Jazz: The Record Roundup – 2021 in Review
Something old… Bill Evans — Behind the Dikes / Elemental music 5990441 The history of jazz piano would never have been the same had there not…
Browsing: Scena Jazz
On Again, Off Again – A Festival in Review (Oct. 2021)
A little over a year ago, in October 2020, Montreal’s Off Jazz Festival barely made it as an event, reduced to a two-day, four-show edition,…
Canadians on the Move
For decades, Canada’s contribution to the international jazz scene was limited to four names: Oscar Peterson, Paul Bley, Maynard Ferguson and Kenny Wheeler. All but…
Bourgie en jazz
Between a recent performance of his quartet at the Montreal Jazz Fest and a coming solo performance at the Off Festival, pianist François Bourassa will…
Off the Record – Twice Upon a Time (final instalment)
In the first instalment of this feature, the issue of authenticity in a listening experience was raised in relation to historical recordings that document musics…
Off Festival de jazz – Back on Track
Montreal’s Off Jazz Festival (OFJM) is back with a vengeance this year. Compared to last year’s drastically slimmed-down two-day online-only event, the 22nd edition will…
Off the Record: Twice Upon a Time (Part 1)
The lure of jazz is as much a matter of its great stories as its rich history. So much so that all jazz heads, including…
New Opportunities
While there are signs of better times ahead, there is still reason to be guarded with regards to the pandemic. In the performing arts, venues…
Solos Then…
As essential as improvisation is to jazz, so is the solo, in that it allows self-expression within a group context. Soloing is actually so important…
Solos Now (Off the Record)
Michael Formanek / Imperfect Measures – Intakt CD 359 From the first sounds plucked on his bass, Michael Formanek captures our ear. His nine-track 56-minute offering…
