The Montreal Jazz Scene

Montréal was one of the few places in North America where you could still buy alcohol legally. The city’s unofficial theme song was the 1928 Irving Berlin Co. chart topper “Hello Montréal!”, which summed up the sentiments of thirsty tourists: “Goodbye Broadway, hello Montréal / I’m on my way, I’m on my way / And I’ll make whoop-whoop whoopee night and day!”

Gamblers, racketeers and the world’s greatest entertainers – especially American jazz musicians – flocked to Montréal, notably between the two world wars when Montréal’s Little Burgundy neighbourhood was dubbed the “Harlem of the North.”

Montréal quickly became the nightclub capital of Canada, and her fabled Sin-City era would continue well into the 1950s.

Today, Montréal remains a hotbed of jazz. The city is home to the world’s largest jazz festival as well as live music in the city’s swinging jazz clubs seven nights a week. While Montréal’s Sin City heyday is behind her, Montrealers still love letting the good times roll long after most other cities have rolled up their sidewalks and gone to bed.

Jazz, a style of American music birthed in New Orleans around the turn of the 20th century, migrated north to Montréal, hometown of global jazz icon Oscar Peterson, Maynard Ferguson and Oliver Jones.

Montréal became home to countless jazz nightclubs such as the famous Rockhead’s Paradise, a three-storey show bar located on the corner of de la Montagne and Saint-Antoine Streets. Founded by Rufus Rockhead in 1928, Rockhead’s Paradise was where Louis Armstrong went after performing at the Montréal Forum or uptown clubs, and it was where Ella Fitzgerald made her Montréal début in 1943.

Just around the corner from Rockhead’s on de la Montagne Street was another popular Black club, the Café St-Michel, home of Louis Metcalf’s International Band. Metcalf had been a trumpeter with Duke Ellington and Jelly Roll Morton before bringing bebop to Montréal.

Pianist Oliver Jones, a former protégé of his idol Oscar Peterson, was just 10 years old when he first performed at the Café St-Michel in 1944.

Mr. Jones once told me, “It was across the street from Rockhead’s Paradise, which was the first Black-owned club in all of Canada. The St-Michel was a little rougher. Rufus Rockhead never let anything get out of hand although there was always pressure from authorities to close him down. But I remember playing in the St-Michel and saw a lot of what I wasn’t supposed to see – girly girls and strippers. But the people there, there was always someone looking out for me.”

During Montréal’s 1920s to 1950s golden age of jazz, everybody from Dizzy Gillespie to Duke Ellington made their way to the city. Even Frank Sinatra headlined Chez Paree on Stanley Street during a residency there in 1953.

Jazz declined in popularity in the 1960s thanks to the rise of rock’n’roll but bounced back in Montréal when legendary impresario Rouè-Doudou Boicel founded the Rising Sun Celebrity Jazz Club in 1975. The club was located on Sainte-Catherine Street, opposite where the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal’s Maison du Festival is located today, in the Quartier des spectacles.

“My deepest friends who helped me were Taj Mahal, Buddy Guy, Art Blakey, John Lee Hooker and Dizzy Gillespie, who came to Montréal whenever I needed money,” Boicel told me. “That was a guarantee my place was packed.”

Boicel also founded the short-lived Rising Sun Festijazz at Place des Arts in 1978 – presenting everybody from Sarah Vaughan to Dexter Gordon – before the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal was established in 1980.

The Rising Sun is gone now, as are Montreal’s famed Sin City-era jazz clubs like the Café St-Michel. Rockhead’s Paradise closed in 1980. But a vibrant local jazz scene has grown alongside the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, which is very supportive of local musicians.

Festival International de Jazz de Montréal
The arrival of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal in 1980 signaled a new era of Montréal jazz. Many jazz clubs have opened since and are especially busy during the festival.

Each year the ten-day jazz festival books some of the biggest acts in the music business, showcasing some 3,000 musicians from 30 countries headlining 500 indoor and outdoor concerts – ticketed and free – on 20 stages.

The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal is the world’s largest according to Guinness World Records, and each year begins during the last week of June.

Upstairs Jazz Bar & Grill
Close to the major hotels downtown and popular with tourists, the intimate Upstairs Jazz Bar & Grill books local musicians such as renowned drummer Jim Doxas, blues queen Dawn Tyler Watson and soul legend Michelle Sweeney.

Jazz royalty performing at Upstairs over the years includes international headliners Sheila Jordan, Jimmy Heath, Joe Lovano, former Oscar Peterson drummer Alvin Queen, Jeff Healey and jazz legend Ranee Lee, who recorded her Juno Award-winning live album at Upstairs.

Upstairs was the first off-site jazz club to be part of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, hosts regular jam nights for jazz musicians attending McGill and Concordia universities, and is ranked by Downbeat Magazine as one of the top jazz clubs in the world.

