Montreal Cultural Calendar

See the full After Jazz at PHONO schedule

Following in the footsteps of his father, Dewey Redman, Joshua Redman has established himself as one of the most prominent saxophonists of his generation. With a new album released on Blue Note last year, the saxophonist is stopping by l'Academie to chat with Mark Ruffin
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.

Best known for his work with Bela Fleck & the Flecktones, Victor Wooten is considered one of the top ten bassists of all time by Rolling Stone magazine. The musician—who has won five GRAMMYs over the course of his career—takes us through the creative process behind their 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.

Curtis Nowosad is a JUNO-nominated, NYC-based jazz drummer, composer, educator, and recording artist originally from Winnipeg, Canada. Based in New York for over a decade, he has become an active figure on both the NYC and international jazz scenes as a bandleader and sideman.
He has performed with a wide range of leading jazz artists across generations, including Jazzmeia Horn, Jane Monheit, Marc Cary, Braxton Cook, and many others, touring extensively across North America, Europe, and Asia. He has also shared the stage with jazz legends such as Ron Carter, Dave Liebman, Jimmy Owens, and Candido Camero, and regularly performs at major venues and festivals.
As a leader, he has released several projects exploring jazz, social themes, and experimentation, including
Dialectics
(JUNO-nominated),
If I Had
, and
PRIMORDIAL
. His upcoming album
I Am Doing My Best
features all-original music and reflects themes of healing and self-reflection.
Nowosad also maintains an active educational career, holding a Master of Music from Manhattan School of Music, where he teaches on the Precollege jazz faculty, alongside an ongoing international performing and recording career.

Award-winning guitarist-singer-songwriter Cécile Doo-Kingué is rapidly earning a stellar reputation and a place amongst Canada’s current roster of great guitarists. Powerful and raw, the NYC-born Montrealer is a force of nature whose lyrics, sound and exceptional stage presence make for an enthralling and intimate experience. The 5-time Maple Blues Awards nominee has released four albums to critical acclaim, has opened for, shared a stage and/or recorded with Montreal Jubilation Choir, Bernard Purdie, John Prine, Blind Boys of Alabama, Canned Heat, Angelique Kidjo, and Eric Andersen amongst many.

Raised in the wilds of Vancouver Island, 25-year-old Elysia Biro (pronounced Eh-lee-sha Bee-row) is a technically gifted singer, songwriter, and pianist. A student of classical piano at age 4, Biro began writing her own music at 13 while teaching herself how to play jazz by ear after being inspired by the genre’s improvisational free form. After receiving her diploma in classical piano from the Royal Conservatory of Toronto and graduating high school at age 16, Biro earned her Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies for piano and voice before moving to England to complete her Master’s of Music degree at the University of York. 

Crafting her unique sound from an expansive fusion of genres, Elysia Biro’s songwriting blends modern pop form and classical technique with jazz sensibilities. An expressive and introspective songwriter, her warm, soulful vocals reflect her journey through self-discovery, love, and introspection, painting a compelling portrait of life as she knows it right now, blossoming between seasons. Biro has quickly amassed a dedicated audience on social media through her captivating vocals and virtuosic transcriptions of jazz solos. Now based in Los Angeles where she writes, records and produces, Elysia Biro continues to combine worlds, creating sonic sanctuaries all her own.

"Dans les airs" is CHOQ.ca's cultural magazine, offering a fresh perspective on culture. We take you all over the city to show a different side of Montreal. Episode hosted by Renaud Vaillancourt and Tomy Tanguay.

Curtis Nowosad is a JUNO-nominated, NYC-based jazz drummer, composer, educator, and recording artist originally from Winnipeg, Canada. Based in New York for over a decade, he has become an active figure on both the NYC and international jazz scenes as a bandleader and sideman.
He has performed with a wide range of leading jazz artists across generations, including Jazzmeia Horn, Jane Monheit, Marc Cary, Braxton Cook, and many others, touring extensively across North America, Europe, and Asia. He has also shared the stage with jazz legends such as Ron Carter, Dave Liebman, Jimmy Owens, and Candido Camero, and regularly performs at major venues and festivals.
As a leader, he has released several projects exploring jazz, social themes, and experimentation, including
Dialectics
(JUNO-nominated),
If I Had
, and
PRIMORDIAL
. His upcoming album
I Am Doing My Best
features all-original music and reflects themes of healing and self-reflection.
Nowosad also maintains an active educational career, holding a Master of Music from Manhattan School of Music, where he teaches on the Precollege jazz faculty, alongside an ongoing international performing and recording career.

Award-winning guitarist-singer-songwriter Cécile Doo-Kingué is rapidly earning a stellar reputation and a place amongst Canada’s current roster of great guitarists. Powerful and raw, the NYC-born Montrealer is a force of nature whose lyrics, sound and exceptional stage presence make for an enthralling and intimate experience. The 5-time Maple Blues Awards nominee has released four albums to critical acclaim, has opened for, shared a stage and/or recorded with Montreal Jubilation Choir, Bernard Purdie, John Prine, Blind Boys of Alabama, Canned Heat, Angelique Kidjo, and Eric Andersen amongst many.

