JAZZFEST!!!

The luscious summer days are here.... & so is the 28th edition of the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal !!!
We are lucky as montrealers to host one of the biggest jazz festivals in the world. Starting on the 28th of June, the downtown Place des Arts area celebrates world music (not only jazz) for 11 consecutive days. A few years ago, the jazzfest started hosting more and more diversified music shows and other performances to suit all tastes. This year's edition is no exception to this trend. This makes the jazzfest a perfect event to chill out after work, bath in huge crowds of people, and enjoy summertime even if you don't particularily like jazz music.
That being said, there are a few shows (indoor & outdoor) that I would strongly recommend for this weekend (stay posted for next week's shows):

-Fri 29th: +Erik Truffaz quartet (10pm spectrum) -- this band is a fusion of ambiant jazz with electronica, Erik Truffaz's acclaimed electronic trumpet style is known to be very trippy :)
+Pawa up first (FREE 10pm scene bell) -- local experimental hip hop band... I'm not a fan of hip hop & I still love the sound of this band, its groovy and goes way beyond radio hip hop.

-Sat 30th: +Joshua Redman trio (6pm theatre maisonneuve) -- one of today's hottest tenor saxophonists will take you on a journey back to african drum beats, a jazz style similar to Sonny Rollins back in the 50's... not to miss...
+Roy Haynes quartet (10pm spectrum) -- Legendary jazz drummer in an unconventional quartet

-Sun 1st: +Felix Stussi & Give me five (FREE 6pm scene general motors) -- New quintet starring local pianist Stussi. Again another blend of genres that is worth checking out
+Jarrett, Peacock, DeJohnette (8pm Wilfrid-Pelletier) -- If you can afford it you should see this !! 3 pillars of modern jazz. I shall say no more...

-Mon 2nd: +Mike Stern/Bona/Roy Hargrove (7:30pm theatre Jean-Duceppe) -- Watch out for this is gonna be a GROOVY show !
+Soulive (FREE 9pm & 11pm general motors) -- Really cool US jazz funk band... & it's free ! :)

That's all for now,
Enjoy the festival !


nad

JAZZ IT UP !

The Jazz fest is back for another exciting year.
I will leave it up to the Jazz collablogator to cover the individual events. On my side, I'd like to mention that you absolutely have to go hang out on the Place des Arts surroundings at some point this week-end. you don't need to like Jazz (I don't particularly) but the mood is so great there.... Just walk around, have a hot dog or even better, a good refreshing ice cream.... Just look around at all the people, all smiling... :) You can even listen to some music if you please, it won't kill you!

The Jazz festival runs June 28-July 8th. All info on this website

REEL JOURNALISM

I know this isn't particularly Montreal related, but it says something very important about north american journalism. I think it's a nice statement, no matter what her intentions ar (fame, get noticed etc...). I truly applaud what she did.

LA PERFECTION SUR FAIRMOUNT (updated)

26 juin 2007 - Cette vague de chaleur à Montréal est de plus en plus violente. Une seule solution : des bonnes glaces bien fraiches et dégoulinantes....

Evidemment il y a le Bilboquet et Meu Meu pour les extases garanties. Mais je veux plutôt vous parler d'une de mes récentes découvertes dans le monde fabuleux de la glace ! :)

Il s'agit d'un tout petit "atelier" de glace, du nom de Plus que Parfait, situé sur Fairmount au coin de Saint Urbain. Le choix des saveurs est très varié, allant de délicieux sorbets à des crèmes alléchantes. Perso, j'ai gouté à la glace au chocolat noir (exquise) et celle au tiramisu, étonnamment rafraichissante . J'ajoute que les cones sont délicieux !

Le "menu" est très varié et éclectique. On y trouve, bien évidemment, des glaces en tout genre, mais aussi des milkshakes, yaourt et un thé glacé aux cubes de glaces que je recommande particulièrement.

Attention, en ces temps de chaleur, ca fond vite !

update (28 juin) : j'ai du y retourner aujourd'hui: Je pensais à cette glace au tiramisu toute la journée. J'en ai repris une! C'est vraiment divin....

Plus Que Parfait ; 60 Fairmount W.; 514-779-7220

MY MOVIE PICKS THIS WEEK (UPDATED)

This week is another interesting movie week. A lot of documentaries, some horror and a blockbuster comedy are on the menu.

First off, you should all check out a documentary called MANUFACTURING DISSENT. It's a doc about Michael Moore, documented by two Canadians that start off with a blatant admiration for the guy and end up shedding some light on his unorthodox methods. I saw the film and It's sometimes very deranging : isn't the whole point of documentary film making to tell the truth ? Is it acceptable to bend it to make a point ? I'm personally not sure about the answer, but it's definetly an interesting question to ask. Saw the film. It's interesting but it did'nt succeed to make me doubt Moore's methods. I personally believe that a little deceit and manipulation is needed to shake people up. So I say : Go Michael ! That being said, this documentary is very well paced and extremely interesting.

