Montreux Jazz Festival | 03-18 Juillet 2009 | News

Tremplin Lémanique

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:57:54 +0100 GMT

Le Festival de Jazz de Montreux et le Conseil du Léman ont créé ce concours pour mettre en valeur les formations musicales de la région lémanique. Ainsi, pour offrir un véritable tremplin à de jeunes talents, des groupes sont invités à se produire dans le cadre du Festival de Jazz de Montreux. Ce concours offre une opportunité exceptionnelle de se faire connaître auprès d’un public averti et international.

Le concours est ouvert à tous les artistes basés dans l’une des régions du Conseil du Léman: les départements de l’Ain et de la Haute Savoie ou les cantons de Genève, Vaud et Valais et dont les membres ont une moyenne d’âge ne dépassant pas drastiquement les 35 ans!

Nous sommes bien conscients que la dénomination «Electro» est subjective et qu’elle comporte de nombreux sous-genres: Electro-pop, Techno, House, Minimal, Electronica, Breakbeat, Trip-Hop et autres... bref, le domaine est vaste et nous accueillerons donc volontiers les groupes qui se sentent proches de ce style plus par son esprit que par une définition claire. Néanmoins, nous attirons votre attention sur le fait que la capacité maximale du Montreux Jazz Café est de 2500 places. Chaque groupe devra présenter des productions live, avec instrument(s).

Télécharger le réglement ici

Smoke on the Water - 1971

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:54:36 +0100 GMT

The Montreux Jazz Festival started in 1967. It is one of the oldest Festival in the world, celebrating its 44 years in 2010. Discover each week a new 'behind the scene' story told by Claude Nobs, director and founder of the event. This week : Smoke on the Water.

"At the time (beggining of the '70), the Festival was still small enough for me to be able to follow Mr. Jaussi's directive to 'Try to get a rock concert once every month in Montreux.' I'd been booking a whole range of different bands into the casino. Then in 1971 during a Frank Zappa show, some freak fired a flare gun into the wooden ceiling, which of course went up like a tinderbox, and the whole place burnt down. Frank was brilliant, he remained on the stage and helped me te keep people calm and organise an orderly evacuation.
Deep Purple were in Montreux recording on the Stone's mobile studio, and Ian Gillan had gone along to catch Frank's concert. Ian told me that the guy who fired the flare was standing right beside him, but before he could stop him the idiot had taken the gun out from under his coat and fired it up into the rafters. It's typical of Ian, I think, that having got out safely he then ran back into the burning building to retrieve his girlfriend's jacket! After that, all the band sat out on the balcony of the Eden au Lac Hotel, watch the smoke drifting accross Lac Léman, and wrote a song about the whole incident called 'Smoke on the Water', which is the story of exactly what happened."

Photo : © 1981 Alain Betex, A publishing Company Limited. From the Book "Live from Montreux" by C. Perry Richardson, on sale here

Vidéo

Le premier Montreux Jazz Festival a eu lieu en 1967. Il s'agit de l'un des plus ancien festival au monde, célébrant ses 44 ans d'existence en 2010. Découvrez chaque semaine une nouvelle anecdote racontée par Claude Nobs, directeur et fondateur de l'évènement. Cette semaine : Smoke on the Water

"A ce moment-là (au début des années 70), le Festival était encore assez petit pour me permettre de suivre les directives de Mr Jaussi (le directeur de l'Office du Tourisme) et d'organiser chaque mois un concert de rock à Montreux. J'avais fait venir toute sorte de groupes au casino, qui pouvait alors accueillir près de 600 personnes. Puis en 1971, pendant un concert de Frank Zappa, un type a tiré un coup de flare gun dans le plafond en bois, qui c'est évidemment embrasé comme une torche et la salle s'est complètement consumée. Frank était exceptionnel : il est resté sur scène et m'a aidé à faire évacuer tout le monde dans le calme.

Deep Purple étaient à Montreux pour enregistrer un album à ce moment-là et Ian Gillan était venu assister au concert. Ian m'a dit que l'homme au pistolet se tenait juste à côté de lui, mais qu'avant d'avoir pu le stopper, cet idiot avait déjà dégainé et tiré sur les chevrons. Ian est ensuite sorti sain et sauf du bâtiment, puis est retourné à l'intérieur en courant pour récupérer la veste de sa copine - typiquement lui! Après ça, le groupe s'est assis sur le balcon de l'Eden au Lac Hôtel pour regarder la fumée glisser sur le lac Léman et a écrit une chanson sur l'incident. "Smoke on the Water" est l'histoire exacte et véridique de ce qui s'est passé ce jour-là."

