The Press, at the time of the death of Astrud Gilberto, the immortal “daughter of Ipanema”. She therefore spontaneously offered the Festival international de jazz de Montréal to put on a concert in memory of her deceased compatriot. “We prepared something that includes our favorite songs like Insensate, Chega of Saudade, Corcovado And Aguas de Marcobut also compositions that could have been sung by the mischievous Joao Gilberto [son mari de 1959 à 1963] “says Bïa, who will perform with the group Maracuja, in a message to The Press.
Loto-Québec stage, at 10 p.m.
Alexandre Vigneault, The Press
Discovery: Mezerg
If a prize for the most bizarre instrument were awarded at the end of the festival, it would undoubtedly go to Marc Mezergue, alias Mezerg. This French keyboard player will probably not come with his “pianoboomboom” (which allows him to make big “beats” with an acoustic piano), but he will surely have his theremin, precursor of electronic instruments, invented in 1928 by the Russian scientist Lev Sergeyevich Termen (Leon Theremin), after whom he is named, whose story is otherwise incredible. This strange device works with waves and a singing antenna, which you never touch. And it’s very effective in a context of super groove techno music, like the one proposed by Mezerg.
Rio Tinto Stage, 8 p.m.
Jean-Christophe Laurence, The Press
Really Jazz: The Bad Plus
The Minneapolis non-conformist trio, which recently became a quartet without piano, but with sax, is nevertheless recognized for its covers of popular songs and its caustic performances in concert. He is a regular at the FIJM, and the band’s 23 years of existence have given us thrilling avant-garde moments, reminiscent of the paradoxical qualities of the late Esbjörn Svensson trio. Not once afraid to attack the Rite of Spring by Stravinsky by adapting the work with electroacoustic elements, The Bad Plus arrives on our premises with a new disc of the same name in the suitcases launched last year. For muscular ears!
National Monument, at 8 p.m.
Claude Côté, special collaboration
Discovery: Black Midi
The influence on the English music scene of this young quartet – now a trio – from London, born only six years ago, is major. We are here in the presence of three students from the music department of the BRIT School who live for experimentation and the amalgamation of genres. Post-punk and avant-jazz come together, while we detect a major love for spoken word, rap and funk. Geordie Greep (guitar, vocals), Cameron Picton (bass, vocals) and Morgan Simpson (drums… and what talent!) constitute the core of this juicy fruit, while musicians of wind instruments – trumpet and clarinet, especially – add to the flesh tasted by the listeners. This is a unique offer in this Festival.
Club Soda, 9 p.m. Opening act: Joseph Shabason
Philippe Beauchemin, The Press