Press Kit 55TH MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL 55TH MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL 2 2-17 JULY 2021 - MJF.CH Content 3 Editorial 4 Festival stages 5 Live Streaming 6 Programme 8 Scène du Lac 12 Petit Théâtre 14 Free programme 15 Grand Hall by MJAF 16 Did you know? 17 Facts & Figures 18 The 2021 poster 20 News Feed 21 The Festival Universe 22 About the Festival 24 Press office 25 Your speakers 26 Tickets & Practical Info 27 Partners IMPRESSUM Fondation du Festival de Jazz de Montreux © 2021 Communication Department Photos FFJM : Daniel Balmat, Marc Ducrest, Lionel Flusin, Emilien Itim, Anne-Laure Lechat, Anoush Abrar Edouard Curchoud for GM Press Photos d'artistes : Record Companies, Labels, DR Cover Fondation du Festival de Jazz de Montreux 2021 © Nicolas Zentner 55TH MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL 3 2-17 JULY 2021 - MJF.CH Editorial In March 2020, the whole world and the entertainment industry in particular was facing a situation beyond anyone’s worst nightmares and which no one could have imagined. We went through every emotion - shock, uncertainty, hope, disillusionment and of course the sadness of not being able to do our job and give festival-goers what they so badly want. But as in any major crisis, there is always a small glimmer of light that can bring unexpected strength and boost creativity. The soul of the MJF lies in reinventing its model over time while preserving the spirit so dear to our founder: music above all else, but also the warmth of the welcome and the art of sharing. So, with this creative energy, the entire MJF team spent months coming up with ideas, shaping new projects and accelerating a transformation process that was already in the pipeline. This passion, this self-sacrifice, which could even be described as tenacity, has always been guided by this simple but motivating leitmotiv that we cherish: nothing is impossible, you just have to believe. Mathieu Jaton, CEO Montreux Jazz Festival It is therefore with pride and emotion that we present to you, dear journalist friends, this 55th edition of the Montreux Jazz Festival. The journey has been full of challenges and this will certainly continue to be the case until the last day of the Festival. However, delivering the show fills us with joy, not only because it has been created in such special circumstances, but above all because it reveals more than ever who we are and what the Festival has been, is and will continue to be. Mathieu Jaton CEO Montreux Jazz Festival CO PARTNERS SWISS MEDIA PARTNERS INTERNATIONAL MEDIA PARTNERS 55TH MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL 4 2-17 JULY 2021 - MJF.CH Festival Stages GRAND HALL BY MJAF FREE The Grand Hall plays host to the performance of must-see musical discoveries, offered free of charge by the Montreux Jazz Artists Foundation (MJAF). On the program: jam sessions, Montreux Jazz Talent awards and workshops. PETIT THÉÂTRE On this stage, groove is king. Dedicated to jazz and soul music, the second ticketed stage for this year’s Festival, with a seated capacity of 200, will be located in the grand Salle des Fêtes at the Montreux Palace. LES JARDINS FREE SCÈNE DU LAC The Palace Gardens area will host a small stage dedicated to impromptu In a Festival first, a stage will be built entirely on the acoustic showcases, which audience lake! It hosts a current, eclectic line-up, mostly in members can enjoy standing or seated the spirit of the Montreux Jazz Lab. A-list surprises on deckchairs. should also join the party! The artists will play to a tiered terrace that can accommodate a seated audience of up to 500. 55TH MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL 5 2-17 JULY 2021 - MJF.CH Live Streaming In order to bring the Festival to a larger audience, several concerts on the Lake Stage will be streamed live on the Qello Concerts by Stingray platform. They will be accessible free of charge over the duration of the Festival. NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH STINGRAY World leader in live concert streaming, Qello Concerts will livestream future editions of the festival as part of an ongoing multi-year agreement. Qello Concerts by Stingray also offers its subscribers access to over 50 Montreux Jazz Festival concerts, including legendary performances by Ray Charles, Wu-Tang Clan, Johnny Cash, Nina Simone, Marvin Gaye, Deep Purple, Carlos Santana and many others. TOWARDS A HYBRID MODEL THE LIST OF CONCERTS The Festival is continuing its transition towards a hybrid model AVAILABLE ON LIVE combining live events and an annualised digital presence. Accelerated STREAMING WILL BE by last year’s Covid crisis, this strategy had already been initiated in 2019 ANNOUNCED AS THE with the creation of Montreux Media Ventures, a subsidiary of the Festival FESTIVAL APPROACHES. dedicated to the creation of digital content. 