Photo : © 1981 Alain Betex, A publishing Company Limited. Tirées du livre "Live from Montreux" by C. Perry Richardson, on sale here

James Brown - 1981

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:54:44 +0100 GMT

The Montreux Jazz Festival started in 1967. It is one of the oldest Festival in the world, celebrating its 44 years in 2010. Discover each week a new 'behind the scene' story told by Claude Nobs, director and founder of the event. This week : James Brown hair issues in 1981!

"James Brown gave us this absolutely dynamite show, but he was supposed to come back out and take part in a Gospel concert with the Staple Singers and Bessie Griffin - particularly as, 'The Blues Brothers' movie had become such a huge success, and he'd play the part of the preatcher in the film. So I was waiting for him, but he'd completely vanished! I looked all over the place, everywhere I could think of that he might possibly be, and then someone told me that they were sure that they'd seen him going into his dressing room.
So I went back up the stairs again and started banging on his door - I must have been hammering away off and on for a good twenty minutes before finally there he was, standing in the doorway in his own monogrammed bathrobe, still dripping wet from having just showered and washed his hair. I explained that he was supposed to be doing a guest appearance, and he slapped his forehead with his hand and told me 'Claude, I'm so sorry man, I completely forgot about it! Are they on now?'. I replied 'Sure they went out on stage about half an hour ago for an hour long set'. He said 'Oh my God, I'm sorry but I really can't do it - takes an hour just for me to get my hair right!'
I cracked up and found myself telling him it was okay, he hadn't been announced, so the audience didn't know that he was supposed to be joining in - what else could I do? I thanked him for delivering such a wonderful performance, he gave me a big hug and I walked away covered in water, shower gel and Mr. Brown's own special eau de Cologne!"

Photo : James Brown, © 1981 Dany Gignoux, A publishing Company Limited. From the Book "Live from Montreux" by C. Perry Richardson, on sale here

Video

Le premier Montreux Jazz Festival a eu lieu en 1967. Il s'agit de l'un des plus ancien festival au monde, célébrant ses 44 ans d'existence en 2010. Découvrez chaque semaine une nouvelle anecdote racontée par Claude Nobs, directeur et fondateur de l'évènement. Cette semaine : les histoires de cheveux de James Brown!

"James Brown venait de donner ce concert explosif, et devait revenir sur scène et prendre part au concert Gospel avec les Staple Singers et Bessie Griffin - particulièrement parce que le film des Blues Brothers était devenu un énorme succès et qu'il y jouait le rôle du prédicateur. Je l'attendais donc, mais il avait complètement disparu! J'ai regardé partout, dans tous les endroits où je pensais qu'il pouvait être et puis quelqu'un m'a dit qu'il avait été vu en train de rentrer dans sa loge.
Je suis donc remonté and ai commencé à frapper à sa porte - ça devait bien faire vingt minutes que je tambourinais lorsqu'il est enfin apparu, vêtu de sa robe de bain et encore dégoulinant de la douche. Quand je lui expliquais qu'il devait faire une apparition, il s'est frappé le front en déclarant 'Claude, désolé mec, j'ai complètement oublié! Est-ce qu'ils sont sur scène en ce moment?' J'ai répondu 'Oui, ça fait 30 minutes qu'ils ont commencé leur set d'une heure.' Il a dit 'Oh mon dieu, je suis désolé mais je ne peux vraiment pas le faire - il me fait une heure rien que pour m'occuper de mes cheveux!'
J'ai éclaté de rire et lui ai dit que ça n'était pas grave. On n'avait pas annoncé au public son apparition... Qu'est-ce que je pouvais faire d'autre! Je l'ai remercié pour son show fabuleux, il m'a serré dans ses bras et j'ai quitté la loge couvert d'eau, de gel douche et de l'eau de Cologne de Mr Brown!"

Photo : James Brown, © 1981 Dany Gignoux, A publishing Company Limited. Tirée du livre "Live from Montreux" de C. Perry Richardson, en vente ici

Devenez Staff!

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:54:58 +0100 GMT

Les inscriptions au Staff sont ouvertes! Toi aussi, rejoins notre équipe pour contribuer à l'organisation du Festival et partager cette expérience formidable. Quelles que soient tes aspirations, nous sommes certains que tu trouveras l’activité qui te convient. Des vestiaires aux bars et de la sécurité au stand d’information, les postes de travail sont très diversifiés. Pour participer, rends-toi sous la rubrique Staff en haut à droite. Nous nous réjouissons de ta participation!

