From Wednesday 13 to Saturday 16 November, the Centre Culturel Suisse in Paris presents PURPLE JAZZ, a series of concerts with exclusively female programming, produced in collaboration with the Montreux Jazz Artists Foundation. [image1] This event showcases representative artists from today’s Swiss scene, and is included in the framework of the 17th Jazzycolors festival, which presents the best of international jazz at foreign cultural centers in Paris. The artists on stage supported by the Montreux Jazz Artists Foundation include:   Yumi Ito, author-composer who participated in the Montreux Jazz Academy in 2015 Imelda & Clyde; pianist and singer Imelda participated in the Montreux Jazz Academy in 2017 and opened for Lianne La Havas and The Roots at the Montreux Jazz Festival that same year Afra Kane, recent winner of the Montreux Jazz Talent Awards in 2019 for the ‘solo’ category Also performing on stage as part of Purple Jazz: the Marey duo, the tempestuous Anna Aaron, the inimitable soul vocalist Brandy Butler, the Marie Küttli Trio, the Lea Maria Fries Quartet, and the creative DJ Ngoc Lan.

The Montreux Jazz Talent Awards 2019 have been awarded to British saxophone-drum duo RUN LOGAN RUN and Italian-Nigerian singer AFRA KANE. Stanley Clarke, Chilly Gonzales, Carl Craig and Chucho Valdés were involved in choosing the winners. Between 29 June and 13 July, the Montreux Jazz Festival invited 16 artists to take to the stage at the Coupole for the Montreux Jazz Talent Awards. The candidates – from 13 countries and 4 continents – were painstakingly selected by the Festival programmers to demonstrate the audacity and diversity of the jazz of today.   AFRA KANE Montreux Jazz Talent Awards – Solo [image1] ©️ Emilie Genty This Switzerland-based Italian-Nigerian singer and pianist captured the jury's attention with her voice and her compositions which draw on many influences, from classical music to gospel. “It was a fulfilling experience where I got to perform and listen to high-standard jazz musicians. It gave a chance to connect with them and learn from their mastery. A real dream come true. I had always wanted to play at Montreux Jazz Festival and it is also probably the reason I’ve decided to stay in Switzerland.”   RUN LOGAN RUN Montreux Jazz Talen Awards – Band   [image2] ©️Chris Lucas This Bristol-based drum and saxophone duo impressed the jury with their mastery of improvisation and their exploration of contrasts, between spiritual jazz and raw power. “Montreux Jazz Festival was definitely a highlight of our career as a band to date. The format of the gig itself (two one hour sets with a break in between) was unusual and pushed us to be extremely creative with our improvisational approach, which brought out the best in our music. We wish all festivals could be like this!”    PRIZES AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT During the Montreux Jazz Festival, the sixteen artists performed to a professional and a public jury. Stanley Clarke, Chilly Gonzales, Carl Craig and Chucho Valdés made up the committee of artists close to the Festival who evaluated videos of the performances. The winners of the Montreux Jazz Talent Awards receive a cash prize, a residency at La Becque on the shores of Lake Geneva for the "Solo" winner, and personalized audio material for the "Band" winner. They also get long-term professional support from the Montreux Jazz Artists Foundation and the Festival's large network of contacts.

For 33 consecutive years, Meyer Sound has been the Official Sound Provider for Montreux Jazz Festival.  Co-founders John and Helen Meyer, Janelle Monaé sound engineer Amanda Davis and tech support Andrew Davies share the secrets of the renowned sound quality at Montreux Jazz Festival and explain why the Auditorium Stravinski is a very special venue.   

"THIS WAS OUR SONG"   What a year! Launched in the most beautiful way by Elton John's historic concert at Saussaz Stadium, the 53rd Montreux Jazz Festival brought together nearly 250,000 people under a sunny and radiant sky.   WATCH THE BEST OF [image1] "Blown away", "moved to tears", "like a dream": if you met a member of the Festival team on 29 June 2019, they'd have said something like that. Elton John's concert at the Stadium La Saussaz wasn't just historic because it was a one-off but also because of the artistic quality of the superb show. The popularity of this concert – hundreds of people watched from surrounding balconies, gardens and vineyards – set the tone of a radiant Festival where unique moments and spontaneity made memories across all stages.   MAGICAL MOMENTS AT THE JAM SESSIONS The jam sessions at La Coupole at the House of Jazz were pure magic from 11pm until 5am. We saw Janelle Monáe (picture) standing on the tables to sing, then singing "Juice" with Lizzo and Jon Batiste. We saw Rag’n’Bone Man singing the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter". We saw Chilly Gonzales mastering synthesizer and piano at the same time. We saw Bon Iver, Matthieu Chedid (-M-), Charle Winston, Ibrahim Maalouf, Kamaal Williams, Lolo Zouai, and the young musicians of the Montreux Jazz Academy. [image2] Perfectly planned tours are flavor of the moment but the Festival is - more than ever – somewhere where spontaneity and improvisation are encouraged and showcased. These special moments once again illustrate the privileged relationship that the Festival has with its artists. In Montreux, they find a timeless bubble far from the hectic pace of their tours. Musicians meet up here, taking the time to appreciate their stay and to honor the legends who have played here before them.   THANK YOU AND SEE YOU NEXT YEAR! 3 - 18 JULY 2020