Also out this week end is A MIGHTY HEART, just fresh out of the Cannes Festival and features Angelina Jolie (in what the press are calling her best role yet) as the wife of a journalist who disappears in Pakistan (based on a very interesting true story). Just saw the film, it's a very good depiction of those events and it was shot in a very respectful, non-exaggerated, non-cheesy fashion. Performances feel reel and are gut-wrenching. I loved this film !

Other releases :
1408 (horror), Evan Almighty (comedy), Zidane (documentary, apparently very good one), Gracie (sports dramatic comedy) and Trois rois (music doc)

For showtimes, check cinemamontreal.com

WUNDER-FULL

J'étais au Wunder Bar de l'hôtel W hier soir, et jetais vraiment impressionné par l'ambiance et le design. C'est vraiment un des plus beaux bars que j'aie vu à Montréal. Les serveuses sont élégantes, la clientèle variée en age - mais pas en classe (plutôt hommes d'affaires et jeunes touristes aisés). Les drinks sont plutôt bons et la musique est top.

Le highlight est, sans hésitation, le bar. On dirait un géant glaçon sur lequel est gravé une sorte de feuillage... C'est vraiment réussi! Autre réussite, le plafond et les murs sont des miroirs et permettent d'espionner un peu la clientèle et de se lancer dans des délires arrosés en observant sa propre réflection sur le plafond ;)

Wunder, W Hotel, 901 VICTORIA SQUARE - (514) 395-3100

LUCCA

I went to this Italian restaurant in Little Italy yesterday, called Restaurant Lucca, or should I say Ristorante?
The food was beyond delicious, and I'm not one to usually enjoy Italian restaurants.
Lucca specializes in the ‘cucina rustica’ of Italy’s rich culinary heritage and traditions, and offers a wide range of fine gourmet dishes.
Start with a tasteful seafood entree, or the delicious salad.
For the main dish, I would recommend the risotto, which is probably the best I had in Montreal. Also, the veil chop seemed to please everyone around me, all of which were conoisseurs...

The setting is really good, with an open street view, right in the center of Little Italy's Dante Street.

It's a little pricey, so expect a 40-60$ meal (including wine).

Ristorante Lucca, 12 Dante St; Mon-Fri 12-3:30pm; Mon-Sat 6-10:30pm; REservations recommended 514-278-6502

E=MC2 Dance-a-Thon

If you're not in the mood to party for Saint-Jean, there is another reason to party. The weekend of the 23rd and 24rd of June will be the third annual E=MC2 dance-a-thon. The proceeds for the event go to the Jour de la Terre organisation as well as other NGOs that are participating. You can support a participant by going here, or just simply dance with them.

The event co-organised with Piknic électronik, is 5$ before 3pm, and 7$ afterwards.

MOVIES THIS WEEK (JUNE 15-22)

My film recommendations for this week are :

ELECTION 2 - For anyone who caught the first part, this promises to be even better, with more action and more complexity. We'll see...

RED ROAD - A very special thriller about video surveillance. This film is the first part of a trilogy planned by none other than the three Dogme95 apostles Lone Sherfig, Anders Jensen and Lars Von Trier. Each of the three films MUST have the same characters, same actors and be directed by three beginner filmmakers...

JINDABYNE : Based on the same short story that inspired Altman's Shortcuts, this film promises to be interesting, morally heavy and unexpected. With performances by Laura Linney and Gabriel Byrne and a direction by Ray Lawrence, can it really go bad ? I don't think so.

Other releases this week :

- FANTASTIC 4 : RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER

- DAY WATCH

- ENSEMBLE C'EST TOUT

- NANCY DREW

for showtimes check cinemamontreal.com

EUREKA!

A message from the Eureka Festival :

Come on down to the Quays of the Old Port of Montreal on June 15, 16 and 17 for some sun-filled science fun. The free event will feature over fifty original and unusual activities designed and put on by science enthusiasts. From demonstrations to workshops, challenges, Shows, theatre, meetings, storytelling and tours of science and technology venues. The Eureka! Festival is an invitation to make discoveries, experiment, share experiences and reflect on the issues and technological challenges facing the human race

So give your brain some exercise on June 15, 16 and 17. Come down by yourself or with family or friends to the Quays of the Old Port, and dive into the fascinating world of science, technology and innovation, Montreal-style!

