One of my top annual musical highlights is attending the Montreal International Jazz Festival (MIJF) each summer! The 44th successful edition wrapped up this month with an outstanding blend of jazz, blues, soul, and world music.
See my earlier writeups from the MIJF editions in 2023, 2017, 2016 and 2015. The 10-day musical extravaganza, one of the largest jazz festivals in the world, features almost 30 performances each day with a mix of outdoor stages and indoor performance halls.
In this photo essay, we feature 10 bands from around the world, many of whom showcased some of their own ethnic music blended with jazz and other musical elements. The MIJF website provides sound clips of each band’s music, along with links to their tracks on Spotify.
The Django Festival Allstars keeps alive the ‘hot jazz’ music of gypsy guitar icon Django Reinhardt. The lineup includes Samson Schmitt (lead guitar, vocals), Pierre Blanchard (violin), Ludovic Beier (accordion), Antonio Licusati (bass) and Francko Mehrstein (rhythm guitar). Their indoor swinging performance received enthusiastic applause as they played standards and original compositions.
Donald Dogbo, originally from the Ivory Coast, is a drummer, percussionist, and composer now based in Montreal. He was born into a family of drummer-composers dating back to his great-grandfather. He toured in Africa for a number of years before moving to Canada in 2014, and has released the album Coubli, which means ‘to go on an adventure’ in his native language Bété. Furthermore, he has performed with artists such as Elage Diouf, Zal Sissokho, Djely Tapa, and Just Wôan, blending jazz with African music.
Etran de L’Aïr (‘Stars of the Aïr) hails from the mountainous region of Northern Niger. The family musicians are based in the town of Agadez, a hub of ‘desert blues’ featuring the electric guitar. Agadez was founded in the 14th century as a Tuareg city and is an important crossroads of trade and culture. Their outdoor performance at MIJF featured an energetic range of twin guitar solos and had the audience on their feet.
Jesse Cook is a renowned Canadian guitarist-composer, and winner of the Juno award. He has released a string of successful albums including Tempest, Gravity, Vertigo, Libre, and Love in the Time of Covid. His music blends flamenco, jazz, Middle Eastern influences, and pop. His performance at MIJF with four international musicians on bass, guitar, percussion, and violin drew a standing ovation.
Kin’Gongolo Kiniata drew much attention and curiosity not just for their high-energy outdoor show, but for their instruments made from upcycled household trash, metal plates and plastic bottles. They sing in their Lingala language, combining traditional Congolese rhythms with urban electro-sound. Their music conveys a sense of hope, perseverance, and the joy of exploration. They have toured across Europe as well, at festivals like Trans Musicales.
Lorraine Klaasen, daughter of legendary South African jazz singer Thandie Klaasen, has kept alive the sound of South Africa’s township music. She was born in Soweto and is now based in Ontario. Her albums include the Juno-winning A Tribute to Miriam Makeba and Nouvelle Journée. She sings in Sotho, Tsonga, Xhosa, English, and French, and performed twice at MIJF to packed audiences.
Noé Lira is a Quebec-Mexican singer-songwriter and accordionist. Her multidisciplinary roots shape her musical themes of justice, peace and social change. Her first album is Latiendo la Tierra, and she was named ‘Revelation of the Year’ by Radio Canada. She sings in English, French, and Spanish, and is also a television actress. Her next album is planned for release in 2025.
Pink Martini is a legendary multilingual band founded in 1994 by Thomas Lauderdale. The group performs a wide range of genres including jazz, swing and Latin American music. The band has collaborated with more than 70 orchestras around the world, and has released a string of albums including Sympathique, Hey Eugene, Joy to the World, Dream a Little Dream, and Je dis oui! The band is now celebrating its 30th anniversary.
Son Rompe Pera was formed in Mexico City by the Gama brothers, Alan and Jesus. Their performances are centered around marimba music, combining folk with other styles like cumbia, ska, rock, and even punk. Their albums include Batuco (2020) and Chimborazo (2025), with popular tracks like “Pájaro Cenzontle” and “Los Chucos Suaves.”
Vieux Farka Touré, son of the late great Malian guitar legend Ali Farka Touré, is carving out a name for himself thanks to a string of albums including the recent Les Racines (‘roots’). The guitarist and vocalist played an indoor set at MIJF; he has also performed at the opening ceremony of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. His other albums are Fondo, The Secret, Mon Pays, and Samba. His music evokes the beauty and culture of Mali, even in the midst of conflict and hardships.
Author: Madanmohan Rao
Madanmohan Rao is an author and media consultant from Bangalore, and global correspondent for world music and jazz for World Music Central and Jazzuality. He has written over 15 books on media, management and culture, and is research director for YourStory Media. Madan was formerly World Music Editor at Rave magazine and RJ at WorldSpace, and can be followed on Twitter at @MadanRao.