  Initiator of the "carte blanche" posters of the Festival since 1982 and a very active and highly appreciated member of the Foundation Committee since 1995, Pierre Keller has not only revolutionised the visual identity of the Montreux Jazz Festival. He turned it into a piece of art. The artist liked his posters to be "impactful, funny or disturbing". In 1982, he asked Jean Tinguely to draw a jazz festival for him. The signature logo was born that year. In 1983, he invited a young American artist to Montreux, Keith Haring, who was little known at the time. He asked him to flood the city's walls, cars and t-shirts with his waving characters. Many big names followed: Niki de Saint Phalle, Andy Warhol, Max Bill.... "I don't know anything about music. You don't know anything about art," he used to tell his good friend Claude Nobs. The Foundation Committee and the entire Montreux Jazz Festival team would like to pay tribute to him today through the works of art he has initiated. Goodbye and thank you, Pierre.   Posters   [image1] Jean Tinguely, 1982   [image2] Keith Haring, 1983   [image3] Keith Haring, 1983   [image4] Keith Haring, 1983   [image5] Niki de Saint Phalle, 1984   [image6] Keith Haring et Andy Warhol, 1986   [image7] Max Bill, 1991   [image8] Julian Opie, 2006   [image9] Julian Opie, 2006   [image10] Julian Opie, 2006

The right actions to take in case of a heat wave during the Festival.   HYDRATE YOURSELF REGULARLY   Do not wait until you are thirsty to drink. Eat light and water-rich meals. Tap water glass are free of charge in Festival bars. Limit alcohol consumption, it increases the risk of dehydration.   PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE SUN   Limit direct exposure to the sun as much as possible between 11am and 4pm. Take out your panamas, straw hats, caps, bobsleeves and sunglasses! Wear loose, ventilated clothing. Put on sunscreen! The vast majority of the Festival's terraces are covered and allow you to shelter from the sun. The Congress Centre is air-conditioned and accessible to the public. Come and cool off in case of extreme heat!   LET’S SWIM, BUT NOT AT ANY COST   Never dive from rocks or terraces. Enter the water gradually (imperative). Different water access points exist between the Casino Barrière de Montreux and the 2m2c. After a long exposure to the sun, wet your neck and chest generously before entering the water. Do not swim directly after eating   POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS OF HEAT STROKE   Weaknesses Confusion Dizziness Nausea Muscle cramps   It is necessary to act immediately: make the person who feels ill drink and refresh and contact the infirmary located at level B3 in the Congress Centre.

Jessie Reyez wurde bei ihrem letzten Konzert beim Firefly Festival in den Vereinigten Staaten verletzt und kann in den nächsten 14 Tagen leider nicht mehr auf der Bühne stehen. Ihr Konzert in Montreux muss daher ebenso wie der Rest ihrer Europatournee abgesagt werden. “Ich bin so enttäuscht, dass ich nicht nach Europa kommen kann. Ihr verdient die beste Show, die ich anbieten kann. Ich verspreche, sehr bald wiederzukommen.” Wir werden Sie über einen eventuellen Ersatz auf dem Laufenden halten. Die Konzerte von Lewis Capaldi und Dermot Kennedy werden weiterhin stattfinden. Die Ticketinhaber werden persönlich per E-Mail informiert.

Six special guests join Quincy Jones' line-up for an exceptional closing night! -M- (Matthieu Chedid), Ibrahim Maalouf, Jon Batiste, Lauren Jauregui, Jonah Nilsson and Sheléa will perform at the Auditorium Stravinski, accompanied by the Sinfonietta de Lausanne. They will play the most popular hits produced, composed and arranged by Quincy Jones in the eighties.     -M- (Matthieu Chedid) will be back in Montreux, two years after presenting his sumptuous African project Lamomali. Lebanese trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf will join Quincy Jones for the second time on stage in Montreux, after performing at his birthday party last summer. The brilliant New Orleans pianist Jon Batiste, bandleader on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, had turned the Montreux Jazz Club upside down in 2013. Lauren Jauregui, former member of Fifth Harmony, recently released her single “More Than That” Jonah Nilsson is the singer of the Swedish band Dirty Loops, known in particular for their jazz covers of pop songs. The American soul singer Sheléa has collaborated with Stevie Wonder, among others.   [image1]

