Montreal International Jazz Festival: five concerts not to be missed

The Montreal International Jazz Festival (FIJM) is back this year with a diverse program, celebrating the progressive removal of “barriers between musical genres”.

The director of programming for the high mass of jazz in Canada, Maurin Auxéméry, says he is particularly proud of the selection of FIJM artists for its 44^e editing. “I think we are in a period where everything is much more fluid musically and we feel it in the programming,” he explains in a telephone interview. We put a lot of emphasis on these groups which are close to jazz, which come from jazz or which give back to jazz.

Here are five unmissable events to explore the vast palette of the festival this year.

Andrew 3000

The Atlanta native is recognized as one of the greatest rappers in history, especially thanks to the legendary duo he formed with his sidekick Big Boi, OutKast. To everyone’s surprise, he released his first solo album last year… an instrumental flute opus. “He is an extremely unique artist. I think it’s going to be a cosmic experience. He’s a generous guy who has a very special contact with the public.”

• Sunday June 30, Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, 7:30 p.m.

Hiatus Kaiyote

Maurin Auxéméry declared victory when he finally managed to attract this popular Australian group combining jazz and funk. “We’ve been chasing them for eight or nine years! It’s a group that is very representative of the music we present and love at the FIJM. It’s the intersection of generous and well-crafted music with a side groovydancing that makes you want to move.”

• Thursday June 27, TD Stage, 9:30 p.m., Free

Mixtape: A musical tribute to Jean-Marc Vallée

It is not the custom of the FIJM to present concept shows of this kind. The director of programming, however, wanted to deviate from this rule to honor the memory of the great director who left us in 2021. “He is one of the greatest lovers of music that I have known in my life. Music has always been one of the main characters in his works.” Patrick Watson, Alexandra Streliski and Elisapie, among others, will join forces to pay tribute to him.

• Thursday June 27, Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, 7:30 p.m.

Makaya McCraven

The Chicago drummer is one of the most recognized artisans in his profession and is acclaimed for the hip-hop vibe that he breathes into his jazz works. “He has made his mark in recent years with ambitious projects. He’s an artist to discover if you haven’t already.” In 2021, he released an album where he gives a new flavor to songs by giants like Art Blakey, Horace Silver and Dexter Gordon.

• Friday July 5, Jean-Duceppe Theater, 9 p.m.

Dominique Fils-Aimé

Winner of the Juno Award for vocal jazz album of the year in 2024, the Montreal singer will be entitled to her baptism of fire on the main stage of the FIJM. “We have been preparing for this for several years. It’s going to be one of the highlights of the festival. She is one of the representatives of the local scene and for us, it is something essential that we feel Montreal at the Jazz Festival.

• Saturday June 29, TD Stage, 9:30 p.m., Free