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| Jazz festival moves to embrace new trends | Jazz festival moves to embrace new trends |
| (2 days later) | |
| By Chanel Townsend BBC News, Montreal | By Chanel Townsend BBC News, Montreal |
| More than two million music lovers have descended on the Canadian city of Montreal for its 33rd Jazz Festival | More than two million music lovers have descended on the Canadian city of Montreal for its 33rd Jazz Festival |
| The event has brought together dedicated jazz aficionados for what is understood to be the biggest and most diverse celebration held to date. | The event has brought together dedicated jazz aficionados for what is understood to be the biggest and most diverse celebration held to date. |
| With 3,000 musicians and entertainers in attendance from some 30 countries, the festival describes itself as "a massive compilation album with jazz at its very heart". | With 3,000 musicians and entertainers in attendance from some 30 countries, the festival describes itself as "a massive compilation album with jazz at its very heart". |
| It boasts more than 1,000 concerts and activities, most of them free, in 15 concert halls and on eight outdoor stages. | It boasts more than 1,000 concerts and activities, most of them free, in 15 concert halls and on eight outdoor stages. |
| "It's one of the best music parties in the world," says Andre Menard, the festival's artistic director. | "It's one of the best music parties in the world," says Andre Menard, the festival's artistic director. |
| This year's line-up features appearances from jazz stars such as Wayne Shorter, Stanley Clarke, Melody Gardot, Norah Jones and Esperanza Spalding. | |
| But also on the bill are acts like Rufus Wainwright and Seal, leading some purists to complain about a dilution of the genre. | But also on the bill are acts like Rufus Wainwright and Seal, leading some purists to complain about a dilution of the genre. |
| The festival has become a big success since it started in 1980. But there is debate surrounding the current state of jazz, with some critics saying "jazz is dead". | The festival has become a big success since it started in 1980. But there is debate surrounding the current state of jazz, with some critics saying "jazz is dead". |
| "Jazz was popular music in the 1940s," says jazz musician Tim Richards. "But then Elvis Presley came along and things have never been the same. | "Jazz was popular music in the 1940s," says jazz musician Tim Richards. "But then Elvis Presley came along and things have never been the same. |
| "Jazz has become art, rather than entertainment, and I don't think it will be pop music again." | "Jazz has become art, rather than entertainment, and I don't think it will be pop music again." |
| Professor Stuart Nicholson, author of Is Jazz Dead? (Or Has it Moved To A New Address?), remains optimistic. | Professor Stuart Nicholson, author of Is Jazz Dead? (Or Has it Moved To A New Address?), remains optimistic. |
| "The creative impulse of jazz has now switched from America to Europe, so it's a very exciting point in jazz," he says. | "The creative impulse of jazz has now switched from America to Europe, so it's a very exciting point in jazz," he says. |
| Since the millennium, there has been major development of the European jazz scene. | Since the millennium, there has been major development of the European jazz scene. |
| Professor Nicholson says a new phenomenon, "glocalisation" - the localisation of global trends - and a by-product of globalisation, has taken effect specifically in Europe. | Professor Nicholson says a new phenomenon, "glocalisation" - the localisation of global trends - and a by-product of globalisation, has taken effect specifically in Europe. |
| This has led, he explains, to the creation of music quite distinct from American jazz. | This has led, he explains, to the creation of music quite distinct from American jazz. |
| "In Scandinavia they have incorporated a folkloric aspect," he says. "Even Hungarian jazz has gypsy influences." | "In Scandinavia they have incorporated a folkloric aspect," he says. "Even Hungarian jazz has gypsy influences." |
| Pop versus jazz | Pop versus jazz |
| The changing face of jazz is evident in the festival line-up - and it has come under scrutiny in recent years as a result. | The changing face of jazz is evident in the festival line-up - and it has come under scrutiny in recent years as a result. |
| Menard is aware that some "jazz heads" refuse to attend the festival, seeing it as "too contaminated" by mainstream artists. | Menard is aware that some "jazz heads" refuse to attend the festival, seeing it as "too contaminated" by mainstream artists. |
