The festival season is well underway and the first major music festival of the summer has now closed. L’OFF Festival de Jazz de Montreal celebrated its 10th anniversary with exceptional musicians both local and international. Among the featured performers were the founders of the festival themselves, five men who determined to showcase the incredible local talents that Montreal has to offer. Many of the groups featured this year played for a voluntary contribution and are certainly worth more than a smile and a nod.
We heard new material from many artists, including Stephen Johnston’s SJPROJECT6, a modern sound that fuses jazz with funk and rock music without losing its traditional flavour. Mark Nelson’s drums blended with Evens Baptiste’s percussions are an intoxicating rhythmic basis for the powerful melodies. David Ryshpan’s keyboards soar along through Johnston’s imaginative compositions. This group playing for voluntary contribution at Cheval Blanc was without doubt a steal.
On the 21th, Adam Kinner’s project, Marathon, was heard at Cheval Blanc. Adam is known for his playful and aggressive music and his compositions are worth hearing as played by his well-chosen quartet. His alto does take centre stage, but makes room for the blend of doublebass and guitar in his songs. The group is aptly named Marathon since his songs are long journeys of unique sounds.
One particular treat this year was the inimitable Samuel Blais, who played with Donny McCaslin just a few weeks ago and is featured not only in l’OFF this year, but also in the Montreal International Jazz Festival itself. Sam has a well-developed sound that is simply magnificent live. He has a way of translating raw ideas and power into complex tunes that stay with you for hours after he’s done. This alto player is one Montreal legend in the making and he’s worth seeing for anyone into alto sax, or great music in general.
Finally, a highlight of the festival was a performance on the last day by the Jason Stillman Quintet, who played at Cheval Blanc on June 27th. Jason’s compositions are a blend of traditional jazz with a modern swing that at once fascinates and impresses. His quintet consists of five exceptional musicians, each well-established in their own right. Carlos Jimenez, an impressive guitarist, is a wonder to watch and listen to. Clinton Ryder on the doublebass makes Jason’s elaborate compositions deeper and even more powerful. Josh Rager not only plays the keyboards but also contributed one of his own compositions to the evening, Anhedonia, a piece both complex and fun. Michel Berthiaume on the drums doesn’t just keep the tunes on the rails; his solos go off in incredible directions that somehow always come back to the perfect juxtaposition they are meant to. Jason’s already powerful playing is only enhanced by being surrounded by such gifted musicians.
This year’s OFF Jazz Festival de Montreal was worth every late night and sleepy morning. The musicians not only played beautifully, but truly served as a reminder that Montreal’s Jazz scene is alive and well. Now, as L’OFF passes the baton to the Montreal International Jazz Festival, it’s up to us to go out and appreciate it all year round.
Photo: Samuel Blais, who will also be featured in the Montreal International Jazz Festival.