Montreux Jazz Talent Awards, Workshops, Projections, Jam Sessions and Academy: the Montreux Jazz Artists Foundation offers a wide variety of fascinating events, free of charge and open to all. Through these projects, the Festival seeks to encourage encounters between the artists and the public, the sharing of knowledge, and cultural exchanges.   WORKSHOPS Intimate and always surprising, the workshops offer privileged access to the Festival artists, who reveal the secrets of their art. The 2019 workshops feature many of the the young artists from the stages of the Lab and the Club (Apparat, Chassol, Snarky Puppy, Jacob Collier, Braxton Cook, Jose James). [image1] Also on the program: the blues of Melvin Taylor, the gospel of the Blind Boys of Alabama, and the Brazilian melodies of Ivan Lins. A kids’ workshop is also being organized in collaboration with the Conservatoire Montreux-Vevey-Riviera. @ La Coupole, every day at 4 p.m. WORKSHOPS PROGRAMME   MONTREUX JAZZ TALENT AWARDS Twice nightly on the stage of the Coupole, the Montreux Jazz Talent Awards underscore different ways of imagining virtuosity and jazz in all its forms blending different cultures and sounds. [image 2] Selected by the Festival’s bookers, sixteen artists will be evaluated at a live performance by professional and amateur judges, then on video by an Artists Committee. This year’s Committee comprises artists closely tied to the Festival, including Stanley Clarke, Carl Craig, Chucho Valdès, and Chilly Gonzales. @ La Coupole, twice every day, at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. TALENT AWARDS PROGRAMME   JAM SESSIONS with Clarendelle The Festival’s iconic jam sessions encourage extraordinary encounters and the emergence of timeless moments. Every year, legendary musicians join young talents for unforgettable improvisations. @ La Coupole, every day from 11 p.m., open to the public   PROJECTIONS Six films and documentaries will be presented at the Cinema Hollywood, portraying artists (Quincy, Tribute to Karen Dalton, Sous le Donjon de Manu Le Malin) and cultural communities (Alternasuisse, Freedom Square and Back of the Moon, Gay Chorus Deep South). [image3]  @ Cinéma Hollywood, Montreux PROJECTIONS PROGRAMME   MONTREUX JAZZ ACADEMY The 5th Montreux Jazz Academy will take place during the second week of the Festival, with American trumpet player Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah as musical director and Wolfgang Flür (founding member of Kraftwerk) and Jacob Collier as mentors. [image4] During this intensive week in residence, young artists selected by the Festival will enjoy the benefits of a veritable career launchpad. In addition to workshops, lectures on the music business, and jam sessions, the students and their mentors will prepare a final concert that will be presented on 11 July as the opener for Terence Blanchard. @ Montreux Jazz Club, concert on 11 July BUY TICKETS    

Rita Ora, Eddy de Pretto, Mac Demarco, Cat Power, Tom Misch, Ibeyi, James Blake, Mahmood, SCH, Lewis Capaldi, Appart... What if you didn’t have to choose between them?  This year, the Festival is offering you a unique opportunity to discover all the concerts at the Montreux Jazz Lab, our venue dedicated to newcomers, rising stars, and audacious artists. Thanks to the Lab Pass 2019, enjoy access to all the programming at the Montreux Jazz Lab for only CHF 299.-!   CONDITIONS Limited offer–while supplies last Standing access to the Montreux Jazz Lab for 16 nights Personal subscription in the form of bracelets hat you will pick up daily at the Accreditation desk Price: CHF 299.-   GET YOUR LAB PASS 2019