INSCRIPTION ICI

Le Bureau du Staff

Video of the Week : BIRDY NAM NAM

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:13:22 +0100 GMT

This week : the genius turntablist Birdy Nam Nam in "Worried"

France's Bridy Nam Nam are a DJ collective who have been steadily building their reputation in the electronica community over the last decade. Winners of the DMC Team Championships in 2002, their live show attests to their incredible turntable skills.

WATCH THE VIDEO

Video of the week : PETER CINCOTTI

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:38:32 +0100 GMT

This week : Peter Cincotti, live from the Stravinski Hall with "Love is Gone".

Watch the video

A winner of the Festival's piano competition in the year 2000, 25-year-old Peter Cincotti has been playing piano since the age of three. Exploring musical styles that blend pop, rock, blues, funk and jazz, Cincotti's percussive piano playing and rich vocals infuse each song with a startling energy. "I wanted each song to come alive in the studio with the same freshness they had when they were first written".

Video of the Week

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:15:03 +0100 GMT

This week : the great bluesman Boo Boo Davis live from the Auditorium Stravinski in 2009.

« I'm a survivor and belong to one of the last generations of musicians that write and play the blues based on first hand experience of a hard life in the Mississippi Delta. The blues helps me to keep my spirit high and survive day-to-day life. It deals with all the basic raw elements of life; good and bad, plain and simple. »

Watch the video

Montreux Jazz on the Road

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:35:16 +0100 GMT

For the past 11 years, the Montreux Jazz Festival has organised piano, guitar and voice competitions. The winners meet during the following winter in the magical Alpine setting of Balik Studio, where they compose a repertoire and record a CD. This cultural exchange is then completed by a tour of European summer jazz festivals, including Montreux.

The participants combine their different musical approaches and influences, with range from classical music to jazz improvisation and traditional folk culture, thereby contributing to the constant evolution of jazz.

The level of the piano competition was so high this year that the jury choose two winners : Beka Gochiashvili - 13 year old, from Georgia - and Isfar Sarabsky from Azerbaijan. The American Aubrey Logan won the voice competition and Roland Balogh, from Hungary, the guitar competition.

Swiss Awards

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:27:01 +0100 GMT

World Star Tina Turner won the Show category on the Swiss Awards on Saturday, January 9th 2010. The prize was handed by her long time friend Claude Nobs.

vidéo

La Star mondiale Tina Turner a remporté le prix du meilleur Show samedi soir aux Swiss Awards. Il lui a été remis des mains de son ami de longue date Claude Nobs.

Claude Nobs and Tina Turner at the Swiss Awards

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:12:07 +0100 GMT

Claude Nobs will attend the Swiss Awards on Saturday Night with his long time friend, the Rock Star Tina Turner, who is nominated in the Show category. Don't miss it!

Saturday January 9 2010, 8:20 pm on SF1, TSR2, RSI2
SF1 website

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Claude Nobs va assister samedi soir aux Swiss Awards à Zürich en compagnie de son amie de longue date, la star du rock Tina Turner, nominée dans la catégorie "Show".
Un événement télévisuel à ne pas manquer!

Samedi 9 janvier 2010, 20h20 sur SF1, TSR2 et RSI2
Site web de SF1

Seasons Greetings

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 10:55:16 +0100 GMT

The Montreux Jazz Festival team wishes you a merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

Watch our Christmas video here!

Video of the week : We Have Band

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:55:50 +0100 GMT

Every Friday, watch a video of one of the 2009 Montreux Jazz Festival concert on www.montreuxjazz.com

This week : WE HAVE BAND "Oh"
Watch the video

English disco-rock trio We Have Band built up a huge buzz in 2008 with debut singles "Oh" and "Hear It in the Cans", the former being included in Kitsune's annual up-and-coming artists compilation. Their forthcoming debut album is expected this year.

Video of the week : MARIANNE FAITHFULL

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:42:51 +0100 GMT

Every Friday, watch a video of one of the 2009 Montreux Jazz Festival concert on www.montreuxjazz.com

This week : Marianne Faithfull "As Tears Go By"

Watch the video

Singer, songwriter, actress, writer, icon. Marianne Faithfull's forty-year career is one of the most fascinating in rock & roll history. Her interpretations on latest album Easy Come, Easy Go range from Bessie Smith to Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.

