Happy Birthday Omara Portuondo!

Raising a glass to great Cuban vocal stylist Omara Portuondo with her stellar performance at the 2008 Montreal Jazz Festival. 

Bebel Gilberto previews new Agora album with "Deixa"

"Deixa" is the first track off Brazilian singer/songwriter Bebel Gilberto's long-awaited new album Agora, due May 1st.

Here's the scoop...

Bebel Gilberto is delighted to announce her new album, Agora. It’s her first new album and music in six years. The album is produced by Thomas Bartlett, a partnership born out of many years of friendship. Bartlett has produced and collaborated with artists including Sufjan Stevans (Grammy-nominated ‘Mystery of Love’), St. Vincent, Father John Misty, David Byrne, and Martha Wainwright, amongst others. He has also performed as a session musician with The National, playing piano on all albums since 2007’s The Boxer, and as a member of The Gloaming.

World renowned and multi-Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Bebel Gilberto has been enchanting fans and critics worldwide since her solo debut release in 1986. She catapulted onto the global music scene with a track on the celebrated compilation CD, RED HOT + RIO, followed by the worldwide success of her hit breakout album Tanto Tempo in 2000. The album featured her trademark electronic bossa nova, taking over clubs around the world and positioning Bebel as one of the top-selling Brazilian artists. since the '60s.

Critically-acclaimed albums to follow included Bebel Gilberto (2004), on which she refined her sound to create an acoustic lounge style that showcased her strengths as a Brazilian composer, and Momento (Six Degrees 2007), which masterfully showcased her skills at fusing all her musical styles. Bebel’s 2009 Grammy-nominated album All in One (Verve), brought to forefront more of Bebel's personality and love for organic rhythms.

In 2014, Bebel Gilberto released a beautiful concert DVD called Bebel Gilberto in Rio in Brazil, featuring a superb live concert on the beaches of Rio. Returning to her trademark sultry Brazilian rhythms infused with electronic beats, Bebel followed up with the gorgeous new studio album Tudo, released in August 2015 on Sony to great media acclaim.

Agora is out May 1st which you can pre-order right here. Listen to "Deixa" below. Check Bebel's tour dates – which includes an appearance at the Montreal Jazz Festival on June 27 – following the clip.

What to see at this year's Montreal Jazz Festival (June 27-July 6)

The dazzling Emeline Michel kicks off Montreal's annual Jazz Festival in stylish fashion with La fête haïtienne de Vox Sambou on June 27.

THURSDAY, JUNE 27

Cuban diva Omara Portuondo lights up Théâtre Maisonneuve

La fête haïtienne de Vox Sambou feat. Emeline Michel, Malika Tirolien & Jai Nitai Lotus 
Casino de Montréal / CBC/Radio-Canada Stage
Petit Parterre, corner of De Maisonneuve Blvd. and Clark St.
June 27, 6 p.m. Free
Brad Mehldau Quintet feat. Ambrose Akinmusire, Joel Frahm, Joe Sanders & Leon Parker
Maison symphonique de Montréal
1600 St. Urbain St.
FESTIVAL À LA MAISON SYMPHONIQUE
June 27, 7 p.m. $44.75 to $64.75
Omara Portuondo
Théâtre Maisonneuve, Place des Arts
175 Ste. Catherine St. West
June 27, 8 p.m. $55.20 to $71.70






FRIDAY, JUNE 28

Legendary pianist Chucho Valdés brings his percussion heavy Jazz Batá project to Maison symphonique de Montréal 

Chucho Valdés Jazz Batá
opener: Edmar Castaneda trio
Maison symphonique de Montréal
1600 St. Urbain St.
June 28, 7 p.m. $49.95 to $71.45
Hailu Mergia
L'Astral (Maison du Festival)
305 Ste. Catherine St. West
June 28, 10 p.m. $34










SATURDAY, JUNE 29

Roberto Fonseco Trio feat. Erik Truffaz

Roberto Fonseca Trio feat. Erik Truffaz
Gesù
1200 De Bleury St.
June 29, 6 p.m. $54.50
Bebel Gilberto 
opener: Jane Bunnett & Maqueque
Théâtre Maisonneuve, Place des Arts
175 Ste. Catherine St. West
June 29, 8 p.m. $39.65 to $54.65



SUNDAY, JUNE 30

Chicago beat scientist Makaya McCraven takes over Gesù on June 30. 

