Page 73 - Off the Tourist Trail - 1000 Unexpected Travel Alternatives (Part 1 of 2)

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Montreal Jazz Festival FESTIVALS

vs Montreux Jazz Festival AND PARTIES

With over 750 concerts by 3,000 artists from more than 30 countries, Montreal’s show-stopping, multi-genre music festival
dwarfs the one in Montreux, and whips millions of festival-goers into a frenzy each year

the planet. And it’s an intoxicating musical cocktail, John Lee Hooker, Dave Brubeck, Dizzy Gillespie,
NEED TO KNOW
a kaleidoscope of intermingling energies and Muddy Waters, and Ray Charles to an event he felt
LOCATION Montreal is in the
province of Quebec, in eastern styles set against a vibrant urban backdrop. sure would wow the international stage. And from
Canada The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal – the very first festival in 1980, his magical laid-back
WHEN The festival takes "UMBOUJD to give the event its full name – lasts 11 days and formula has worked. The easy-going atmosphere
place at the end of June/ $ "/"%" 0DFBO
beginning of July in a four- 11 nights. Around 750 concerts take place in that he creates encourages both musical discovery and
block site at the heart of time. Over half are outdoors and free. But there are revelry. It’s an environment in which global stars
7BODPVWFS
downtown Montreal .0/53&"-
also countless impromptu gigs, so you can soak up are content to rub shoulders with up-and-coming
VISITORS PER YEAR 0UUBXB
5PSPOUP the carnival atmosphere of Latin jazz, take in some local talent hoping for a springboard break.
More than 2.5 million people 6 4 "
descend on the city for the festival smoldering salsa, or follow the gentle strains of The festival brings Montreal’s traffic to a
acoustic folk in an underground bar. standstill as downtown becomes one huge
Arrive at the festival in time for the morning musical extravaganza. Midway through the festivities
Switzerland’s Montreux Jazz Festival claims to be sound-checks to claim your place for the comes the “Special Big Event” – now a Montreal
the biggest in the world – an assertion that doesn’t supporting acts at noon, then party on into the tradition. It’s a show of epic proportions – perhaps
quite stand up to scrutiny when you compare it wee small hours to an eclectic musical repertoire. a gig by Urban Sax, stellar guitarist Pat Metheny, or
with the jazz festival in Montreal. Quebec’s full-on The summer celebrations and the city’s funky mix South African musician Johnny Clegg – and usually
musical jamboree sends pulsating rhythms of cafés, galleries, bistros, and green spaces draw draws an audience of around 200,000.
coursing through downtown Montreal’s crowds of every age, every musical taste, and from Away from the music, a popular art exhibition
thoroughfares. Rapturous melodies permeate every corner of the globe, and unite them in a presents exclusive works by some of the artists who
every bar, café, basement joint, and city square – heady celebration of melody and rhythm. have performed here – Miles Davis, Diana Krall,
from syncopated staccato trumpet solos and soul Founder Alain Simard demonstrates an Norah Jones, and Tony Bennett, to name but a few.
serenades to big-band jazz, R&B classics, and unshakable belief in Montreal’s musical pedigree. Surpassing the wildest dreams of even its
percussive bossa nova beats. This is the jazz festival He’s the man responsible for bringing such founder, the Montreal Jazz Festival is the world’s
that Guinness World Records logs as the largest on big-name acts as Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, ultimate jazz rendezvous.

FORGET THE MONTREUX PRACTICAL INFORMATION
JAZZ FESTIVAL? Getting There and Around is inexpensive – even at high-
Trudeau International Airport is end joints – compared to other
THE BUILD-UP Switzerland’s ground-breaking festival is an about 30 minutes by cab from global cities. Check out
annual showcase of every imaginable style of music. It has placed downtown Montreal. Many of the Le Piment Rouge (www.
lepimentrouge.com) for a
city’s streets become traffic-free
the quaint village of Montreux on the map since 1967, and is a for the festival. Getting from A flavor-packed gourmet thrill.
popular musical getaway for European festival-lovers. to B is a breeze – simply hop Where to Stay
aboard the Métro or make For excellent links to buses, the
THE LETDOWN It takes Swiss precision to organize one your journey by foot. Métro, bars, restaurants, and
of the world’s largest music festivals and this super-slick Where to Eat venues, check in to Hotel Jazz
operation is oiled so perfectly it lacks the spontaneity that’s In terms of the number of (www.hoteljazzmontreal.com),
synonymous with raw jazz. A decade ago, the festival expanded restaurants per capita, Canada’s in the heart of the downtown
to become a three-week extravaganza including music from all gastronomic capital is second Latin Quarter (Quartier Latin).
continents, to the disapproval of some festival-goers who feel ABOVE A turn-off for many hardcore jazz fans – the only to New York City in North Budget per Day for Two
Montreux festival’s recent focus on world music America. Gallic flourishes abound Around US$150.
it has lost its focus. – a culinary legacy of the
country’s French colonial past. Daytime Temperature
GOING ANYWAY? For an up-close-and-personal Montreux experience, give the two main stages a miss Thousands of high-caliber cafés, A rather warm and sticky
in favor of the smaller Montreux Jazz Café and the cluster of tiny open-air venues. Even better, attend bistros, and restaurants make 86°F (30°C) at festival time.
the intimate performances that take place on cruise-boats on the lake. good use of a huge variety of Website
fresh, top-quality produce. Food www.montrealjazzfest.com

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