Festival Poster 2010

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:49:42 +0100 GMT

Romero Britto creates the poster of the 44th Montreux Jazz Festival

His art celebrates life and stands for vitality and joy. Born in Brazil, Romero Britto lived an extremely modest lifestyle while growing up amongst eight brothers and sisters in Recife. Nowadays he is one of the most renowned Neo Pop artists worldwide. His paintings and sculptures combine elements of Cubism, Pop Art and Graffiti. Britto created the Festival’s poster already in 1999 for its 33rd edition and the logo of the Festival’s archives Montreux Sounds. Painted in strong and fresh colors, the poster for the 44th Montreux Jazz Festival represents a boy with guitar and his dog. Romero Britto, who currently lives in Miami, is an artistic activist for charitable and cultural organizations, he supports as well the Montreux Jazz Fondation 2.

Romero Britto official website: www.britto.com

Special Offer !
Official 2010 poster
CHF 39.- instead of CHF 49.-
BUY

POUR LE FRANCAIS, CLIQUEZ ICI
FÜR DEUTSCH KLICKEN SIE HIER

Read the article on nytimes.com

Lang Lang Revealed on CNN

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:07:35 +0100 GMT

Watch the great pianist Lang Lang on CNN "Revealed" on the following times and dates :

Wednesday 18th November: 0930, 1730
Saturday 21st November: 0930, 1800, 2130
Sunday 22nd November: 0630, 1830,
Monday 23rd November: 0400

If you miss it, it will be available on www.cnn.com/revealed from Wednesday 18th

Watch the trailer

MJF Christmas Offers!

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:03:47 +0100 GMT

Pour le Francais, cliquez ici
Für Deutsch, klicken Sie hier

EASY DAY PASS

Auditorium Stravinski & Miles Davis Hall.
Turn an evening at the Festival into an exceptional music experience!

Easy Day Pass guarantees access to both Auditorium Stravinski and Miles Davis Hall on the day of your wish even in case of sold out concerts. You have 7 days time to make your choice once the program has been officially released. Your choice is guaranteed!

How it works:
1. BUY your Easy Day Pass today
2. WAIT for the program to be officially released
3. CHOOSE within 7 days any day, do not bother about sold out concerts

Access guaranteed for the 2 concert halls on the day of your choice
Auditorium Stravinski (standing) and Miles Davis Hall (standing)

CHF 170.-
Buy

-----------------------------------------------------

BUY AND CHOOSE

Buy and Choose guarantees access to the Auditorium Stravinski or to the Miles Davis Hall on the day of your wish even in case of sold out concerts. You have 7 days time to make your choice once the program has been officially released. Your choice is guaranteed!

How it works:
1. BUY your ticket today
2. WAIT for the program to be officially released
3. CHOOSE within 7 days any concert without bothering about sold out concerts

CHF 80.- Miles Davis Hall
(standing)
Buy

CHF 100.- Auditorium Stravinski
(standing)
Buy

-------------------------------------------------------

ALL MUSIC PASS

Unlimited live music 2 weeks long !
More than 64 concerts !
The once in a lifetime present for music lovers.

Access to all concert halls for the entire Festival (standing). Auditorium Stravinski (Standing) and Miles Davis Hall (Standing)

CHF 1’500.-
Buy

---------------------------------------------------

PURCHASE AND INFORMATION
Montreux Jazz Festival – Ticket Service
Tel: +41 21 963 82 82
Email: ticketinfo@mjf.ch

Online: www.montreuxjazz.com

Offer valid until December 18, 2009, within the limits of available stocks

Terms and conditions (Easy Day Pass and Buy and Choose)
Offer limited in time and quantity. You have 7 days time to make your choice once the program has been officially released. After this period of time your choice will be limited according to availability. In case of a concert with a standing ticket price of more than 20% above the pass, a supplement can be required. Passes are non-refundable.

Terms and conditions (All Music Pass)
Nominative badge with picture. Limited offer in time and quantity. Fixed prices. Passes are non-refundable.

MJF Christmas Offers!

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:17:13 +0100 GMT

The Montreux Jazz Festival Christmas Offers will be available on November 5th. Be an early bird and be sure to get tickets for your favourite concerts!

