Montreal International Jazz Festival lines up legends
The Montreal International Jazz Festival is bringing in as many legendary stars as it can to celebrate its 35th anniversary.
Organizers unveiled the festival’s indoor concert schedule today. The list includes:
Diana Ross
Aretha Franklin
B.B. King
Tony Bennett
Earth, Wind & Fire
Michael Bublé
Barenaked Ladies
Coeur de pirate
Soul diva Diana Ross will be performing July 3. Her show sold out so fast that another show has already been added for July 4.
Crooner Michael Bublé hits the Bell Centre with two shows, and 1970s R&B band Earth, Wind & Fire will be at the festival for the first time.
“Where can you see — at the same festival — Aretha Franklin, Daniel Lanois, Elvis Costello, Diana Ross, Brad Mehldau, Alain Lefèvre ... Name it!” said the fesitival’s vice-president of programming and production Laurent Saulnier.
Some musicians are returning favourites, like pianist Oliver Jones who will be celebrating his 80th birthday with a closing concert that he says may be his last.
“After this year I’m going to really slow down. I can't do 65 to 80 concerts in a five-month period anymore, but it's been a wonderful career,” Jones said.
The Montreal International Jazz Festival runs from June 26 to July 6.
Tickets for all the shows go on sale Saturday at noon.
