It was a nice walk from Rue St-Dennis via Square St-Louis and than via pedestrian only Rue Prince Arthur full of great restaurants, cafe and great free live music in front of them. After pleasant dinner continue going towards Rue Saint-Urbain to reach the heart of Montreal Jazz Festival where 2 theatres Jean-Duceppe and Massoneuve connect into one Place-Des-Art for dream performance of Danilo Perez, Brian Blade and John Pattitucci.
The concert was fabulous. The venue, sound, light, atmosphere, the MUSIC was magnet. Extream virtuoso performance blended onto the great sound with no mentioned earlier before decibel level issues. That sound just blended equally and proportioinally in the whole venue.
The style is unique, but yet it's a great blend of all jazz styles you can ever think of: latin, fusion, swing, space jazz -- another words it's a free jazz trio.
From what I saw with tip of my eye venue uses Meyer Sound arrays that could be passive and active which I could not ID. This theater is also known for great seat elevation and tight bond to the performers and stage. A must venue to the Montreal traveler indeed! |
Il Volo tonight in Toronto
Sensational!! |
Huge Matt Bianco/Basia fan! She was their lead singer but left the band to pursue her solo career. She than returned to record 'Matt's Mood' which IMO is the best MB recording. I was fortunate to catch them in Atlanta w/Basia during this time, what a show! Also a big Mike Stern fan! I own a bunch of his solo records and many more feat. him as a sideman. For those that may not know, his career goes SO far beyond having played with B,S,&T. He played in Miles Davis's band for years, and so many more notable gigs. His wife, Leni Stern, also happens to be a kick-ass guitarist. You're going to so many great shows in Canada, I'm jealous!;) Those guys never show up in S. Florida! |
I'm also with ones who likes Los Lobos! You should also listen to Matt Bianco especially if you've never heard it.
It's similar new-wave with ethnic influence.
My next concert in Montreal QC Anjelique Kidjo followed by
Mike Stern(Blood Sweat & Tears guitarist) than John Patitucci and finally Bill Frisell on my upcomming Canadian vacation. |
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Agree re: Lobos. I always try to catch them when they play nearby (pretty often, since I live in LA) so I've seen them more than a dozen times. David Hidalgo is a truly fantastic player and Cesar Rosas and Louie Perez (when he steps out from behind his kit) are both impressive guitarists, too. Steve Berlin is a great sax man and the overall level of musicianship is pretty much off the charts (so to speak).
I also love their repertoire. Straight-up blues, rock, quirky covers, and a half-dozen Mexican folk styles. You never know what you're gonna get, you just know it's gonna be great. |
Los Lobos are one of the greatest American bands ever. Their 'Live At The Fillmore' is tremendous! |
Los Lobos in Durango back in March. Great show and sound crew! These guys are still tight and play their songs pretty close to how they sound on their albums. Although the show was only about 90 minutes I would definitely recommend them and would not hesitate to see them again. |
Jake Bugg, free at Three Rivers Arts Festival, Pittsburgh . Great show!!! |
Went to see 'The Fab Four' last night,a Beatles tribute band. In all honesty,I was not expecting much. Man was I off the mark,this band rocked and the whole show with Ed Sullivan as the MC was terrific. If you get a chance to see them, you wont be disappointed. Great show... |
Devo last night.
Did not know what to expect going in. Could this particular band possible age well?
Definitely an interesting band to watch and hear. The guy on keyboards is mostly what made them unique I would say.
They really stood out from the pack back in the early days of New Wave. Their robotic version of "Satisfaction" is what I recall first catching my ear back then in college.
No encore though. No "Whip It" or "What We do". Oh well...
A fun 90 minutes. Now I know. |
Mapman I believe Hackett will be in the Philly area in the fall. Close enough? |
Steve Hackett is top of my list of artists I want to see live and never have. Does not come around Baltimore/DC metro area very often though. WOuld love to catch the Genesis REvisted Live tour. Hackett is the man. I don't blame him for leaving Genesis when he did. Genesis was overcrowded with talent and he has written and performed so much great music since then. His situation with Genesis was much like George Harrison's with the Beatles. |
April at Clearwater theater Steve Hackett Genesis Revisted II
March Pat Metheny
They still rule |
I'm pissed at Tommy E. He's doing a ton of shows on his US Tour, but none in SoCal. I've never seen him, live either, dammit, and I agree that he's a just about incomparable player |
Justin Hayward a couple weeks back. Devo next week. |
Went to see America last week. Although the guys are getting a little old [so am I],they still put on a great show. |
Steely Dan last August. They were so good that since then I have little motivation to go hear anyone else. But that will change now that the summer is here. |
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Georgepv, you're right--there's nothing like a Tommy Emmanuel show. Part vaudeville and part old-time tent revival held together by the most incredible guitar playing imaginable. With the passing of Paco de Lucia, Tommy may be the undisputed king of the guitar. |
"Living Colour @ the Empire State Plaza 6/4/14. Nothing better than live music."
I was there as well. Great show from a band that shows no diminution of skill even after all these years. Last I saw them was close to thirty years ago at a club in Albany (QE2) with a then unknown Soundgarden opening for them. Utter mayhem ensued. |
Stanley Clarke, Beachland Ballroom, 1 March 2014, Cleveland OH. A great show in a very small venue by a truly nice guy with awesome talent. |
Saw my 8 year old play at a piano recital last night along with two dozen of her friends. Unforgettable show.