Offers available only from www.montreuxjazz.com and from MJF newsletter! Subscribe here

MJF Competitions 2010

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:03:19 +0100 GMT

Solo Piano Competition
Voice Competition

The competitions are open to all Jazz musicians :
- Pianists born after January 1, 1980
- Singers born after January 1, 1975

Prizes awarded by a Jury of internationally reputed musicians, include performance during the 45th Montreux Jazz Festival in July 2011, as well as other main festivals in Europe and various other prizes, namely in cash

Closing date for application : April 15, 2010

More information here

Watch Fondation 2 video presentation!

Myspace Page

Video of the week : SEBASTIEN SCHULLER

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:25:45 +0200 GMT

Every Friday, watch a video of one of the 2009 Montreux Jazz Festival concert on www.montreuxjazz.com

This week : Sébastien Schuller "Battle"

Watch the video

Frenchman Sebastien Schuller is a classically trained percussionist who specializes in thoughtful electronic music, enhancing sounds of acoustic and natural resonance with touches of electronica. His forthcoming sophomore album, Evenfall, was released this year.

Video of the week : GEORGE DUKE

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:32:27 +0200 GMT

Every Friday, watch a video of one of the 2009 Montreux Jazz Festival concert on www.montreuxjazz.com

This week : George Duke & Chaka Khan - "Round Midnight"

Watch the video

In his decades-long career, George Duke has made his name as a jazz pianist, synthesizer pioneer and pop producer. His latest release, Dukey Treats, is a jazzy uptown soul outing with elements of funk and features Sheila E. on percussion.

Video of the week - Madeleine Peyroux

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:59:24 +0200 GMT

Every Friday, watch a video of one of the 2009 Montreux Jazz Festival concert on www.montreuxjazz.com, Multimedia section.

This week : Madeleine Peyroux "Dance Me to The End of Love"

WATCH THE VIDEO

Watch all 2009 videos on www.liveatmontreux.com

Claude Nobs at the St Moritz Art Master

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 09:54:56 +0200 GMT

Claude Nobs has visited the St Moritz Art Masters last weekend, where a Jazz concert was given in his honor. The opportunity to meet Monty Shadow and to admire a Romero Britto sculpture. This artist is well known at the Montreux Jazz Festival : creator of the 1999 poster, he will also realise the poster of the 44th Montreux Jazz Festival in 2010!

Video of the week - Black Milk

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 10:12:41 +0200 GMT

Every Friday, watch a video of one of the 2009 Montreux Jazz Festival concert on www.montreuxjazz.com, Multimedia section.

This week : Black Milk

Watch the video

Watch all 2009 videos on www.liveatmontreux.com

Video of the week - Leila

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 10:07:11 +0200 GMT

Every Friday, watch a video of one of the 2009 Montreux Jazz Festival concert on www.montreuxjazz.com, Multimedia section.

This week :Leila, Miles Davis Hall, 03.07.09

Watch the video

Watch all 2009 videos on www.liveatmontreux.com

Video of the week - Kool and the Gang

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 10:07:50 +0200 GMT

Every Friday, watch a video of one of the 2009 Montreux Jazz Festival concert on www.montreuxjazz.com, Multimedia section.

This week : Kool and the Gang

Watch the video

Video of the week - Yuksek

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 10:08:17 +0200 GMT

Every Friday, watch a video of one of the 2009 Montreux Jazz Festival concert on www.montreuxjazz.com, Multimedia section.

This week : Yuksek, Miles Davis Hall, 18.07.09

Watch the video

Video of the week - Allen Toussaint

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 10:08:58 +0200 GMT

Every Friday, watch a video of one of the 2009 Montreux Jazz Festival concert on www.montreuxjazz.com, Multimedia section.

This week : Allen Toussaint, Miles Davis Hall, 16.07.09

Watch the video

Video of the week - Little Brother

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:09:25 +0200 GMT

Video of the week
Every Friday, watch a video of one of the 2009 Montreux Jazz Festival concert on www.montreuxjazz.com, Multimedia section.

This week : Little Brother, Miles Davis Hall, 04.07.09
Watch the video

Video of the week - Chickenfoot

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:09:43 +0200 GMT

Every Friday, watch a video of one of the 2009 Montreux Jazz Festival concert on www.montreuxjazz.com, Multimedia section.
This week : Chickenfoot!
Watch the video

Exceptional concerts, excellent attendance, Montreux Jazz Café goes international: a good year for the Montreux Jazz Festival!

