Montreal Jazz Fest 2005

[scielle]

Yeah, I know I'm about 6 months early, but I just checked out their site and it's already looking so good!
It's the party of the year, I can't wait. If any of you have some free time between June 30th and July 10th - you must absolutely experience this at least once in your life. Hundreds of free outdoor shows from all over the world, street artists galore, great people, great food, it just doesn't get much better. Here's a little documentary videoto wet your appetite.

[El Paulo]

God ! Those people in Montreal are lucky.
Madeleine Peyroux is the second female jazz singer I love.
Guess who is the first ?

[scielle]

The indoor concert schedule was announced today!
DK ain't coming, but the list of those who are is pretty darn impressive: Pat Metheny, Charlie Haden, Madeleine Peyroux, Paul Anka, Mark Knopfler (Hey Remi, - you're welcome to crash on my floor :-), Michael Buble, Cesaria Evora, Sonny Rollins, Dave Holland, Bobby McFerrin, Al Jareau, Roberta Flack, Toots Thielemans, Oliver Jones, Ron Sexsmith, Feist, Mavis Staples, Khaled (!), Medeski/ Martin/ Wood (!!), Danny Lanois, Liz Wright, Viktoria Tolstoy, Claudia Acuna, Bill Frisell, Hiromi, and lots, lots more. Plus another 350 or so outdoor (i.e. free) concerts to be announced June 7th.
So, if you always wanted to see la belle province, the first two weeks of July are a really good time to make the trip...

[Eric in Long Beach]

Did you say Claudia Acuna?

I'M THERE!!!

Can I crash on your floor?

Since when are Paul Anka and Ron Sexsmith jazz artists?

[verena]

There are so many temptations around Ciel, and now you're just adding to the bloody pile of them.

I was already thinking I have to go to Montreal, for the sake of a dear great uncle, Canadian (yes, I have some family roots in the region). Also Vancouver, but that is because of a song, which was once a huge hit in France, is still being played, and blew/blued me off entirely. It is called "Vancouver", by Veronique Samson.
(But I never went to Canada, to be honest I always shrank, for some obscure reason... I am figuring it out actually).

I hope Remi will be able to make it perhaps. We guys are going to meet up btw, yes, to celebrate over the site revamp he is so busy working on poor dear. Meantime I'm fooling around on his site but I double checked that, he said it's OK.

Besides where is NoAngel ? Miss her.

And Skirt ? I like her work in the fan art corner a lot, on DK's photographs; As a matter of fact, a couple of them are my favorites really, along with a few other in the gallery ( "life" ones).

Eilb, I am dumbfounded; Thought you hated Claudia Acuna.

LOL to all,

Verena

[imnoangel1975]

Besides where is NoAngel?

Who me? I'm just chillin', but I'm still here.

[Rémi]

We guys are going to meet up btw, yes, to celebrate over the site revamp he is so busy working on poor dear.

The poor dear is even so busy that he hasn't been able to work on the new website for at least one week!
But I hope the whole new website will be ready, at least, at the end of May. Nothing is sure though.
And about our meeting, sure, I would be happy to meet you. Though, there again, I don't know when it will be possible.

DK ain't coming, but the list of those who are is pretty darn impressive: ... Mark Knopfler

The unique reason you must not miss that festival this year!

[scielle]

Since when are Paul Anka and Ron Sexsmith jazz artists?

Well, I was wondering the same thing, but I just heard part of his new album on the radio, and you know what? I never thought I'd hear Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit, the jazz version, but it seems the day has arrived. (Although, come to think of it, I have heard SMTS Tori Amos style, and Gregorian Chant style, so I suppose it's not that far-fetched...) It seems Mr. Anka has recorded a new album called Rock Swings, where he covers the likes of Oasis and The Gloved One in a jazzy big-band style. Haven't quite decided what to think of the artistic value of all this, but it certainly is fun (Wonderwall, in particular ).

As for Ron Sexsmith, well, I have heard some jazzy verisions of his tunes covered by other artists... and he is playing with Oscar Peterson in Toronto this upcoming Saturday, so I say he's legit. Besides, the Montreal Jazz Fest isn't exactly known for sticking to 'serious jazz'.

Anka Swings, Baby!
The late -'50 ~ icon hits the casino circuit with a jazzy new covers album

March 6, 2005 - New York Daily News - Phil Roura
The year was 1957. A 16-year-old kid from Ottawa found himself with a serious crush on his 18-year-old neighbor. That was all the inspiration a young Paul Anka needed to write the hit song, "Diana."

"Diana's" catchy calypso beat, not to mention its familiar tale of teen angst, propelled it to the top of the charts, launching Anka's career. Today, Diana Ayoub, the onetime baby-sitter behind the tune, is an asterisk in pop music history. But the 64-year-old Anka continues to sing, tour and record. He's even experimenting with - yikes - rock 'n' roll.

"I've taken a bunch of classics by Bon Jovi, Van Halen, Nirvana, the Pet Shop Boys, Eric Clapton and others, rearranged them with a jazz beat, added a big band sound and made them swing," says Anka, who also wrote the sock-hop smashes "Lonely Boy," "Put Your Head on My Shoulder", "Puppy Love" and "I Love You Baby."
etc...
http://www.paulanka.com/html/news/news_articles/2005_03_06.php

[Coda]

Going off on a tangent, every time I hear about Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit," I think of Weird Al Yankovic's hilarious video and spoof of the song, called "Smells Like Nirvana."

[jazzfan422]

Paul was on TV a couple of weeks ago promoting this.

Ironicaly in August of 57' I was coming back to Ohio with my Dad from a fishing trip to Parry Sound Ontario & every station was playing Diana & Paul was launching his career. He had a string of hits as the above states!!