News Release For immediate distribution Harry Connick, Jr. Prizewinner of the 2007 Ella Fitzgerald Award , Friday, June 29, 2007 – The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal is proud to announce the awarding of the 2007 Ella Fitzgerald Award to internationally renowned singer Harry Connick, Jr. He will be given the award at a press briefing to be held this afternoon at 1:00 p.m., at the Salon Mont-Royal in the Hyatt Regency Montréal. He will also be presented with his trophy on stage at his concert tomorrow, Saturday, June 30, at 8 p.m. in the Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier at Place des Arts as part of the Pleins feux General Motors series. Harry Connick, Jr. is the ninth recipient of the Ella Fitzgerald Award, created in 1999 for the 20th anniversary of the Festival. The prize is awarded to jazz singers whose improvisational skills, originality and uniqueness of voice have been universally praised on the international scene. As a child of , it’s no surprise that Harry Connick, Jr., has music in his blood. At the early age of 10, he was already playing with a local jazz orchestra, and then in clubs in the French quarter. Countless piano awards later—at the ripe age of 19—already very franksinatresque in style, he released his first album on the Columbia label. But Connick also has close ties with the film world: as an actor, obviously, but also as a singer and composer. This talented crooner and pianist carries Louisiana in his heart and soul, notably in his two recent albums entitled Oh, My Nola and Chanson du Vieux Carré. His concert My New Orleans Tour is a moving ode to New Orleans. In accepting the prize, Harry Connick, Jr., will be following previous Ella Fitzgerald prizewinners Etta James (2006), Al Jarreau (2005) Tony Bennett (2004), Bobby McFerrin (2003), Dianne Reeves (2002), Diana Krall (2001), Dee Dee Bridgewater (2000) and Diane Schuur (1999). - 30 - Source: Festival International de Jazz de Montréal – Press Room: 514 509-2000 Media Information: Marie-Eve Boisvert, Media Relations Director - 514 509-2000; [email protected] Alain Des Ruisseaux, Press Attaché – 514 509-2000; [email protected] Download photos and press kits at the following address: ftp://ftp.montrealjazzfest.com user name: fijmcommclient password: fijmcomm2007 Public Information: Bell Info-Jazz Line – 514 871-1881 or toll free 1-888-515-0515; montrealjazzfest.com