Originally from Rouyn-Noranda, Zach Zoya grew up at the crossroads of South African rhythms and North American soul and pop sounds, shaping a rich and eclectic musical identity.
The first English-speaking artist signed to the French-language label 7ième Ciel Records, he quickly gained attention with his EP Spectrum, critically acclaimed and nominated for several awards, including the ADISQ. His EP No Love Is Ever Wasted (2022) has accumulated millions of streams and includes the radio hits Start Over and Upper Hand.
In 2023, he received multiple awards, including at the Gala Dynastie and from the SOCAN Foundation. His sound has since evolved toward a blend of R&B, melodic rap, and alternative pop, notably on his EP It’s Always Sunny in Glendale (2024), inspired by his life experience in California.
He is now working on Misstape 2, a new collaboration with Montreal producer High Klassified, following their first project Misstape (2018), which marked the beginning of his career.

High Klassified is a multi-platinum producer known for his bold, experimental approach and distinctive sound, blending complex rhythms, ethereal melodies, and avant-garde textures. Active since 2011, he has become one of the most innovative figures in modern music production.
He has collaborated with major artists including A-Trak, Damso, Future, Hamza, The Weeknd, and Zach Zoya, moving fluidly between Francophone and Anglophone scenes. His work has taken him across the world, with projects in cities such as Los Angeles, Paris, London, Berlin, Seoul, New York, and Shanghai.
In 2025, he marks a pivotal year with a European tour, multiple festival appearances in Quebec, and the release of RAVARU, a French-language project featuring key artists from the current scene. He also launches the first single from Misstape, a new collaboration with Zach Zoya.
Based in Laval, he continues to refine his sound and shape the future of contemporary music production through constant creative exploration.

See the full After Jazz at PHONO schedule

To mark the centennial of John Coltrane, this special conversation offers a deep dive into the legacy of the legendary saxophonist through a world premiere presentation of selections from the mythical “Tiberi Tapes,” hosted by Ken Druker of Verve Records. The discussion will revisit the pivotal early to mid-1960s period, marked by the recording of the Tiberi Tapes and the creation of the iconic album A Love Supreme.
The audience will also discover the little-known connection between Blue World and Montréal through filmmaker Gilles Groulx and the National Film Board of Canada. Through listening sessions, conversation, and reflection, this event will explore Coltrane’s enduring impact on jazz and the arts, as well as the reasons why his music continues to inspire and resonate with audiences today. A question-and-answer session will conclude the event. The discussion will be led by Ken Druker of Verve Records.
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. With Samuel Blais as a moderator.

Anna Webber-tenor sax/flute

Sarah Rossy-voice/keyboards

Chiquita Magic-keyboards/voice

John Hollenbeck-drums/piano/composition

John Hollenbeck formed GEORGE during the Covid pandemic. He brought together three great musicians/people whom he loved and admired for a long time!  Even though most of the members had never met each other, John was confident from knowing them himself, that this group would immediately be, as one of the members calls it, "tight" (which means "very cool" in case you were wondering). Their group sound is firmly planted outside any categories or labels!  They remotely recorded a literal "Proof of Concept" in March 2021 and finally met in person in January 2022 in Montreal, Canada where they recorded "Letters to George", which was released on vinyl/cd/digitally on Out Of Your Head Records in January 27, 2023.

CIBL 101.5 will broadcast a special cultural program live from Montreal Jazz Fest to bring the excitement of the event to its listeners and to welcome the featured artists performing on the various stages. Interviews lasting 5 to 8 minutes will be conducted with them to discuss their show, their music, their artistic approach, and their creative universe.

Hansom Ēli is a Montreal-based duo formed in 2019 by siblings Camille and Alexy Guérer. Camille writes the lyrics and sings, while Alexy, a multi-instrumentalist and producer, composes the melodies.
Their music blends folk, R&B, funk, and indie pop, drawing comparisons to artists like Feist and Christine and the Queens. Bilingual in French and English—and occasionally incorporating Spanish—they create intuitively, often through improvisation.
Their name, inspired by the word “handsome,” reflects a desire to challenge gender norms. Embracing an eco-conscious lifestyle, their values are also reflected in their music, which is shaped by themes of travel and nature.

Anna Webber-tenor sax/flute

Sarah Rossy-voice/keyboards

Chiquita Magic-keyboards/voice

John Hollenbeck-drums/piano/composition

John Hollenbeck formed GEORGE during the Covid pandemic. He brought together three great musicians/people whom he loved and admired for a long time!  Even though most of the members had never met each other, John was confident from knowing them himself, that this group would immediately be, as one of the members calls it, "tight" (which means "very cool" in case you were wondering). Their group sound is firmly planted outside any categories or labels!  They remotely recorded a literal "Proof of Concept" in March 2021 and finally met in person in January 2022 in Montreal, Canada where they recorded "Letters to George", which was released on vinyl/cd/digitally on Out Of Your Head Records in January 27, 2023.

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.

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.

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.