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:27:12 +0200 GMT

Montreux, July 17th 2009. At the closing press conference, the festival recaps a successful edition, from both an artistic and commercial perspective. Much more importantly than the numbers, it is the exchange between the audience and the artists which has marked people’s spirits during the Festival. The proposal to open a second permanent Montreux Jazz Café in Sydney demonstrates the ongoing growth of the Festival, which will conclude with the two one-off Prince concerts on Saturday July 18th.

Saturday July 11th, 3 am, Auditorium Stravinski: Wyclef Jean, standing on his DJ's mix table, partying with audience members who have invaded the stage. This event perfectly represents the mood of the Montreux Jazz Festival 2009. Artists who are happy to be here and to share their pleasure with an audience who savor every moment, across all stages of the Festival.

It is impossible to sum up the Festival in just a few lines - every concert during the fortnight was a success, from a ticket-sale point of view as well. The audience particularly enjoyed the evening tribute to Island Records and Chris Blackwell, the worldwide premiere of the Herbie Hancock-Lang Lang collaboration, as well as the "American Evening" with Steely Dan, Dave Matthews Band and Chickenfoot. Without forgetting, of course, the memorable finale jams, such as those of BB King, George Benson and George Duke, and Solomon Burke. Artists who are completely free and open, and who make the Montreux Jazz Festival stand out.

The free stages also confirmed their growing popularity. With their varied programming, Music in the Park, Studio41, the MDH Club and the Montreux Jazz Café have enabled many visitors who had come to enjoy the Festival to see high-quality artists for free. The projects under the umbrella of the Fondation Montreux Jazz 2 enjoyed remarkable success, from both a critical and popular standpoint.

A year after the successful launch of the first permanent Montreux Jazz Café in Geneva, a proposal has been made for a second Café at Sydney Airport. The presence of Derek Larsen, General Manager for Retail at Sydney Airport, and Noel Toolan, Marketing Chief Officer of SSP – The Food Travel Experts, shows the importance of this project for the largest city in Australia. This Antipodean "embassy" will allow the Festival to reinforce its reputation and promote the region.

This edition of the Festival could only be closed by a very exceptional concert. Prince honors the Festival by playing two one-off concerts in the same evening at the Stravinski Auditorium. A one-of-a-kind finale which will add another page the Festival’s storied history.

44th Montreux Jazz Festival will take place from 2nd to 17th July, 2010.

Piano Competition

Sat, 18 Jul 2009 13:48:09 +0200 GMT

The level of the piano competition was so high this year that the jury choose two winners : Beka Gochiashvili (13 year old, from Georgia) and Isfar Sarabsky (Azerbaijan).The 2nd prize goes to Franz von Chossy (Germany) The encouragement prices went to Claude Diallo et Kuba Pluzek and the Price of the Public to Isfar Sarabsky

Beka Gochiashvili
Beka Gochiashvili was born in 1996. He displayed musical talent when he was 2 years old. At the age of 4 he played several compositions on piano. In 2002 he entered music school leaded by Tengiz Chitaishvili. He participated in several competitions and festivals. Numerous diplomas were awarded to him including diploma for participation in Georgian-German Festival for Young Musicians-Performers Tbilisi-2003, diploma for participation in a concert (Children’s Album) dedicated to 165th anniversary of Pyotr Tchaikovsky, diploma for participation in an international festival held in Germany in 2004. Since the age of 9 he practices the art of jazz under the direction of Zurab Ramishvili. In 2007 he participated in jazz festival in Latvia together with well-known musicians Lenny White and Voctor Bailey, also in the 10th International Festival “Georgians Play Jazz” held in the great hall of Tbilisi State Conservatory.

Isfar Sarabsky
A native of Baku, Azerbaijan, born on November 2, 1989, Isfar Rzayev-Sarabski began studying the piano at the age of seven. He received eleven years of classic piano education at the Bul-Bul music school. Currently he is doing his second year in Baku Music Academy (National Conservatoire) and is a recipient of Presidential Stipend. Isfar has performed at Baku Caspian Jazz and Blues Festival in Azerbaijan several times, participated at “Silda Jazz” International Jazz Festival in Norway as well as at International Jazz Festival in Russia. He has also been awarded at “Stars of Issyk-kul”; New names of Russia International Classical and National Music Festival in Kyrgyzstan in 2004. His favourite performers Keith Jarrett, Brad Mehldau, Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson, and Vagif Mustafazadeh have inspired him to compose his own pieces. At present, Isfar is working on some new projects.

Kool and the Gang Show on a USB-Stick!

