News Release For immediate distribution Re-cap of the 27th edition of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal: Healthy attendance for a vintage year! Montreal, Monday, July 10th, 2006 – If the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal was particularly successful this year, it’s almost entirely due to the extraordinary mix of artistry that marked this 27th edition of the event. Not that we haven’t come to expect surprises, but this year was a true feast for the ears and eyes. Featuring a whole lot of new blood and an astonishing variety of hybrid genres, this year 30 countries were represented at the Festival—a record number—including Italy (with Suono Italia), featured country of the Festival, which we welcomed as we would an old friend. Special honours at this year’s event were also given to the State of Louisiana, the birthplace of jazz and scene of last year’s natural disaster. As the public has grown to expect, it wasn’t just jazz but its many musical relatives that were heard throughout the site. Even the series devoted to the good ol’ blues took on a new vitality. So maybe we shouldn’t be surprised that this year’s Festival enjoyed record-breaking ticket sales, with a full 50 of the 150 indoor shows completely sold out. The beautiful exterior site was better arranged than ever, and the exterior program of about 350 free shows registered a healthy attendance of at least 2 million visits, once again demonstrating Montrealers’ diverse musical interests. Even though storm clouds darkened the first few days of the event, Mother Nature herself finally surrendered to the crowds’ enthusiasm at the second Grand événement. Indoors, it was a special honour to welcome our New York neighbour Paul Simon whose show left nothing to be desired and who most definitely earned his special prize, created just this year to underscore his exceptional contribution to the evolution of popular music through his integration of jazz, blues and so many other musical forms. Brad Mehldau (winner of the 2006 Miles-Davis Award) was in town to open this 27th edition, as was Dave Brubeck to close the interior program. Etta James received the Ella-Fitzgerald Award and Salif Keita was given the Antonio Carlos Jobim Award. B.B. King, John Pizzarelli, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Amadou and Mariam, The Roots and Nils Petter Molvaer performed with aplomb. But the Festival also featured local musicians, like Yannick Rieu (winner of the 2006 Oscar Peterson Award), Susie Arioli and, in a special creation, the Lorraine Desmarais Big Band. Steve Amirault, Michel Donato and Jean-François Groulx, as well as the winner of the Grand Prix de Jazz General Motors—the David Virelles Quintet—performed. The Radio-Canada Prix Étoiles Galaxie went to Phantom Power Combo Deluxe for its composition “One Shoe Blues”. David Clayton-Thomas was in town, as was Louisiana native Allen Toussaint, who was given an especially warm reception at this year’s Festival. A number of European stars were in town, too, including Biréli Lagrène (to host the Invitation series), Aldo Romano, and a number of other Italian jazzmen. The new Piano solo à Bon Pasteur series saw a great line-up of terrific pianists. The free exterior program was anchored around three major mega-events, each totally different from the others. In town to open this year’s Festival were New Orleans icons The Neville Brothers. Closing the event was Goran Bregovic and his Wedding and Funeral Band, bringing a wild Balkan breeze to the downtown last night. And right in the middle of the Festival was the impressive Tribute to Paul Simon, from which we’re still getting goose-bumps. The richness and diversity of Simon’s music was done more than justice by the richness and diversity of the performers whose combined presence on stage spoke eloquently of the inclusive spirit of our Festival. This year, for the first time, an artist took up residence in the Savoy du Métropolis, every night at 7 p.m. throughout the Festival. And judging from attendance, it proved a welcome idea when silky-voiced singer Willow established both her artistic mettle and the viability of the new concept. Such was also the case for the group Phantom Power Combo Deluxe who received the Prix Étoiles Galaxie from Radio-Canada. Along with Willow, they confirmed the suitability of the Savoy as a jazz club, fairly oozing with warmth and intimacy. The Second Edition of the MMMIS Anyone present for the first edition of the Montreal Musicians and Musical Instrument Show (MMMIS) would have been flabbergasted by its growth in just one year. Three times the number of exhibitors were on hand this time around—140, or hundred more than 2005!