l'OFF stays on track
l'Off Festival de Jazz de Montréal 2004
l'OFF Festival de Jazz, Montreal's best jazz fest, gets the jump on that gargantuan "other" jazz fest this year by running a few days earlier - and, for another reason why this festival keeps on getting it right, in an arrangement with the Québec Musicians' Guild, afternoon concerts at Quai des Brumes and late night concerts at Lion d'Or are free.
From the press blurb: "This year's l'OFF Festival de Jazz celebrates its 5th anniversary with 10 days of exhilarating 'live' performances and 32 great concerts. For this historic event, L'OFF is proud to be associated with the following venues; Quai des Brumes, Lion d'Or, and Le Va-et-Vient.
"Le Va-et-Vient, a year-long pillar for our local jazz scene, will be presenting 6 concerts, and Lion d'Or, our central venue, will host 11 concerts in its main series. This year's opening concert will showcase an exciting mix of jazz and poetry. During the closing concert, a very special 'photo' will be unveiled, celebrating musicians from the Montreal jazz scene.
"The line up for the festival's 5th anniversary, simply affirms L'OFF's original mission statement; to actively promote jazz and improvised music, to encourage solidarity and interaction between the many artists of the local, national and international jazz scenes, and mostly, to encourage our musicians by providing them with another tribune and also good working conditions in which to express their creativity.
"L'OFF Festival is proud to respond to the needs of the Montreal jazz scene, by actively encouraging the community to take charge of its destiny and assume responsibility for its own development. Although there remains a great deal of hard work to do, L'OFF is firmly committed to achieving these goals."
l'Off Festival de Jazz runs to July 4, 2004.
See their web site for scheduling and full details, or dial 514-570-0722.
Lion d'Or, 1676 Ontario East, 514-598-0709
Quai des Brumes, 4481 St-Denis, 514-499-0467
Le Va-et-Vient, 3706 Notre-Dame West, 514-940-2330
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