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 02:18:36 +0200 GMT

The audience of Kool and the Gang had a great surprise tonight : the possibility to buy at the end of the show a USB stick containing an audio recording of the show. The USB also gives a code to download the video recording from tomorrow onwards.

More information here

Prince offers an exclusive song to the Montreux Jazz

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 03:38:24 +0200 GMT

New version of «In a Large Room With No Light» by Prince - Exclusively available on the Montreux Jazz Festival’s homepage www.montreuxjazz.com from Thursday July 15th.

Montreux, July 15th 2009. On July 18th Prince will conquer the Stravinski Auditorium stage and conclude the grand final act of the 43rd Montreux Jazz Festival. After the surprising announcement of two one-off concerts in one evening, another coup occurs: Prince recorded a song for the Montreux Jazz Festival, available exclusively on the official website www.montreuxjazz.com, starting from July 15th. With his jazzy interpretation of the song "In a Large Room With No Light", we are given a foretaste of the upcoming concerts by the musical wonder from Minneapolis. "In a Large Room With No Light" is a groovy mix of soul, jazz and funk, whose melodic structure mounts to a guitar solo climax. The anticipation for the musical event of the summer is rising.

Listen to "In a Large Room With No Light" exclusively here

Guitar and Voice Competition Winners

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 01:23:29 +0200 GMT

Guitar:
1st Place : Roland Balogh (HU)
2nd Place : Akira Ishiguro (USA)
3rd Place : Rotem Sivan (IL)
4th Place : Greg Duncan (CA)
Public's Choice : Akira Ishiguro (USA)

Voice:
1st Place : Aubrey Logan (USA)
2nd Place : Stacey Carter (USA)
3rd Place : Charles Turner (USA)
4th Place : Irene Serra (IT)
Public's Choice : Aubrey Logan (USA)

Aubrey Logan
Aubrey Logan is a native of Seattle, Washington. The 21-year-old is just beginning to make her name in the jazz world. Logan was raised by two beloved music educators in a suburb of Seattle. She thanks God for her parents, other family, and close friends and cannot express her gratitude enough for supporting and loving her throughout the years. Aubrey Logan began her performing career at age 7, singing and acting in various musical theatre productions, in church, and in variety shows and competitions in the Pacific Northwest. Her passion for jazz began at age 12 when she picked up a trombone and got inspired by the Count Basie Orchestra. Since then, she has pursued studying and performing this idiom. Aubrey’s short journey has led her to a variety of avenues and opportunities of performing. She recent¬ly had the privilege of being awarded a “Golden Ticket” to Hollywood on the 8th season of the hit Fox Television program American Idol. She is currently soprano of vocal jazz quartet and horn-section, Syncopation. This vocal act, named by the Boston Globe as the “Manhatten Transfer of the 21st Century,” celebrated their 3rd album release in March 2008, and has performed in various places around New En¬gland, New York, and Japan. Syncopation was a feature artist with the Boston Pops Orchestra for this year’s 4thof July Celebration on the Charles River Esplanade. Lately, Aubrey has been putting her heart and soul into a new female jazz duo entitled Aubrey & Kata. Aubrey is finishing up her degree in jazz trombone performance at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. She is looking forward to what opportunities lie ahead to help lead and shape her career. Aubrey Logan is delighted and honored to be a part of the Shure-Montreux Jazz Voice Competition this year.

Roland Balogh
I was born in 1984 in Budapest, Hungary. I started playing the guitar when I was six years old taught by my father and private teachers. At the age of 12 years old I passed into OSZK Hungarian Music Studio School, when I had learned for 2 years. When I was 15 years old, we won the third place of Hungarian International Jazz Festival with my twin brother, who plays piano. One year later I won the surcharge prize at Szolnok Jazz Guitar Competition. Then in 2001 I passed into Kbjnya Music Studio School, when I was taught by a famous hungarian jazz guitarist Gyula Babos. There in 2004 I taken possession of intermediate, and in 2007 I taken the Professional level guitar player diploma. I win the second place of the Hungarian Jazz Combo Competition on October 2008 with my own band, Finucci Fusion Quartet.
I try to share my own “music world” and my own musical message to people I am playing with, and of course to the audience. Some of my favourites, caused me deep impression: George Benson, Pat Metheny, Joe pass, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Keith Jarrett, Bireli Lagrene, Some bands I had played in: Finucci Fusion (Own Jazz- Fusion Band), Halmosi Fatime Band (Magyar folk in jazz and latin style), Pluto Fusion Collective (Jazz-Rock, Fusion), Mbay Project (African pop).

