Montreal Cultural Calendar

JAM au BALCON

See the full After Jazz at PHONO schedule

Samant is a versatile composer and producer from Montreal known for crafting distinctive sounds that move seamlessly across R&B, hip-hop, pop, and alternative music. With an intuitive and collaborative approach, he creates unique sonic worlds tailored to each artist and project, always prioritizing emotion, experimentation, and authenticity.
As his presence continues to grow within the Canadian music scene, Samant is now preparing the release of his debut album, ATMANS. The project is introduced through the singles RUFFRIDE featuring Lou Val and HEARTLESS featuring Topaz Jones, offering a first glimpse into his genre-blending musical universe.

FEMINAE NOX returns in partnership with
Foil Gallery
&
Montreal International Jazz Festival
to present the screening of Devotion & the Black Divine — a cinematic universe co-directed by French-Senegalese artist,
anaiis
. It is the expansion on the visual and sonic world from the 2025 album of the same name. 
Devotion & the Black Divine
is a cinematic meditation on new Black motherhood and the spiritual upheaval it carries. Blending soul, gospel, and chamber pop, the album was recorded live to tape, a deliberate act of surrender to imperfection and presence. Its themes move through unconditional love, self-acceptance, Black heritage, and the quiet power of nurturing. The accompanying art film — shot in Jamaica — extends these themes into moving image.
This event will kickoff anaiis + Grupo Cosmo performance
at the Montreal International Jazz Festival's Rogers Stage on June 26, 2026 @ 10:30 pm
followed by anaiis' solo
Montreal headline show on September 23, 2026 @ Le Ministere
.
Join FEMINAE NOX, Foil Gallery, and Montreal International Jazz Festival featuring programming curated by
Mira Silvers
(founder of FEMINAE NOX):
On June 25, 2026 at Foil Gallery (6560 Rue Waverly, Montréal, QC H2V 4M3)
• 4:00 pm || Live Artist Talk between anaiis and artist
G L O W Z I
. 
• 5:00 pm || Networking and Artist ***Meet & Greet with anaiis. 
***anaiis will be signing vinyl records (available for purchase on-site)
RSVP via Waiting List here:
https://www.universe.com/fn-anaiis-film
On June 26 and June 27 2026 at Foil Gallery (6560 Rue Waverly, Montréal, QC H2V 4M3) 
• 8:30 am - 5:40 pm || Screening of Devotion & the Black Divine 
RSVP Link:
https://www.universe.com/fn-anaiis-filmscreening-only

A discussion exploring the diversity and
evolution of jazz scenes around the world, featuring André Marmot, agent at
Earth Agency (United Kingdom), Alejandro Ayala of the Chicago-based label
International Anthem, Yousef Hilmy of Los Angeles-based Minaret Records,
Rainbow Robert, Executive Director of Jazz Festivals Canada, and Brice
Rosenbloom, Artistic Director of Winter Jazzfest. Together, they will share
perspectives on emerging artists, local ecosystems, audience development, and
the forces shaping contemporary jazz across different regions and communities.
The discussion will be held in English. The festival will provide access to an AI-powered simultaneous translation application available on mobile devices, offering translation into all languages.

A pioneer of her generation, Brandee Younger has made a name for herself as a leading figure in the integration of the harp into jazz. Younger has collaborated with artists such as Lauryn Hill, The Roots, Pharoah Sanders, and Ravi Coltrane. As part of l'Academie, she will demonstrate how she draws on the diverse sounds of her instrument in her music.
The discussion will be held in English. The festival will provide access to an AI-powered simultaneous translation application available on mobile devices, offering translation into all languages.

