by RAF KATIGBAK

I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with the Jazz Fest. Since my apartment is right in the heart of festival country, I'm privy to certain bonuses, some small (being able to bring my bike on-site - whoopty-doo!) and some large (not needing to line up for the always-fragrant port-o-johns). Of course, the downside to living behind one of the stages is that when whatever band is playing goes into the most painful funk-jazz scat rendition of "Voulez Vous Couchez Avec Moi?," I can't run screaming home, since after all, I am home. But then again, it's not everyday you can just sit on your balcony and have so much fodder for an afternoon of "spot the German tourist" drinking game, followed by a bonus round of "German lady or lesbian?" (extra points if they have a crew cut and a fanny pack, triple points if they're rocking a dashiki). So all in all, it really balances out.

But there's much more to get excited about at this year's fest than just tubby men rockin' white sports socks and Tevas. The Jazz Fest nighttime schedule is dropping all kinds of wild world sounds on our asses, from the Norwegian electro-jazz of Bugge Wesseltoft (not to be confused with German heartthrob David Hasselhoff), to the Latin American fusion sounds of Federico Aubele and DJ Panko, whose group Ojos de Brujo (meaning "eyes of the wizard"), also wins an award for "band name most likely taken from an Iron Maiden lyric." Montreal gets plenty of airtime with locals like Sean Kosa, Vincent Lemieux, DJ Maüs, DJ Mini and Akufen padding out the midnight Club Soda bills. Check out your Jazz Fest listings for more deets.

Speaking of repping the Montreal scene, looks like fans of local producer Ghislain Poirier will have to wait a little longer for their full dose of headfuck hip hop as Poirier recently announced that, for reasons beyond his control, the release of his album Breakupdown on Chocolate Industries will be pushed back to the fall. D'oh! Before you go banging your head in frustration with a ball peen hammer, this Friday, Poirier will be dropping some wax at Blizzarts in an attempt to placate his music-hungry fans. Expect some grime, funk, hip hop, ragga and exclusive Poirier bootlegs, the likes of which you've never heard in your life.

Tonight at the Parking, don't miss DJ Philgood and Montreal legend Robert de la Gauthier as they take over Overdose with DJ Mini. If you've never heard these two veteran electro experts ply their trade, then make sure you check it out.

Friday, another legend graces our town as DJ Sneak will no doubt be killin' it at Space 32. For all y'all who don't know Sneak, he's one of the most influential DJs to come out of Chicago's second wave, alongside guys like Green Velvet. Expect hard, funky, jackin' house and remember, Space 32's an early affair, so doors are at 10 p.m.

Sunday, it's another edition of W.O.W. - Women on Wax at Blue Dog - with resident DJs Jasmine (the birthday girl) and Cyan. Special guests for the night will be Hectic, dropping some jungle and electro-tech, and Berlin's Iris, whose electroclash and trash will no doubt get the rumps bumpin'.

MARTINA NAVRATILOVA... QUADRUPLE POINTS! Diskoakimbo@sympatico.ca

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