Daddy Long Legs
Hyundai / CBC/Radio-Canada Stage
Clark Esplanade, corner of Clark and De Montigny Streets
June 30, 7 p.m. Free

Michael Mwenso & The Shakes
Rio Tinto Stage
corner of De Maisonneuve and Jeanne Mance
June 30, 8 p.m. Free
Voïvod
Openers: René Lussier & Robbie Kuster
Club Soda
1225 St. Laurent Blvd.
June 30, 9 p.m. $35.25
Makaya McCraven
Gesù
1200 De Bleury St.
June 30, 10:30 p.m. $42.30



MONDAY, JULY 1

Tuba titan Theon Cross leaves Sons of Kemet behind for a night at L'Astral

Roberto Fonseca with Joe Claussell
Gesù
1200 De Bleury St.
July 1, 6 p.m. $50.50
Lee Fields & The Expressions
Club Soda
1225 St. Laurent Blvd.
July 1, 9 p.m. $42.25
Theon Cross
L'Astral (Maison du Festival)
305 Ste. Catherine St. West
July 1, 10 p.m. $26

TUESDAY, JULY 2
Joshua Redman Quartet feat. Aaron Goldberg, Reuben Rogers & Gregory Hutchinson
Opener: Alex Lefaivre YUL Quartet
Théâtre Maisonneuve, Place des Arts
175 Ste. Catherine St. West
July 2, 8 p.m. $51.90 to $61.90

WEDNESDAY, JULY 3

Singer/songwriter extraordinaire Eleni Mandell opens for Jeremy Dutcher at Club Soda at 9 pm. 

Alex Pangman
TD Stage
Place des Festivals
July 3, 6 p.m. Free
Newen Afrobeat
Loto-Québec Scene
corner Wellington and Galt St.
July 3, 7 p.m. Free
Eleni Mandell
opening for: Jeremy Dutcher
Club Soda
1225 St. Laurent Blvd.
July 3, 9 p.m. $35.25
U.S. Girls
Loto-Québec Scene
Corner Wellington and Galt St.
July 3, 9 p.m. Free






FRIDAY, JULY 5

Black Pumas bring some Texas soul to the festival

Black Pumas
Loto-Québec Scene
Corner Wellington and Galt St.
July 5, 7 p.m. Free
Courtney Barnett
opener: Pottery
MTELUS
59 Ste. Catherine St. East
July 5, 8:30 p.m. $54

SATURDAY, JULY 6

Guitar slinger Mdou Moctar and his crew blaze for free on July 6!

Mdou Moctar
Loto-Québec Scene
corner Wellington and Galt St.
July 6, 7 p.m. Free
Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar
Rio Tinto Stage
corner of De Maisonneuve and Jeanne Mance
July 6, 8 p.m. Free
Golden Dawn Arkestra
Loto-Québec Scene
Corner Wellington and Galt St.
July 6, 9 p.m. Free
Mercury Rev
L'Astral (Maison du Festival)
305 Ste. Catherine St. West
July 6, 10 p.m. $40