Dièse Onze Jazz & Restaurant
Dièse Onze, in the hip Plateau district, is very intimate, looks and feels exactly like a classic jazz club should, and features live music every night by such musical guests as Juno Award-winning soul diva Kim Richardson and the popular groove and improvisation-fueled collective The Brooks. DownBeat Magazine ranks Dièse Onze as one of the top jazz clubs in the world.

Modavie
Located in Old Montréal, Modavie is a French bistro that features live jazz and blues seven evenings a week, showcasing local performers. The old-school jazz feel is accentuated by the bistro’s stone and wood décor.

Montréal Jazz History Walking Tour
During the jazz fest each year, professional tour guide Leah Blythe presents her popular Montréal Jazz History Walking Tour. The two-hour tour through downtown Montréal tells the story of jazz and its connection to the city from the 1920s until the foundation of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal in 1980. You’ll see what has become of such former clubs as Rockhead’s Paradise, the Rising Sun and Chez Paree. For more information about the walking tour during the jazz festival and year-round, email Blythe at leah.m.blythe@gmail.com.
-Richard Burnett

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Marius Cultier - De La Martinique - back side

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Guido Basso - Christmas Today

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Ebony in Rythem

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Nick Ayoub Sextet - Malaga/ Perception // Love Scene/ Abstraction

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Walter Boudreau - Jazz - Walter Boudreau + 3 = 4

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Lee Preston & the Inn-Crowd - Every Day I Have to Cry b/w Without You

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Lucio Agostini - Once Upon a Hundred Years

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Lucio Agostini - Once Upon a Hundred Years

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Lucio Agostini - Once Upon a Hundred Years

