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
Basso, Guido S'Wonderful And All That Latin Jazz!
Browne, Brian Trio The Brian Browne Trio - How Insensitive The Brian Browne Trio (split with The Doug Randle Orchestra)
Martin, Billy Take the A Train Knock On Wood (with Rickey Day)
Gagnon, Lee L'amour absolu Jérémie Soundtrack
Ferguson, Maynard The Roamin' Snowman Around the Horn with
Greenwich, Sonny Quartet Only One Earth Bird of Paradise
Bley, Paul Trio Blood ST
Sealy, Joe & Paul Novotny The Road Africville Suite: The Struggle For Recognition
Gagnon, Lee Gene Structure Ramble Jazzzzz
Leduc, Pierre Entre ciel et terre Renaître
Agostini, Lucio Prairie Boy Action With Agostini
Holmes, Johnny Orchestra Lonely Is the Name (Kaempfert–Rehbein–Sigman) The Brass Therapy (Montreal Brass Band)
Bley, Paul Ramblin' Blood
Gagnon, Lee Rêve Jérémie Soundtrack
Walker, George Please Come Back James Last Presents George Walker
Greenwich, Sonny Quartet Time-Space Evol-ution, Love's Reverse
Chotem, Neil Pizza For Tony Lucille Dumont and Robert Demontigny, vocalists
Martin, Billy Walk on the Wildside Music With Soul
Sealy, Joe & Paul Novotny Train's Comin' Africville Suite: The Struggle For Recognition
Holmes, Johnny Orchestra So Nice Montreal 17 piece Orchestra
Martin, Billy Exodus Music With Soul
Scott, Johnny It's You You'll Never Get Rid of Me b/w It's You
Basso, Guido What A Friend It's Happening
Agostini, Lucio Guadalajara Mucho Lucio: Latin American Music Arranged And Conducted by Lucio Agostini
Chotem, Neil Bitter Green Plays the Songs of Gordon Lightfoot
Apple, Herman et son ensemble Erev Shel Shoshsnim Montréal, ville internationale
Sealy, Joe & Paul Novotny Joe's Reflections Africville Suite: The Struggle For Recognition
Ayoub, Nick Sextet Malaga Malaga/ Perception // Love Scene/ Abstraction
Compilation George Sealy and His Orchestra - Moanin' At The Montmartre (1941) Jazz and Hot Dance in Canada: 1916-1949
Bley, Paul Split Kick Introducing Paul Bley (With Charlie Mingus and Art Blakey)
Chotem, Neil Le jazz et la java Lucille Dumont and Robert Demontigny, vocalists
Fleming, Gordie Caravan (Version 2) According to Gordie
Greenwich, Sonny Quartet Of Stars & Strings Bird of Paradise
Martin, Billy No Good Billy's Dance Party
Ortez, Anita Those Were the Days Vocalist with Orchestra: Musical Direction - Nat Raider
Martin, Billy Any Day Knock On Wood (with Rickey Day)
Ferguson, Maynard Ain't Life Grand Around the Horn with
Martin, Billy One More Time I Turn You On
Chotem, Neil Oh Dear! What Can the Matter Be Neil Chotem Orchestra
Peterson, Oscar Sweethearts On Parade ( Carmen Lombardo, Joseph Dwight Newman) The Personal Touch
Basso, Guido Fascinating Rhythm Jazz Canadiana: All Star Jazz In Concert
Noël, Henri Pierre Azaka Piano
Browne, Brian Trio The Shadow of Your Smile Listen, People!
Chotem, Neil Adieu mon rêve (Farewell My Dream) Themes and Melodies Volume 2
Chotem, Neil Ne parle pas Themes and Melodies Volume 1
Basso, Guido Christina And All That Latin Jazz!
Fleming, Gordie Hello Young Lovers According to Gordie
Baculis, Al Singers So What's New? ST
Peterson, Oscar French Fiddler Trail of Dreams: A Canadian Suite
Martin, Billy When My Dreamboat Comes Home Music With Soul
Ayoub, Nick Quintet Montreal East The Montreal Scene
Greenwich, Sonny Quintet Peace Chant Sun Song: 'The Music of Sonny Greenwich'
Chotem, Neil Rosanna Plays the Songs of Gordon Lightfoot
Vogel, Vic Quiet Nights Montreal Bandleader
Martin, Billy Let Them Talk Knock On Wood (with Rickey Day)
Peterson, Oscar Ballad to P.E.I. Trail of Dreams: A Canadian Suite
Martin, Billy Autumn Leaves The Mellow Sax Of John Scott
Leduc, Pierre Allégresse Renaître
Basso, Guido Put Your Hand in the Hand Put Your Hand in the Hand
Agostini, Lucio Chuck Wagon Race Once Upon a Hundred Years
Holmes, Johnny Orchestra Beauty and the Beast Ray Berthiaume and Margo McKinnon, vocalists
Basso, Guido Portrait of Guido (Phil Dwyer) Lost in the Stars
Browne, Brian Trio Walk on By Listen, People!
Greenwich, Sonny Quintet Parting Sun Song: 'The Music of Sonny Greenwich'
Basso, Guido If I Let You Go Love Talk
Basso, Guido For Awhile Love Talk
Leduc, Pierre et son Quatuor Tonus ST
Concept Neuf En dansant avec Vigneault ST
Sealy, Joe & Paul Novotny Kildare's Field Africville Suite: The Struggle For Recognition
Gagnon, Lee C'est la belle françoise Vive la Canadienne
Chotem, Neil When Yuba Plays The Rumba On His Tuba Neil Chotem Orchestra
Browne, Brian Trio And I Love Her Listen, People!
Cultier, Marius Les seins du paradis À la Place des Arts
Ayoub, Nick Sextet Abstraction Malaga/ Perception // Love Scene/ Abstraction
Concept Neuf Ta Samba ST
Martin, Billy Music to Watch Girls By Doin' Their Thing
Ferguson, Maynard Never You Mind Around the Horn with
Bley, Paul This Can't be Love Paul Bley
Agostini, Lucio St. Thomas Cold Shoulder and Hot Brass
Ferguson, Maynard Pork Pie Around the Horn with
Walker, George If You Go Away James Last Presents George Walker
Ayoub, Nick Quintet Jazz Concertino The Music of Nick Ayoub
Agostini, Lucio Coastin' Action With Agostini
Leduc, Pierre et son Quatuor Synchronisation ST
Cultier, Marius Donne-moi un p'tit bec À la Place des Arts
Bley, Paul Richter Scale Dual Unity (with Annette Bley)
Ortez, Anita The Fool on the Hill Vocalist with Orchestra: Musical Direction - Nat Raider
Concept Neuf Au soleil avec toi Concept Neuf
Agostini, Lucio Gold Leaf Action With Agostini
Cultier, Marius Coco Boogaloo De La Martinique
Fleming, Gordie East of the Sun According to Gordie
Ayoub, Nick Septet Too Late Now Masque Nade
Bley, Paul Like Someone In Love Introducing Paul Bley (With Charlie Mingus and Art Blakey)
Ayoub, Nick Sextet Love Scene Malaga/ Perception // Love Scene/ Abstraction
Basso, Guido White Christmas Christmas Today
Leduc, Pierre et son Quatuor Soya ST
Basso, Guido Gentle Rain One More for the Road
Compilation Harry Thomas - Delirious Rag (1916) Jazz and Hot Dance in Canada: 1916-1949
Basso, Guido Yesterday When I Was Young (live) (Charles Aznavour) Lost in the Stars
Apple, Herman et son ensemble Pot Pourri Canadien Français Montréal, ville internationale

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