Duelling Jazz Fests: Montreal vs Toronto

When I saw the first notice of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal lineup, which notably included such decidedly non-jazz acts as the Doobie Brothers, Taj Mahal, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Eric Burdon, Cyndi Lauper, Steve Miller Band, and The Moody Blues, it seemed like someone had it mixed up with the Toronto Jazz Festival 2010. Checking further to see that the Gipsy Kings were listed as part at the two-week event (June 25-July 6) along with Daniel Lanois, Joan Armatrading and Lewis Furey appeared to confirm my initial suspicions but I was sadly mistaken. This was indeed the Montreal Jazz Fest listing but what happened to all the jazz? 
In Montreal, where government funding flows freely for the annual outdoor soiree and the festival's astute artistic director André Ménard has a good handle on what makes for exciting jazz programming, you can usually count on a week-long showcase of an important and creatively vital artists like David Murray or Randy Weston in a variety of settings in addition to loads of respectable, if not cutting edge jazz talent – not a series of golden oldies shows by tie-dyed arena rock survivors. For some reason, this year's version of the Montreal Jazz Fest has taken a sharp turn towards the mainstream in a puzzling bid for lowest common denominator appeal. The one-off novelty of Lou Reed getting down with John Zorn and Laurie Anderson doesn't begin to make up for the Lionel Richie and Boz Scaggs head-scratchers crowding out the Sonny Rollins and David Sanchez shows. The Doobie Brothers sans Michael McDonald? Really?
There have also been some surprising moves made by the Toronto Downtown Jazz operation in advance of the Toronto Jazz Festival 2010, which will go head-to-head with the Montreal event from June 25 to July 4. While there are some holdovers at this year's festival, like the return of the Dave Brubeck Quartet, David Sanborn, Herbie Hancock (with Dave Holland and Chris Potter), Keith Jarrett (with Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette) as well as John Scofield, the lineup is far more solid than anticipated with The Roots, Dave Douglas, Taj Mahal, James Hunter, the Roy Hargrove Big Band, Maceo Parker, Allen Toussaint & Mavis Staples, Fred Frith, Tomasz Stanko Quartet, Martha Wainwright, Bettye Lavette, James Hunter, Stanley Clarke, Christian Scott, Hilario Duran Big Band, Angelique Kidjo, Nikki Yanofsky and Harry Connick, Jr. providing serious competition for Montreal's parade golden greats. 
Perhaps the most notable change in the way the Toronto Jazz Festival 2010 is being run is the retirement of long-time artistic director Jim Galloway. Had the diehard dixieland enthusiast still been calling the shots at this year's festival, the sad passing of trombonist Rob McConnell on May 1 would've surely wreaked havoc with the bookings. Who knows, the way the schedule was padded with multiple Boss Brass gigs in previous years, the whole 10-day shebang may have been called off. Fortunately, after years of questionable booking choices, the trad-jazz focused Galloway has made way for the younger, hipper Toronto Jazz Orchestra founder/conductor Josh Grossman who understands the value of social media.
Almost immediately after Grossman took over in January, there were encouraging signs that positive changes were afoot. Just the appearance of a blog component to the torontojazz.com site was a revelation in itself but there was much more in store.
As part of a March posting, the Grossman not only acknowledged his responsibility as artistic director "to be aware of who is making waves on the Canadian and international jazz scenes, and get them playing in Toronto", he took the unprecedented step of inviting the public at large to make booking suggestions! Admittedly it's one thing to accept input and quite another to act on it. Yet the whole notion of the mysterious people at the Toronto Downtown Jazz suddenly welcoming outside suggestions and perhaps even considering what artists Toronto jazz fans really want to see is an enormously promising about face from the closed-shop approach of the past.
That's not to say the Toronto Jazz Festival will suddenly start spotlighting the sort of exciting jazz talent emerging in Canada, England, Japan, Finland, Sweden, Italy and the U.S. which has been overlooked for ages – supremely gifted jazz singer José James is appearing at Revival on July 2, not as part of the T.O. Jazz Festival – t's clearly going to take some time before we see the likes of Nat Birchall, Matt Halsall, Quasimode, Soil & Pimp Sessions, Dwight Trible, Bajka, Nostalgia 77, Build An Ark, Jukka Eskola, Five Corners Quintet, Eero Koivistoinen, Jacques Coursil or Azar Lawrence. But having an open-minded artistic director actively seeking input is a giant leap in the right direction.

LINKS
Toronto Jazz Festival  torontojazz.com
Festival International de Jazz de Montréal www.montrealjazzfest.com