I'll also try to catch the Eels tomorrow night in LA and will definitely see World Party in two weeks. |
Tommy Emmanuel last September. One of the greatest shows I have ever seen. An amazing guitar player and musician. Don't miss him! |
Great Springsteen concert in February, Perth Australia. However, was in Lanigan's pub in Kilkenny, Ireland two weeks ago Sunday and was absolutely gobsmacked by two hours plus of music by local group The Kilkennys - their musicsanship was simply outstanding and they played with such drive and soul - totally absorbing. They played a good mix of traditional Irish and contemporary music - even played a Springsteen cover! They tour the USA later this year.
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Jeff Tweedy from Wilco , FREE Pittsburgh!! |
Living Colour @ the Empire State Plaza 6/4/14. Nothing better than live music. |
Phil Lesh and Friends: 5/31, Central Park Summer Stage
Living Colour: 6/1, City Winery (NYC)
Soundgarden: 6/2, Webster Hall (NYC)
Upcoming: Alison Krauss /Willie Nelson: 6/10, Radio City
Primus: 6/28, Stone Pony (Asbury Park, NJ) |
I saw Jamie Cullum on Tuesday night this week at the 930 Club in DC. It is a small venue(1200 people) and a standing room club. WOW...This was perhaps the best concert I have been to in quite some time. Jamie is so talented as is his other 4 band mates. Loves to interact with the audience. They played for over two hours with no breaks...I was doubting if all the standing required prior to and during the concert would be worth it. My wife and I both agreed after that it was well worth the sore feet the next day...
Highly recommended if he comes your way |
RPeluso,
I've seen them a bunch of times over the years, tho not in the last 5 or 6. E (Mark Everett) is kind of unpredictable. I've seen shows where he didn't say a word and others where he was engaging - it's part of the reason I was eager to get your take.
I personally think he's a really gifted songwriter with great command of pop, rock, and folk forms, so I'll always be curious about what he's up to. Thanks for the feedback. |
Martyk1, it was my first Eels show, I went with two friends who are fans, not their first show. I was impressed on many levels. First was the musicianship of the band; I am/was a drummer and of course gravitate to that member of the lineup, and this guy seems to be a classically-trained percussionist. The band on all levels was top rate, and of course E is very charismatic, was younger and smaller(?) than I had pictured, was very talkative, "approachable", a wonderful instrumentalist himself, very much in command and control of the 4 players with him, a good singer, songwriter, seemed quite likable. I am not being clear her, I would definitely go again to an Ells show, they were pretty great. It was my last and 8th concert in May, and was among the top two or three; that is not faint praise, I tend to go to hear artists I really like, so I get enjoyment and pleasure from most shows. Have you been? This show was only about half sold-out; at the Keswick theater in Glenside PA, a shock to me. |
Rpeluso:
I saw her at a little listening room in Ashland, VA called Ashland Coffee and Tea. She was fantastic - very funny and talkative too! I've seen Mary a few times now, she just keeps getting better.
Gretchen Peters was great tonight - same venue - very intimate seating and no talking allowed during performances. |
Rpeluso,
I'd love to get your take on the eels show if you'd be willing to post about it. |
Lucinda Williams last night at the Orange Peel in Asheville, NC. She was amazing, as always. See her if she comes to your town.
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Audiowoman, I too saw Mary Gauthier recently, at Jammin Java in Vienna Virginia, were you there too? Wasn't/isn't she quite great? |
Audiowoman- you should really enjoy Gretchen Peters. I saw her last year about this time and it was one of the best shows I've seen in years.
Going to see Ray LaMontagne next week.
Saw Cyndi Lauper at New Years. Great talent, terrible venue. What a waste. |
Gretchen Peters tonight and last week, Mary Gauthier. |
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Joe Bonamassa in Fayetteville, about 6 months ago. We rarely go to concerts, but had to see this guy live. Tremendous show. |
Steve Tyrell at The Ark-Ann Arbor Mi 4-24-14. He exceeded my expectations with his stage presence and charisma. +1 for Mr.Tyrell and my wife! |
Cymbop,
At his 81 Willie still gets laid! |
The Colorado Symphony, Chorus and soloists last week, conducted by Andrew Litton, performing his suite from Porgy & Bess. Amazing. |
Melody Gardot in Philly as far as a reputable show. Wow!!! That was a long time ago. |
Jason Isbell, January 2014 at the Barter Theater in Abingdon VA. Kicking band in a great room but the sound boys turned it up to 11 when 8 would have been perfect |
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My 19 year old daughter playing piano and singing in our house. Her fraternal twin brother trying to keep up on acoustic guitar. About 6 songs. As she is home from university I look forward to more of this. |
Keith Jarrett Trio, Carnegie Hall, December 2013. Fantastic evening. |
The concert I've mentioned wasn't really last, but latest. Plan to go for Ian Anderson this October. |
Austin gives you a million opportunities to hear bands, known and unknown- standbys include Redd Volkaert at the Continental (where there are some pretty serious jam sessions when other folks are in town); we caught Lady Gaga's act during SXSW- reminded me of the old Madonna shows; Rob Stoner played a nice little jam session at our house in New York back in April; caught Jonny Lang at ACL; now, back in NY, will catch David Lindley over the weekend. A couple of acts that I always try to catch in the smaller clubs: Johnny A; Sara Borges (who we caught during SX); also highly recommend James Hunter, who always hits the Turning Point in NY on his way through. That's it for now. |
Bobby Floyd's trio (Bobby on the B-3, Derek Dicenzo on bass, and Reggie Jackson on drums) weekend before last at Becky Ogden's house in Columbus. Becky opens her home to local musicians regularly, and there is little better than hearing local players with great chops with 30-40 jazz lovers up close. Bobby opened by playing "I Remember You" as an homage to a recently passed local keyboard guy -- Mark Flugge. Two wonderful sets. |