Christine Jensen is a leading Canadian saxophonist and composer whose voice has shaped creative jazz for over twenty‑five years.
Her acclaimed ensembles highlight her lyrical writing and bold improvisation, heard most recently on Harbour (2024), her third jazz orchestra album, which received its world premiere at the Unity Festival at Jazz at Lincoln Center (2025).
A multi‑JUNO winner and DownBeat Critics Poll honoree,
she continues to expand her reach through projects like her quartet’s Day Moon and the
CODE Quartet’s Code Red.
The Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra performed at the JEN Conference in New Orleans in 2026. She is the founding artistic director of the Canadian National Jazz Orchestra and teaches jazz composition while leading the Eastman Jazz

Pod’Casque is a talk show hosted by the ONZMTL team, diving into hip-hop, urban culture, sports, and the conversations shaping today’s French-speaking generation. Through in-depth interviews, raw discussions, and cultural analysis, Le Onze, Jay Seven, and their guests offer an authentic perspective on both the Montreal and international scenes. Blending humor, insight, and real-life experiences, Pod’Casque creates a platform where artists, creators, and personalities can share their stories openly and without filters.

Christine Jensen is a leading Canadian saxophonist and composer whose voice has shaped creative jazz for over twenty‑five years.
Her acclaimed ensembles highlight her lyrical writing and bold improvisation, heard most recently on Harbour (2024), her third jazz orchestra album, which received its world premiere at the Unity Festival at Jazz at Lincoln Center (2025).
A multi‑JUNO winner and DownBeat Critics Poll honoree,
she continues to expand her reach through projects like her quartet’s Day Moon and the
CODE Quartet’s Code Red.
The Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra performed at the JEN Conference in New Orleans in 2026. She is the founding artistic director of the Canadian National Jazz Orchestra and teaches jazz composition while leading the Eastman Jazz

JAM au BALCON

See the full After Jazz at PHONO schedule

Born from the meeting of six freelance musicians from Montreal, The Liquor Store brings together artists who always return to their creative core to shape music to their image: vibrant, stylish and original. Whether it's their collaborative work on ‘’NightDrive’’ (winner of the 2020 GAMIQ for Jazz Album of the Year), their progressive album ‘’Colossus’’ (nominated for Jazz Album of the Year at the ADISQ) or their explosive ‘’The Liquor Store Big Band Vol. 1’’, their sound is constantly evolving - on stage and in the studio. The Liquor Store just released their fourth soul-pop-R&B album ‘’Right Place Wrong Time’’. The band embarks on a new, more polished and streamlined chapter, combining their love of deep grooves and exciting sounds with the refreshing visions of collaborating vocalists.

Airing on CISM since May 2003, Rythmologie is the ultimate Montreal authority on funk, jazz, hip-hop, electro, and all manner of upbeat, festive music. Host Étienne Champagne will join you to break down the festival shows he has seen so far and chat with artists from this year’s lineup.

JAM au BALCON

See the full After Jazz at PHONO schedule

As one of the leading figures in jazz bass, McBride has appeared on over 400 albums as a sideman. He has also made significant contributions to the documentation of jazz tradition through his work with the Jazz Night In America program on NPR. The artist will discuss his career in a conversation with journalist Marcus J. Moore.
The discussion will be held in English. The festival will provide access to an AI-powered simultaneous translation application available on mobile devices, offering translation into all languages.

The Cat in the Bag

Gilles Groux, 1974,  74
minutes
Through the coming of age of a 23-year-old man, this film symbolizes the political coming of age of the people of Québec. In French with English subtitles. Soundtrack album, John's Coltrane's Blue World, available from Impulse! / Universal Music Enterprises.
In French with English subtitles.
First part:
Oscar
Marie-Josée Saint-Pierre, 2016, 12 minutes
Mixing animated sequences and archival footage, Oscar is a touching portrait of virtuoso pianist Oscar Peterson at the twilight of an exceptional career, as he wistfully meditates on the price of fame and the impacts of the artist’s life on family life.
From the young prodigy’s beginnings in Little Burgundy to his triumphs on the international scene, this animated documentary by Marie-Josée Saint-Pierre explores the profound solitude of an artist constantly on tour. Set to the tunes of Peterson’s sometimes catchy, sometimes melancholy-tinged compositions, the film tells a heartfelt story about a life in jazz.

Marc-André Mongrain (Sors-tu?) and Louis-Philippe Labrèche (Le Canal Auditif) are taking the reins of their podcast Plaque tournante for a special live episode at the Montreal International Jazz Festival! Their colleague Camille Dehaene (atuvu.ca) will also be joining them, along with French singer-songwriter Solann!

JAM au BALCON

See the full After Jazz at PHONO schedule