Festival Eureka. June 15, 16 and 17 2007. Quais du Vieux-Port. web

MEET THE COLLABLOGATORS

Hey guys

So for now these people are writing in this blog.

NADIM - MUSIC (JAZZ)

DARA - MUSEUMS AND ART EXHIBITS

JONATHAN - ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

PHIL - MOVIES AND MUSIC

DEREK - MUSIC

keep in mind that we, as collablogators, are not restricted to our category... Everyone posts everywhere, but has an area of "expertise"....

More collablogators are always needed, so write to us.

BLITZ BLITZ BLITZ

The Time Has Come!!! The 2880 Film Blitz is back for its fifth year and we are looking for 12 enthusiastic volunteers to help out during this fundraising event, which will take place June 15 - 17th 2007, at La Tulipe in Montreal. This event will bring together over 100 members of the independent film community as 12 teams of filmmakers compete against time to write, shoot and edit a short film over a 48 hour weekend (2880 minutes). All films will be screened June 17, 2007 during the Event Screening party in front of a large audience of 500+ people and a panel of industry judges. If you are looking to be involved within the independent bilingual film community, and build contact networks this is your opportunity!!

Webiste : www.2880.ca ; For more info contact Andrea at andrea.feder@gmail.com.

Picnic!

Je relaye cette information venant du blog VU D'ICI.
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On se la coule douce pour cette édition Creacamp d'été.

Au menu :

• BYOB : Bring your own blanket! pour vous assoir, cela créera une superbe mosaique au sol!
• picnic : apportez qqchose à boire, et à grignoter pour le picnic
• échange de livres : apportez 1 ou 2 livres qui vous ont inspiré, et qu'il vous fera plaisir d'échanger
• blahblah : Si nous sommes plus de 20, de petits groupes seront formés pour discuter. Si nous sommes moins de 20, nous discuterons tous ensembles!
• marché : bijoux, vêtements, livres - apportez vos créations pour les faires voires!
• collages 6x6 : si vous désirez participer, préparez une enveloppe contenant quelques papiers colorés, une citation écrite qui vous représente, ainsi que votre nom écrit. Cette enveloppe pourra être échangée, et le matériel servira à créer un collage de 6" par 6" (voir projet 6x6 sur flickr).

Où :
Parc Lafontaine, 13h à 15h, le 22 juillet 2007.
Présentations :
laissez m-c savoir si vous désirez faire une courte présentation (10 minutes max, sans projecteur ou ordinateur, nous serons dans un parc!).
Inscriptions :
svp laissez votre nom dans les commentaires ICI pour nous laisser savoir qui sera présent!
En cas de pluie :
M-C postera une confirmation le Vendredi 20 juillet sur Creacamp.org.

BANG BANG

Alors, voila mon premier post en français.
Je profite de l'occasion pour recommander une emission télé que j'ai vue pour la première fois cette semaine et que j'ai trouvé assez réussie et originale. L'émission en question s'appelle LES FRANCS TIREURS et porte bien son nom. Les deux journalistes a la tête de l'émission sont francs et ils tirent.


Description officielle : Deux journalistes qui raffolent de la controverse; un esprit critique vitrioleur; un refus de l'unanimisme et de la langue de bois; tels sont les ingrédients à la base du coquetel détonant que propose chaque semaine Les francs-tireurs.
Le tandem Patrick Lagacé et Richard Martineau fait plus que jamais voler en éclats les idées reçues. Ils traitent de grands dossiers qui leur permettent d'aborder les questions de l'heure de façon plus approfondie — mais toujours à contre-courant de la pensée collective. Et ils n’hésitent pas à provoquer l’événement lorsque la situation le permet…
Des entrevues fortes, des reportages corrosifs sur des phénomènes sociaux et culturels frappants ou insolites et des points de vue provocants sont au menu des Francs-tireurs.

Les Francs Tireurs, Tele Quebec les mercredis a 20h, Rediffusions : Jeudi 14 h et lundi vers 23 h 30; site officiel

My Movie Picks this week (June 8-14)

Yeah, it's monday. week end's over
Yeah it's hot outside.
but maybe you'd like to go watch movies this week....
So here are my recommendations :

- Ocean's 13, if you like movies that don't take themselves seriously but are made by master filmmakers with a cast from the deepest mountains of cool. (scotia bank theatre, previously called paramount)
- Election, if you like mob stories and asian flicks. Very interesting movie with a sequel out this friday. (cinema du parc)
- Vitus, if you like heartwarming drama with a hint of fantasy. if you like classical music. and if you like Bruno Ganz (Hitler in Downfall)
- Knocked up, if you like "stupid" comedies that actually aren't stupid and have a heart (rf: 40-year old virgin)
- Black Gold. Very interesting documentary about coffee consumption, showing only for one evening (thursday) at cinema du parc

check cinemamontreal.com for showtimes

Grand Prix

The Grand Prix is back!
Be sure to visit downtown Montreal this week end, from Crescent to St Laurent, up to Mont Royal Street, where people will be celebrating the event on the streets. The city is basically turned into a huge grand prix convention and you don't have to be interested to enjoy it.
Contests, games, cars, food, sun, and people people people....

