NEWS: Montreal Jazz Festival Outdoor Programme and Award Winners Announced – (Jamie Cullum, Gondwana Orchestra on main TD stage, June 29- July 9)

By ljazzn on 8 June 2016 • ( Leave a comment )

The Square des Festivals during the Montreal Jazz Festival
Photo credit: Jean-Francois Leblanc

Sebastian writes:

The outdoor events programme for the 37th Montreal International Jazz Festival, the world’s biggest, has just been announced.

The main free outdoor attraction, which draws an incredibly good-natured crowd of up to 60,000 people with no overt security, is the TD Stage in the Place des Festivals. The main event there is a free show by Jamie Cullum on 4th July at 9 30pm. Another British presence on this stage is Matt Halsall’s Gondwana Orchestra (6pm on Thursday 30th). These are among well over 100 free events (FULL LIST), including Manchester-born blues guitarist Matt Schofield (Bell stage , 6th July).

Also announced last night were the Festival’s Award-winners (quoting Press Release):

The Montreal Jazz Festival Spirit Award, which annually underlines the profound influence of a singer-songwriter on the world of popular music, is presented to the “Mozart of pop-rock,” Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson.

The Miles Davis Award, annually paying tribute to an internationally renowned jazz artist, is presented to one of the world’s greatest jazz pianists, Kenny Barron.

The Antonio Carlos Jobim Award, which annually recognizes an artist distinguished in the field of world music, honours Mexican singer, dancer and activist Lila Downs.

The Bruce Lundvall Award, annually recognizing a person from the media or music industry who has made a significant contribution to the development of jazz, is presented to Justin Time founder and president Jim West.

The B.B. King Award, which annually recognizes the exceptional talent of an artist who has distinguished himself or herself on the blues scene, is presented to American singer and multi-instrumentalist, bluesman Taj Mahal.

The Ella Fitzgerald Award, which annually recognizes a jazz singer of outstanding talent, is presented to the incomparable Gregory Porter.

The Oscar Peterson Award, annually recognizing a major musician who has made a significant contribution to Canadian jazz, is presented to singer-songwriter, performer and guitarist Karen Young.