55TH MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL 6 2-17 JULY 2021 - MJF.CH Paying Programme SCÈNE DU LAC PETIT THÉÂTRE Vendredi • ANNIE TAYLOR • CHARLOTTE GRACE 21:00 20:30 02 Friday • INHALER • RAUL MIDÓN Samedi 18:00 • GAIDAA • WOODKID 20:30 03 Saturday 21:00 • CHRISTIAN SANDS 100% 18:00 & 21:00 2 CONCERTS Dimanche • HERMANOS GUTIÉRREZ • YELLOWSTRAPS 21:00 20:30 04 Sunday • DELGRES • CRYSTAL MURRAY Lundi 18:00 • STEAM DOWN • IBRAHIM MAALOUF 20:30 05 Monday 21:00 • NUBYA GARCIA 18:00 & 21:00 2 CONCERTS Mardi • OSCAR ANTON • KALI TRIO 21:00 20:30 06 Tuesday • YSEULT Piano voix • ROBERTO FONSECA Solo Mercredi • OKLOU • SARAH MCCOY 21:00 20:30 07 Wednesday • SOFIANE PAMART • FORQ MJF SPOTLIGHT NIGHT • KETY FUSCO Jeudi • PRIYA RAGU 21:00 20:30 • THE PARADOX 08 Thursday • NATHY PELUSO (JEAN-PHI DARY & JEFF MILLS) • SHA Vendredi 18:00 • BRANDÃO FABER HUNGER 20:30 • BALLAKÉ SISSOKO 09 Friday 21:00 18:00 & 21:00 & 2 CONCERTS VINCENT SÉGAL IBIS MUSIC NIGHT Samedi • DOTAN • LOUIS MATUTE 21:00 20:30 10 Saturday • SAM FISCHER • ALFA MIST MONTREUX JAZZ ARTISTS FOUNDATION NIGHT Dimanche 18:00 • IMELDA GABS • RAG'N'BONE MAN 20:30 11 Sunday 21:00 • ISFAR SARABSKI 18:00 & 21:00 2 CONCERTS • AFRA KANE & VALENTINA KAUFMAN Lundi JAZZ MEETS CLASSIC in collaboration 21:00 • ZUCCHERO 20:30 12 Monday with LANG LANG FOUNDATION • FRED HERSCH Mardi • ALINA AMURI 21:00 • ZUCCHERO 20:30 13 Tuesday • ROBBEN FORD & BILL EVANS Mercredi • YET NO YOKAI • NNAVY 21:00 20:30 14 Wednesday • ALTIN GÜN • YUSSEF DAYES TRIO Jeudi • ARMA JACKSON • AMINE MRAIHI & VALENTIN CONUS Duo 21:00 20:30 15 Thursday • ARLO PARKS • NUBIYAN TWIST Vendredi • LASS • HELY 21:00 20:30 16 Friday • FATOUMATA DIAWARA • MACHA GHARIBIAN Samedi • S+C+A+R+R • BLAER 21:30 20:30 17 Saturday • KID FRANCESCOLI • JOWEE OMICIL Scène du Lac Petit Théâtre PLAYLIST PLAYLIST 55TH MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL 7 2-17 JULY 2021 - MJF.CH Free Programme GRAND HALL BY MJAF LES JARDINS WORKSHOPS TALENT AWARDS A small stage will be dedicated to impromptu showcases between Vendredi 5:30pm and 20pm. Up-and- 02 Friday coming artists are scheduled to perform 20-minute acoustic, solo or reduced group sets. Samedi 19:00 MIMON On Saturdays, the Jardins stage Saturday 03 will be dedicated to the Super Bock Sessions with a special THE SECRET MAGIC OF SOUND IN FILM – A CONVERSATION WITH RAY programme. Every evening after Dimanche 16:00 19:00 KLEIN the showcases, specialist vinyl DJs Sunday PARKER JR. by CHRISTIAN JUNGEN 04 in collaboration with will take over until 2am. ZURICH FILM FESTIVAL ATELIER ROCK Lundi 18:30 SUPER BOCK Monday by GERMAIN UMDENSTOCK 05 in collaboration with CONSERVATOIRE SESSIONS Concerts start at 7:30pm Mardi 06 Tuesday SATURDAY 3 JULY BLACK SEA DAHU MUSIC & VIBRATIONS SATURDAY 10 JULY Mercredi 18:30 BLIND TEST by JULIE SEMOROZ TO BE ANNOUNCED Wednesday 07 in collaboration with UNIGE, CISA & EPFL SATURDAY 17 JULY THE GREEN FLAMINGOS Jeudi 19:00 MESKEREM MEES 08 Thursday BALLAKÉ SISSOKO Vendredi & VINCENT SEGAL 16:00 19:00 • To be announced 09 Friday by ELISABETH STOUDMAN JAM SESSIONS JOURNALIST AT LE TEMPS WITH CLARENDELLE @ GRAND HALL BY MJAF Samedi EASTERN JAZZ 16:00 19:00 BONGA KWANA 10 Saturday by ISFAR SARABSKI Every evening as soon as the concerts end at the Petit Théâtre JAZZ MEETS CLASSIC by AFRA KANE Dimanche 18:30 Sunday & VALENTINA KAUFMAN 11 in collaboration with LANG LANG FOUNDATION SCREENINGS Lundi 18:30 ROBBEN FORD & BILL EVANS Monday 12 @ CINEMA HOLLYWOOD Screenings starts at 6pm Mardi 13 Tuesday SATURDAY 3 JULY CROCK OF GOLD presented by GOING BACK TO THE ROOTS: ZURICH FILM FESTIVAL Mercredi 18:30 MONTREUX IN ANALOG Wednesday SUNDAY 4 JULY 14 by NAGRA AUDIO WHO YOU GONNA CALL? presented by ZURICH FILM FESTIVAL Jeudi EASTERN JAZZ 16:00 19:00 CANDE Y PAULO 15 Thursday by MACHA GHARIBIAN MONDAY 5 JULY LETO presented by Vendredi ZURICH FILM FESTIVAL 19:00 KHAZALI Friday 16 TUESDAY 6 JULY A SENSE OF PLACE presented by Samedi 16:00 JOWEE OMICIL 19:00 MAY THE MUSE SARAH MCCOY 17 Saturday 55TH MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL 8 2-17 JULY 2021 - MJF.CH Scène du Lac In a Festival first, a stage will be constructed entirely on the lake, 25 metres from the shore. Surrounded by the lake and the Alps, artists will play to a tiered terrace that can accomodate a seated audience of up to 500. ARLO PARKS THURSDAY 15 JULY At just 20 years of age, Britain’s most poetic female singer has just been voted ‘Best New Artist’ at the 2021 Brit Awards. Combining pop and soul with a hint of folk and trip hop, Arlo Parks’ hushed vocals are set against the backdrop of organic, comforting music. Of Nigerian, Chadian and French origin, openly bisexual, through her lyrics Arlo Parks reflects the quest for identity and hopes of a whole generation.