| This year, non-jazz musicians include Liza Minnelli, Ziggy Marley and Montreal's own Rufus Wainwright, who kicked off the festival on Thursday night. | This year, non-jazz musicians include Liza Minnelli, Ziggy Marley and Montreal's own Rufus Wainwright, who kicked off the festival on Thursday night. |
| "Rufus is not a jazz artist; to put him on the bill makes me laugh," says Richards. "It's really a pop music festival with a sprinkle of jazz." | "Rufus is not a jazz artist; to put him on the bill makes me laugh," says Richards. "It's really a pop music festival with a sprinkle of jazz." |
| "The jazz police are always on our backs," says menard. "But our festival includes music in the neighbourhood of jazz without being jazz per se." | "The jazz police are always on our backs," says menard. "But our festival includes music in the neighbourhood of jazz without being jazz per se." |
| Richards believes this is confirmation that, by billing "crowd-pullers" instead of furthering the talent of new talent, jazz festivals exist "just to make money". | Richards believes this is confirmation that, by billing "crowd-pullers" instead of furthering the talent of new talent, jazz festivals exist "just to make money". |
| But Menard insists there is no evidence that including mainstream acts has increased ticket sales. | But Menard insists there is no evidence that including mainstream acts has increased ticket sales. |
| He also maintains the festival gives encouragement to all up-and-coming jazz musicians and helps "accelerate their notoriety, even if it's detrimental to the sale of tickets". | He also maintains the festival gives encouragement to all up-and-coming jazz musicians and helps "accelerate their notoriety, even if it's detrimental to the sale of tickets". |
| This year jazz trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire was programmed "immediately" for an indoor show - "even if he couldn't sell many tickets", says Menard. | This year jazz trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire was programmed "immediately" for an indoor show - "even if he couldn't sell many tickets", says Menard. |
| Like Akinmusire, British jazz rock band Get the Blessing have also been given a chance to perform. | Like Akinmusire, British jazz rock band Get the Blessing have also been given a chance to perform. |
| 'Incredible talent' | 'Incredible talent' |
| Backstage, just before his show at the Theatre Maissoneuve on Friday, Wayne Shorter welcomed the variety of music at the festival. | Backstage, just before his show at the Theatre Maissoneuve on Friday, Wayne Shorter welcomed the variety of music at the festival. |
| "Jazz has never been exclusive," says the man some have described as "the greatest living composer". "It's all about originality." | "Jazz has never been exclusive," says the man some have described as "the greatest living composer". "It's all about originality." |
| Melody Gardot, who performed the same night, expresses similar sentiments. "You can't put jazz in a box," she says. "It's our duty to constantly reflect the modernisation of music. | Melody Gardot, who performed the same night, expresses similar sentiments. "You can't put jazz in a box," she says. "It's our duty to constantly reflect the modernisation of music. |
| "This festival is a representation of what's happening in the world musically, and it's an honour to be around it." | "This festival is a representation of what's happening in the world musically, and it's an honour to be around it." |
| As the discussion surrounding the relevance of jazz plays out, one thing is certain: there is no shortage of aspiring jazz musicians. | As the discussion surrounding the relevance of jazz plays out, one thing is certain: there is no shortage of aspiring jazz musicians. |
| "There is incredible talent in Britain to the point it's become insanely competitive," says Richards, a jazz tutor at Morley College in London. | "There is incredible talent in Britain to the point it's become insanely competitive," says Richards, a jazz tutor at Morley College in London. |
| But the genre still suffers from marginalisation and needs more mainstream exposure if it is to have a future, he says. | But the genre still suffers from marginalisation and needs more mainstream exposure if it is to have a future, he says. |
| "We need to have jazz on TV and radio. Most people think jazz is supermarket music; they haven't heard the real stuff. | "We need to have jazz on TV and radio. Most people think jazz is supermarket music; they haven't heard the real stuff. |
| "There needs to be an attack on funding, education and media." | "There needs to be an attack on funding, education and media." |
| The Montreal International Jazz Festival continues until 7 July. | The Montreal International Jazz Festival continues until 7 July. |