In its first full edition since the onset of the pandemic, and with a new director of programming, the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal returned for a 42nd go-round from June 30 to July 9. With a revamped site and a solid, diverse program, the festival presented around 350 concerts featuring 3,000 musicians from 30 countries. Many of the artists commented on how good it was to reconnect with audiences after such a long, hard time of isolation, and the thousands of music lovers flocking to the city’s expansive festival district were clearly elated. This report focuses on the first six days of the event.
Day 1 felt like an entire festival all in itself. A staggering 33 concerts were presented across the many outdoor and indoor stages, showcasing
