Montreal Jazz Festival

Le Festival International de Jazz de Montreal: A Profile

If there ever was a world-class event in Montreal genuinely accessible to everyone and every budget, it's the Montreal Jazz Festival. Named in 2004 by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest jazz festival in the world and easily Montreal's most popular festival all year, the Montreal International Jazz Festival encourages its over two and a half million guests to choose from 650 concerts spread out over 13 days. There are also special activities geared towards kids and the whole family.

All That Jazz
Covering the gamut of jazz genres since its debut edition in 1980, the fest also features related styles such as:

• blues
• Latin Jazz
• Brazilian
• Cuban
• African
• Reggae
• electronica

Free Outdoor Shows
An absolute blessing to music fans on a budget, hundreds of free shows are held at the Montreal Jazz Fest's downtown hub around Ste. Catherine between Place-des-Arts and Complexe Desjardins and most -- 450 in 2009 -- of the 650 concerts offered to the public are free! These free highlights at the 2009 Montreal Jazz Festival sum up what to expect.

Top Talent
The Montreal Jazz Festival consistently attracts top international talent. Notables such as Diana Krall and Charlie Haden have dubbed it the best jazz fest in the world and they might have a point. The Jazz Fest has greeted the likes of:

• Oscar Peterson
• Ray Charles
• Miles Davis
• Tony Bennett
• Ella Fitzgerald
• Aretha Franklin
• B.B. King
• Pat Metheny
• Norah Jones
• Prince

Check out these free shows at the Montreal Jazz Festival. Just click on each artist or band name for a video clip or audio sample of their work. For more choice, consult the Montreal Jazz Festival's official website for a complete listing of concerts and activities.