—including 90 luthiers and other instrument makers from various countries plus about 50 kiosks set up by major brand names. Thousands of visitors eager to deepen their knowledge of music stopped by. The place des luthiers was reason enough to take the time: hundreds of products by the finest hand-crafters of instruments were on display for the beholding of amateurs and professionals alike. Italy was the featured country at the MMMIS this year, as it was at the Festival, sending a contingent of 30 instrument makers. There was even a display of the superb ceramics created in the Umbria region. A total of 70 interactive events were offered free of charge to visitors. Some exhibitors offered introductory one-hour guitar and saxophone lessons to anyone interested. Half-hour harmonica courses were on the menu, too, and it was a pleasure to observe ordinary passersby enjoying their first music-making experience. Many demonstrated their newfound abilities at the hugely popular Drum Circle, a meeting place for percussionists, or at the guitar jam that took place at the end of the day, where anyone who wanted to could bring their axe and let loose. The Meet the Artist series shed new light on otherwise well-known artists, including Salif Keita, Daniel Lanois and Bonnie Raitt, who answered questions from the public with such warmth and interest that everyone wished we could have kept them there a bit longer. But the biggest thrills were to be had at the very cool, very exclusive, and real up-close workshops at this year’s MMMIS, a terrific formula whereby members of the public could meet up with especially invited artists, who’d invariably grab their respective instruments and play a few riffs for the awe-inspired. They were terrific evenings enjoyed unanimously by everyone who attended the informal gatherings, hosted by such artists as Nano, Pat Martino, Rick Haworth and the devilish Kaki King in the Salon Jeanne-Mance of the Hyatt Regency Montréal. Another innovation this year was the Guitar Guitar Series, four free shows presented by XM Radio Satellite which included the Tribute to Robert Godin event, dedicated to the famous Quebec guitar-maker who received a special Tribute Award from the MMMIS. The other three events were the Programme Double, the Blues extravaganza and Jazz Folie. Teens were given a special treat this year when 55 talented youngsters from 13 to 17 years old were selected (from the 500 who showed up to audition) to take part in the free new Camp de blues, a week of intensive blues lessons presented by TD Canada Trust Musique. Included in the deal were seven days of apprenticeship under the supervision of professional musicians and teachers, teaching theory and practice, plus backstage visits with performers at the Festival, all culminating in a live show of their own, on stage at the scène Club Jazz TD Canada Trust on the last day of this 27th edition of the Festival. Their excellent performance was proof positive that the torch had been passed and that the blues will live on from generation to generation. A 27th edition that will remain in everyone’s heart! It was kudos all round for programmers’ excellent selections for this year’s 27th edition. The Tribute to Paul Simon (under the direct artistic supervision of André Ménard) was a blast, and included Ariane Moffatt, Bedouin Soundclash, Colin James, Daniel Lanois, Michel Rivard and Zachary Richard who all delivered distinctively personal versions from the songbook of the great American songwriter. Amparanoïa wowed the crowds in a big way and Jamie Cullum was a huge hit, too, not just for his turn on stage during the tribute show, but for his own presentation and even during rehearsal. The opening Neville Brothers show was an obvious crowd-pleaser, as were Goran Bregovic and his Wedding and Funeral Band, who closed the Festival last night. A number of concerts and performances were particularly satisfying for Co-Founder and Artistic Director of the Festival André Ménard. First of all: Jamie Cullum, Jamie Cullum and Jamie Cullum! But also John Zorn, Brad Mehldau (who clearly deserved his 2006 Miles-Davis Award), Corinne Bailey Rae, Katie Melua, The Cat Empire (whose performance was a really dynamite surprise), Plaster, Baptiste Trotignon, Paul Simon, Daniel Lanois and Emmylou Harris. Menard also pronounced himself satisfied by the entire Suono Italia series for its rich and varied panorama of contemporary Italian music. Vice-President of Programming Laurent Saulnier was especially taken by Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint, Ralph Myerz & The Jack Herren Band, Afrodizz, Pyeng Threadgill, Plaster, Daniel Mille, Cirkus with Neneh Cherry, Smooth, Bell Orchestre, Bauchklang, Killa-Jewel, Nils Petter Molvaer, Corinne Bailey Rae, Yusef Lateef and Stéphane and Lionel Belmondo, Jamie Lidell, Joe Sullivan Sextet and Yannick Rieu. Among Programming Co-ordinator Caroline Johnson’s favorites were John Zorn, Ravi Coltrane, The Bad Plus, Yusef Lateef and Stéphane and Lionel Belmondo, Corinne Bailey Rae, Cat Power, the David Virelles Quintet, The Cat Empire, Amparanoïa, Balkan Beat Box, Roxanne Potvin, The Refugee All- Stars, Phantom Power Combo Deluxe, Jean-Pierre Zanella, Romano-Trotignon-Vignolo, Wibutee, Socalled Orchestra, Jamie Cullum and Goran Bregovic.