And the Winner is...

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 01:54:34 +0200 GMT

The Finale of the Tremplin Lémanique just finished at the Montreux Jazz Café. The Jury rewarded "The Sound of the Fridge"who won a prize of 5'000 CHF. Congratulations!

The Tremplin Lémanique
The Conseil du Léman, an association grouping the French departments of Ain and Haute Savoie and the Swiss cantons of Geneva, Vaud and Valais, is to increase its involvement int he Monteux Jazz Festival this year. Bands from those regions whose average age is thirty or under can take part in the Tremplin Lémanique. Every year, a different musical genre is to be chosen. Jazz opened the first edition 2008 and in 2009, it is the turn of the Rock'n'roll!

Wyclef Jean and Chaka Khan at the Montreux Jazz Festival !

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 23:25:05 +0200 GMT

Amazing concert on saturday night at the Stravinski with Wyclef Jean

See the pictures in the multimedia photo gallery

Romero Britto

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 02:43:42 +0200 GMT

July 12

2pm, Montreux Palace Gardens
Repainting of a vintage car

6pm, Petit Théâtre
Auction of the paintings created the previous day at the Parc Vernex. All proceeds will be shared between the Britto Foundation and the Montreux Jazz Foundation 2 for creation and cultural exchange

Every afternoon, July 3-18, Petit Palais
Exhibition of paintings

Live Blind Test

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:16:40 +0200 GMT

On Friday, July 10th, the first edition of Live Blind Test, took place on the Music in the ParK Stage.

Thanks to participation of Time Machine, the Parc Vernex's audience were put to the test in discovering 8 funk soul tracks.

The public responded with good humour and a great attitude to the performance.

For those who didn't get the chance to discover all the tracks from the blind test, here are the answers to the contest:
1 Chic (Good Times)
2 Diana Ross & The Supremes (You Can't Hurry Love)
3 Kool & The Gang (Fresh)
4 Bee Gees (Stayin' Alive)
5 John Fogerty / Creedence Clearwater Revival (Proud Mary)
6 Katrina & The Waves (Walking On Sunshine)
7 Abba (Gimme Gimme Gimme)
8 The Weather Girls (It's Raining Men)

The Winner:

2 tickets for a concert

Alice Ebbutt -
Manini Marianne
Iris Emmenegger
Julien Pousaz
Laura Wyden
Leona Godfrey


1 Official Montreux Jazz Festival 200 T-Shirt
Sykora Martin
Yoakim William
Golinucci Philippe
Pinto de Almeida Luis
Boillat Christophe
Gladys Pousaz

Official Montreux Jazz Festival 2009 Official Cap:
Suporn Horner
Mike Ebbutt
Oliver James
Pfirter Pierr-Yves
Odobert Yves
Destraz Camille

Montreux Jazz Festival 2009 Official Poster
Mathias Emmenegger
Terry Galiano Christian
Wolf Michael
Engelhardt Franziska

Saturday July 11th : BRASIL!

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 02:25:06 +0200 GMT

Rather than reserving the traditional Brazilian evening for ticket holders, this year the Festival has chosen to offer a great party open to all taking place around the Carnival Olinda-Recife. Music in the Park and the Montreux Jazz Café are open to the entire festival, plunging deep into Brazilian madness.

Programme

Music in the Park, Parc Vernex
4pm Maracatu Nacao Popular
5:15pm Xero No Cangote
8:45pm Orquestra Popular da Bomba
do Hemeterio
11pm Nono Germano & NG da Hora

Animation, Parc Vernex
Bonecos Gigantes de Olinda / olinda Carnival puppets
Live Painting by brazilian artist Romero Brito

Montreux Jazz Café, 18h00 - 5h00
dès 21h00 Brasil !
Andre Rio & Trio Sotaque
Diana Miranda & Xero No Cangote

Montreux Jazz On Screen, Montreux Palace
17h30 Maria Bethania – MJF 2007
20h30 E lba Ramalho – MJF 2008

Bloc Party Tonight

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 02:15:08 +0200 GMT

Indie darlings Bloc Party have been surprising and delighting critics and fans alike with each new and daring release since their stunning 2005 debut Silent Alarm. Punk, dance, pop and rock all interweave to form Bloc Party's distinct sonic landscape.

Miles Davis Hall
08.07.09, 20h30 (portes 19h30)
Sébastien Schuller
We Have Band
Bloc Party
BUY