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| Festival International de Jazz de Montreal 2025 Festival Awards The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, presented by TD Bank Group in collaboration with Rio Tinto, will this year highlight the outstanding musical contribution of Thundercat, Natalia Lafourcade, Samara Joy, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram and Duncan Hunter Neale. During the 45th edition of the Festival, these outstanding musicians will be presented with the prestigious Miles-Davis, Antônio-Carlos-Jobim, Ella-Fitzgerald, B.B.-KING and Oliver-Jones awards. Thundercat ÉVÉNEMENTS SPÉCIAUX TD Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Place des Arts Thundercat is the 30th winner of the Miles-Davis Award. Created in 1994 for the Festival's 15th anniversary, the award pays tribute to a world-renowned jazz artist, their body of work and their innovation in the genre. Thundercat, a multitalented artist with an exciting creative approach, has in recent years gone from virtuoso bassist to star, cementing his reputation as a unique, genre-transcending voice. Equally renowned for his eccentric style and his forays into fashion and film, he has shaped pop culture through his originality and striking performances. Previous recipients of this award are Marcus Miller (2024), Avishai Cohen (2023), Robert Glasper (2022), Joshua Redman (2019), Béla Fleck and the Flecktones (2018), Jack DeJohnette (2017), Kenny Barron (2016), Al Di Meola (2015), Terence Blanchard (2014), Charles Lloyd (2013), Ron Carter (2012), Stanley Clarke (2011), Sonny Rollins (2010), Ornette Coleman (2009), McCoy Tyner (2008), Mike Stern (2007), Brad Mehldau (2006), Dave Holland (2005), Keith Jarrett (2004), Joe Zawinul (2003), Chick Corea (2002), Michael Brecker (2001), Charlie Haden (2000), Cassandra Wilson (1999), John Scofield (1998), Herbie Hancock (1997), Wayne Shorter (1996), Pat Metheny (1995) and John McLaughlin (1994). ANTÔNIO-CARLOS-JOBIM AWARD: NATALIA LAFOURCADE Natalia Lafourcade Cancionera Tour ÉVÉNEMENTS SPÉCIAUX TD Thursday, June 26, and Friday, June 27, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Place des Arts Natalia Lafourcade is the 20th winner of the Antônio-Carlos-Jobim Award, created in 2004 to mark the Festival's 25th anniversary. The award honours artists who stand out in world music, which has been a key influence on jazz history through its fusion of cultures. Natalia Lafourcade blends traditional Latin American music and contemporary sounds with a rare artistic skill. Both revisiting classical repertoires and creating personal pieces with strong emotional resonance, she connects younger generations with their cultural roots. Her nuanced approach to folklore, far removed from pastiche, has restored prestige and international visibility to genres often marginalized on the global pop scene. As a recipient of the Antônio-Carlos-Jobim Award, Natalia Lafourcade follows in the footsteps of Vieux Farka Touré (2024), Marisa Monte (2023), Bebel Gilberto (2022), Omara Portuondo (2019), Zakir Hussain (2018), Buika (2017), Lila Downs (2016), King Sunny Ade (2015), Paco de Lucía (2014), Amadou & Mariam (2013), Emir Kusturica (2012), Youssou N'Dour (2011), Richard Bona (2010), Toots & The Maytals (2009), Gilberto Gil (2008), Angélique Kidjo (2007), Salif Keita (2006), Khaled (2005) and Ibrahim Ferrer (2004). ELLA-FITZGERALD AWARD: SAMARA JOY SAMARA JOY FESTIVAL À LA MAISON SYMPHONIQUE ROGERS Saturday, June 28, 2025, 7 p.m. Maison symphonique, Place des Arts A rising jazz star of the new generation, Samara Joy is the 25th winner of the Ella-Fitzgerald Award. For the Festival's 20th anniversary in 1999, it created this award to be given annually to a talented jazz singer who has had a major impact on the international scene. Samara Joy won Best New Artist at the GRAMMY Awards in 2023, a distinction rarely garnered by jazz performers. Audiences and critics alike regard her as a masterful interpreter of jazz standards and a legitimate heir to the sound, technique and charisma that define jazz heroines like Vaughan, Betty Carter, Abbey Lincoln and Carmen McRae. Past winners of this award are Laufey (2024), Stacey Kent (2023), China Forbes (2022), Melody Gardot (2019), Ben Harper (2018), Lizz Wright (2017), Gregory Porter (2016), Erykah Badu (2015), Diana Ross (2014), Holly Cole (2013), Liza Minnelli (2012), Sade (2011), The Manhattan Transfer (2010), John Pizzarelli (2009), Aretha Franklin (2008), Harry Connick, Jr. (2007), Etta James (2006), Al Jarreau (2005) Tony Bennett (2004), Bobby McFerrin (2003), Dianne Reeves (2002), Diana Krall (2001), Dee Dee Bridgewater (2000) and Diane Schuur (1999). B.B.-KING AWARD: CHRISTONE "KINGFISH" INGRAM Christone "Kingfish" Ingram LES GAMMES TD Thursday, July 3, 2025, 7:30 p.m. TD Stage Christone "Kingfish" Ingram is the 8th winner of the B.B.-King Award. For its 35th edition in 2014, the Festival created this award to honour the exceptional talent of a standout artist on the blues scene. This year's recipient is the critically acclaimed guitarist, singer and songwriter Christone "Kingfish" Ingram. From his hometown of Clarksdale, Mississippi, to stages the world over, the young blues star brings authority, searing skill and a dramatic edge to his guitar playing. Christone "Kingfish" Ingram succeeds Colin James (2022), Buddy Guy (2019), George Thorogood (2018), Charlie Musselwhite (2017), Taj Mahal (2016), James Cotton (2015) and the award's namesake, B.B. King (2014). OLIVER-JONES AWARD: DUNCAN HUNTER NEALE Duncan Hunter Neale ENTRÉE LIBRE TD Saturday, July 5, 6 p.m. Le Studio TD This award was created in honour of Oliver Jones, a Montréal jazz icon who has left an indelible mark on the history of the Festival and who today stands as a success story for Montréal's Afro-descendant communities and a source of inspiration for all of Canada's cultural communities. It is because of this connection and this history that the Oliver-Jones Award is given to young university-level musicians who identify as members of visible minorities or Indigenous communities. Duncan Hunter Neale, an emerging trumpeter on the Montréal music scene, is the fifth recipient. Neale is also receiving the $5, 000 Stingray Rising Stars Award. Created in 1998, the Stingray Rising Stars Program exists to discover, encourage and champion talented young Canadian musicians. In over 25 years, more than 1, 000 awards have been given to artists from across Canada. Ottawa-born Duncan Hunter Neale studied music improvisation and composition at McGill University, where he became better acquainted with Black American music and the history of the African diaspora, while reconnecting with his Ghanaian heritage. Past winners of the award are Alex Ambroise (2024), Édelène Fitzgerald (2023), Christina Beaudry-Cárdenas (2022) and Jacob Do (2019). write your comments about the article :: © 2025 Jazz News :: home page |