Walter boudreau  3 4

Jazz - Walter Boudreau + 3 = 4

Marius cultier front

De La Martinique

Herman apple montreal back

Apple, Herman - Montréal, ville internationale

Tracks

Artist Track Title
Bley, Paul My One And Only (What Am I Gonna Do) Paul Bley
Agostini, Lucio Once Upon a Hundred Years (Theme) Once Upon a Hundred Years
Agostini, Lucio Caprice Canadien Action With Agostini
Peterson, Oscar Easy Does It Night Train
Apple, Herman et son ensemble Magic Touch Montréal, ville internationale
Basso, Guido Canada It's Happening (re-issue)
Fleming, Gordie According to Gordie According to Gordie
Bacal, Nancy Honey Don't Be Highbrow Honey Don't Be Highbrow
Agostini, Lucio Help Yourself Cold Shoulder and Hot Brass
Basso, Guido I Go to Rio And All That Latin Jazz!
Martin, Billy Back at the Chicken Shack Music With Soul
Martin, Billy This Love Of Mine Billy's Dance Party
Martin, Billy Moonglow The Mellow Sax Of John Scott
Ayoub, Nick Quintet Two and The Montreal Scene
Vogel, Vic Booze is Beautiful Montreal Bandleader
Martin, Billy When My Dreamboat Comes Home Music With Soul
Ferguson, Maynard Somebody Loves Me Maynard Ferguson's Hollywood Party
Basso, Guido For Awhile Love Talk
Greenwich, Sonny Quartet Day is Night to Some Evol-ution, Love's Reverse
Bley, Paul My Heart Paul Bley
Nimmons, Phil Group The Life I Lead Mary Popppins Swings
Martin, Billy Bye Bye Black Bird Knock On Wood (with Rickey Day)
Chotem, Neil Stay With Me Themes and Melodies Volume 2
Fleming, Gordie J.B.'s Bawdy (Gordie Fleming) Gordie Fleming's "Big Little Band" (Montreal Instrumental)
Holmes, Johnny Orchestra If You Could Read My Mind (Gordon Lightfoot) 17-piece Montreal Orchestra
Martin, Billy One More Time Strawberry Soul
Ferguson, Maynard Almost Like Being in Love Maynard Ferguson and His Orchestra (live at the Expo '67 Canadian Pavillion Theatre)
Ayoub, Nick Sextet Abstraction Malaga/ Perception // Love Scene/ Abstraction
Léveillée, Claude & André Gagnon Carousel Léveillée - Gagnon
Basso, Guido 'Round Midnight (Thelonious Monk) Lost in the Stars
Lee, Ranee Only Have Eyes for You Live At Le Bijou
Fleming, Gordie Caravan According to Gordie
Baculis, Al Singers The More I See You ST
Ortez, Anita Masquenada Vocalist with Orchestra: Musical Direction - Nat Raider
Basso, Guido Anniversary Song It's Happening (re-issue)
Baculis, Al Singers A Man and a Woman ST
Sealy, Joe & Paul Novotny Brown Bomber Africville Suite: The Struggle For Recognition
Fleming, Gordie Taking a Chance On Love According to Gordie
Compilation Morgan Thomas and His Orchestra - Bugle Call Rag (1938) Jazz and Hot Dance in Canada: 1916-1949
Greenwich, Sonny Quintet Lily (Lotus) Sun Song: 'The Music of Sonny Greenwich'
Peterson, Oscar The World is Waiting for the Sunrise (Ernest Seitz) The Personal Touch
Greenwich, Sonny Quartet Prelune Evol-ution, Love's Reverse
Noël, Henri Pierre Will Come A Day One More Step
Ferguson, Maynard Alfie Maynard Ferguson and His Orchestra (live at the Expo '67 Canadian Pavillion Theatre)
Holmes, Johnny Orchestra Lulu's Back in Town Ray Berthiaume and Margo McKinnon, vocalists
Sealy, Joe & Paul Novotny Train's Comin' Africville Suite: The Struggle For Recognition
Agostini, Lucio Prairie Boy Action With Agostini
Chotem, Neil Wherefore and Why Plays the Songs of Gordon Lightfoot
Agostini, Lucio Voyageur Canoe Race Once Upon a Hundred Years
Nimmons, Phil Group Feed the Birds (Tuppence a Bag) Mary Popppins Swings
Compilation Nick Ayoub Quintette - Montréal-Est Montréal: Un Portrait Musical
Ferguson, Maynard Dancing Nitely Around the Horn with
Basso, Guido Canada It's Happening
Chotem, Neil It's Just a Foolish Game Themes and Melodies Volume 2
Nimmons, Phil Group The Perfect Nanny Mary Popppins Swings
Martin, Billy Till Then The Mellow Sax Of John Scott
Martin, Billy Autumn Leaves The Mellow Sax Of John Scott
Ayoub, Nick (avec Rosita & Dino) Bossa Me Bossa Nova Jazz Samba
Peterson, Oscar Dancetron Trail of Dreams: A Canadian Suite
Chotem, Neil Gentle Bird Themes and Melodies Volume 1
Gagnon, Lee À Saint Malo Vive la Canadienne
Ferguson, Maynard Dream boat Around the Horn with
Peterson, Oscar The Waltz I Blew For Yew (Rob McConnell) The Personal Touch
Chotem, Neil Tout mais pas ca (Monique Leyrac, vocals) Monique Leyrac, vocalist
Compilation Harry Thomas - Delirious Rag (1916) Jazz and Hot Dance in Canada: 1916-1949
Chotem, Neil Is It Over Now? Themes and Melodies Volume 2
Leduc, Pierre et son Quatuor Tonus ST
Maiste, Art Watermelon Man At the Piano
Browne, Brian Trio Walk on By Listen, People!
Basso, Guido Ten Little Indians It's Happening
Chotem, Neil Adieu mon rêve (Farewell My Dream) Themes and Melodies Volume 2
Basso, Guido What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? Christmas Today
Noël, Henri Pierre Bluesy Mood One More Step
Bley, Paul Richter Scale Dual Unity (with Annette Bley)
Martin, Billy Summertime Round About Midnight
Noël, Henri Pierre Sambita Piano
Maiste, Art Mr. Lucky At the Piano
Maiste, Art Laura At the Piano
Cultier, Marius Les ailes d'un oiseau De La Martinique
Gagnon, Lee Détente Jazzzzz
Chotem, Neil Brouillard Lucille Dumont and Robert Demontigny, vocalists
Léveillée, Claude & André Gagnon Silence Léveillée - Gagnon
Chotem, Neil Va t'en Themes and Melodies Volume 1
Ayoub, Nick Quintet Ya Habibi The Montreal Scene
Ferguson, Maynard People Color Him Wild
Maiste, Art In a Sentimental Mood At the Piano
Martin, Billy I'm Gonna Sit In Billy's Dance Party
Peterson, Oscar Some of These Days (Sheldon Brooks) The Personal Touch
Ayoub, Nick (avec Rosita & Dino) Jazz Me In Bossa Nova Jazz Samba
Apple, Herman et son ensemble Pot Pourri Canadien Français Montréal, ville internationale
Ayoub, Nick (avec Rosita & Dino) Bossa Sway Bossa Nova Jazz Samba
Bley, Paul Pig Foot Blood
Peterson, Oscar Things Ain't What They Used To Be Night Train
Nimmons, Phil Group Stay Awake Mary Popppins Swings
Noël, Henri Pierre Roller Skater Rhapsody One More Step
Browne, Brian Trio Listen People Listen, People!
Jones, Oliver Hymn to Freedom (Oscar Peterson) Live at Biddle's
Concept Neuf L'île verte Concept Neuf
Basso, Guido Ramblin' It's Happening
Martin, Billy We Can Work it Out I Turn You On

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