Nuit Blanche sur Tableau Noir 2007

Nuit Blanche sur Tableau Noir is one of the numerous beautiful montreal summer events/festivals. Starting 10pm tonight, 46 artists and comic book authors will be using Mont-Royal street's asphalt concrete as canvases (there are large white rectangles painted on the middle of the street, each one is used by a team). The theme for their overnight works is "Pas de colporteur ! ". Each story/painting will start with a finger on a door buzzer, a door that opens and then, anything can happen... This event will end on the 10th.
Follow this link for more details: http://www.tableaunoir.com

Aside from the paintings, the Mont-Royal avenue (between St-Hubert & De Lorimier) is completely pedestrian-ized for 3 days :), boutiques are selling their stuff on the streets, cafés have tables outside, premiere moisson is BBQing!, there's live music here and there... it's just a great occasion to walk around the charming avenue !!!

Election time

Just saw the Chinese Movie Election at Cinema du Parc.
It's a very interesting take on mafia movies, taken to the no-guns-no clichés-in-honk-kong-with-crazy-nicknames-meet- complex-old-fashionned-relationships extremes.
The movie is hard to get into at first, but somehow it sucks you in like a magnet and never lets go. Speaking of never letting go, part II of the film is out in two weeks. This gives you enough time to go watch part I and hold your breath for a few days for a promising second chapter.

If you liked the godfather, go see this ! If you didn't, give it a shot (and go watch the godfather after that, coz you should)....

Election. A film by Jhonnie Ro. Playing at cinema du parc for one more week. Part II (triad) is out on June 15th. Showtimes

Fringe Fringe Fringe

So it's that time of the year... the fringe festival is here!
wonderful events await us....
emotion, madness, mayhem...

ok, i'll stop the cheesy over-exagerated intro and go right into it. This year, the fringe festival seems even bigger than before, with even more art genres joining in. In case you don't know what it's all about, the fringe fest is basically 11 days of free expression through the arts (theatre, arts and crafts, acrobatics etc...) all happening around town in around 10 venues.
Fringe Festival - official website

En passant, I can recommend a play called UNDER MILK WOOD directed by Colin Lalonde , featured in the festival !
Under Milk Wood is the wacky story of the many characters of a small Welsh fishing village. The directing is inspired, the actors are great. It's really a fun experience and I garantee you wil laugh laugh laugh.... a real hit !

Under Milk Wood- June 8 - 17th at "The Gordie Space" 4001 Berri Tickets are 10$, 514849-FEST or at the festival's website

Montag

Well I guess this will be the first post.
I felt like writing about a show I saw last week at the Main Hall.
It was a show by Montag (aka. Antoine Bedard). His music can best be described as a soft electronic sound with a hint of circus freekiness and poetry. Think Sufjan Stevens goes electronic and solo.
I found it mostly exciting, eventhough I wasn't a big fan of some of the slower pieces.

His new album, Going Places, is - beware the upcoming cheesy comment- definetly going places... He has amazing guest stars on the LP, including Stars' Amy Millan. I love the mood on the album, it swings, goes here and there but somehow always stays consistant. Sometimes it's even funny (listen carefully to some of the lyrics, like on Hi5 to the DJ).
Recommended tracks : Best Boy Electric, Going Places, Safe in sound

Catch him in Montreal again on June 16th at Parc des Ameriques (Part of the Fringe Festival)

official site

Collaborators Needed ! (FR and ENG)

Hello !
I noticed there aren't that many blogs about the Montreal cultural scene... which is totally ridiculously gigantically shamefully unacceptable ;)
so I propose we change things!

I'm starting this Blog to cover what happens in town, on all fronts.

But I can't do it alone----------
I'm looking for freelance volunteer collaborators to cover the Montreal scene including (but not limited to) music, film, art shows, events, festivals, restaurants concerts, politics or anything remotely related to this great city !
and remember, this is montreal so ENGLISH AND FRENCH ARE OK.

This blog is ultimatly about Montreal, from Montreal. Therefore the only restriction is that collaborators have to be from Montreal or live in Montreal.

--> if you're interested in collaborating, send me an email with some info about you and maybe a little blurb saying why and how you want to contribute.

Together, we can make this happen !

Any feedback or suggestions are welcome.