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Beyond the valley of the stalls
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What-all fests the Jazz Fest spawned
by RUPERT BOTTENBERG
The FIJM isn't the only opportunity for jazz musicians to shine this summer. Banking on the influx of jazz-minded music lovers this city sees right around moving day every year, any number of mini-fests have started popping up.
We'll start with the series at Sugar, on the Main, running from June 30 to July 10. It's an avant-garde-oriented batch of mix 'n' match performances, and compact enough that its principal organizer, guitarist Antoine Berthiaume, can find time to join in on a variety of sets. On Saturday, June 30 at 9 p.m., he's with Tim Brady (yes, he of Bradyworks) and a pair of Boisverts, while Monday, July 2, sees him in the company of Diane Labrosse (piano and sampler) in a quartet setting, doing the improv-actuelle thing at 10 p.m.. The following night, July 3, Berthiaume joins bassist Zack Lober, drummer Jim Doxas and lauded sax-man Rémi Bolduc, also at 10 p.m.
By Friday, July 6, Berthiaume will probably need to have his fingertips replaced (or at least a nice nap), so at 10 p.m., the spotlight falls on the always unpredictable, always entertaining trombonist Tom Walsh, joined by bassist Al Baculis, keyboardist Josh Lebofsky and drummer Jim Hillman. All these Sugar shows, take note, are free. Now that's sweet.
Down Ontario way (the street, not the province), the OFF Festival gets going again, starting tonight, June 28, and running to July 8. It's at three Ontario E. venues--l'Alizé, the gracious Lion d'Or and Cheval Blanc (go for the wicked beer, stay for the dope tunes). Lion d'Or hosts some fine talent, such as Thom Gossage's Other Voices project on Saturday, June 30 (see Discs for Len Dobbin's critique), the Christine Jensen Big Band on Tuesday, July 3 (boy, those Jensen sisters!), the superior Jefferson/Grant Quintet on Friday, July 6, and that nutty buddy Jean Derome, with his crazy Dangeureux Zhoms business on Saturday, July 7. All of these start at 8:30 p.m.
L'Alizé, meanwhile, hosts some other hot shit in the OFF series, all at midnight. Monday, July 2, sees Jennifer Bell and the Altsys Jazz Orchestra, Thursday, July 5, sees yet more of that irascible Tom Walsh, here doing his famous NOMA business right proper, and Saturday, July 7, is the night for "New Ghosts," a tribute to forward-thinking jazzbo Albert Ayler. Hold your horses, there's still Cheval Blanc, hosting Dave Turner (Monday, July 2) and Joel Miller (Wednesday, July 4).
For an easier, less heady groove, get thee down to the classy yet relaxed Quartier Latin Pub, also on Ontario E. (just off St-Denis) for their own Jazzy Jam Nights series--a celebration of their fifth anniversary. Holding down the fort as backing band are bassist Skip Bey, pianist Tim Jackson and drummer Michel Berthiaume. From Friday, June 29 to Sunday, July 8, they're supporting a parade of singers, saxmeisters and trumpeteers. The tab varies between five and seven bucks, and is well worth it.
At Café Campus on Friday, June 15, 8pm, $17.50
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