Only a few days to go before Elton John’s exceptional show! Please find below the latest information about this concert that will take place on June 29th at the Stadium La Saussaz. Zusätzlich bringt Sieein Gratis-Shuttle-Service ab folgenden Haltestellen (*) in Vevey und Montreux bis zum Stadion (Reisedauer zwischen 20 und 30 Minuten).   ABOUT THE SHOW   We kindly remind you that all tickets purchased for the shows initially planned at the Auditorium Stravinski (June 29th and 30th) remain valid for the stadium. Doors open at 5pm and the show starts at 8pm, without any supporting act.   Various bars and food trucks have been set-up within the stadium area.  There is also an ATM in the stadium area and bars will accept credit/debit cards. Tickets don’t need to be exchanged for wristbands to access the show. To access the stadium, please go to the corresponding category line. You can find your category directly on your ticket (seated or standing).    TRANSPORTATION AND ACCESS   The Festival highly recommends to use public transportation to come to the stadium.The SBB have set up extra trains to Lausanne to return after the show. Please plan your trip directly on the SBB website or through the SBB app.  Free shuttles to the stadium will run from the places (*) below (count between 20 and 30 minutes per ride).   ARRIVAL FROM THE FESTIVAL: Take the special shuttles or bus 204 to the Montreux-Centre des Congrès bus stop *or from the SBB station * BY TRAIN: From Vaud, Fribourg and Geneva: Train station Vevey CFF * From Wallis: Train station Montreux CFF * BY CAR: Highway exit Vevey à  To: La Veyre: Parking Elton John * TWO-WHEELERS: You will find a dedicated parking after the highway exit Montreux, on Chemin des Leppes, near the roundabout at the bottom of Route de Brent TAXI AND UBER:  Drop-off: Near the stadium, roundabout Plein Soleil on Chemin de la Minjarde Pick-up: At parking Chailly, near the highway exit Montreux   DEPARTURE BY TRAIN: To: Vaud, Fribourg and Geneva à Please take the shuttle from the stadium *: Train station Vevey CFF To Wallis à Take bus line 204 (at roundabout Plein Soleil *) Train station Montreux CFF BY CAR: Take the shuttle in front of the stadium back to the ELTON JOHN parking La Veyre TO THE FESTIVAL: Take the shuttles from the roundabout Plein Soleil *. Special shuttles will be set up to go back from the Festival to the parking la Veyre in Vevey.   Practical information PDF  

From 28 June to 13 July 2019, festival-goers will enjoy an array of over 300 concerts, DJ sets, and workshops! Two new venues are making their entrance this year: the Liszto Club – two-story fusion of the Strobe Klub and Lisztomania – and the Terrasse ibis MUSIC.   On the programme, among others:  Charlie Winston, Lolo Zouai, Tribal Seeds, Acid Pauli, J.I.D., KT Gorique, Klingande, Jordan Rakei, Manu Lanvin, DJ Stingray, Alice Et Moi, Ala.ni, Honey Dijon, Joanne Shaw Taylor…   See all free stages   The free programme is… more than 300 concerts, dj sets & workshops6 free stages 3 pool parties 3 silent discos 2000 m² of terraces 55 food stands and bars   LISTEN TO THE FREE PROGRAMME PLAYLIST YOUTUBE PLAYLIST SPOTIFY     NEW: LISZTO CLUB   The Liszto Club brings together the spirit of discovery from Lisztomania and the wild nights from the Strobe Klub in a new and improved free space over two floors. Centered on the exploration of musical intersections and new trends, the Liszto Club hosts two concerts per night, followed by international DJ sets until 5am. Outside the concert hall, the Balcon du Liszto Club hosts DJ collectives from Switzerland.   LISZTO CLUB PROGRAMME     NEW: ibis MUSIC   The Terrasse ibis MUSIC is the first official Festival stage on the lake. The atmosphere evolves throughout the day: bar and laid-back vibe in the afternoon, intimate pop and electro shows at sunset, then DJ sets until 4am.   TERRASSE IBIS MUSIC PROGRAMME

  Janet Jackson, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Janelle Monáe and Anita Baker have each marked a generation of R&B and American pop. The Festival will thus host four veritable “Queens of Black Girl Magic”, in the words used by Janelle Monàe at the induction of Janet Jackson into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.   JANET JACKSON This will be Janet Jackson's first visit to the Festival, and her only concert this year apart from Glastonbury and Las Vegas! The author of a barrage of global hits is one of only four artists to have a #1 Billboard album for four successive decades. [image1] This icon brought R&B into radical and sexy super-creative territories, releasing a series of albums of formidable artistic caliber. As she wraps her critically acclaimed State of the World tour, she arrives at the Festival to further solidify her legend.   Sunday 30.06 Auditorium Stravinski BUY TICKETS   MS. LAURYN HILL   We are still breathless. In 2017, at the end of a landmark performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival, she offered the public two covers in honor of Nina Simone: “Feeling Good” and “Ne Me Quitte Pas”. [image2] Just as comfortable with a driving flow as with a soul or R&B incantation, Ms. Lauryn Hillwas the high priestess of the Fugees, an essential 1990s hip-hop band. She is also, above all, the author of the brilliant and intimate The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, and today she is celebrating that album’s 20th anniversary.   Friday 12.07 Auditorium Stravinski BUY TICKETS   JANELLE MONÁE   In 2010, a prestigious guest slipped backstage for the first Montreux show from the amazing Janelle Monáe: none other than Prince! He became the Atlanta singer’s mentor, and worked on what would become Dirty Computer, celebrated as one of the best albums of 2018. [image3] Deliciously funk, strikingly eccentric and pop, the actress from Moonlight and Hidden Figures sings and raps about how proud she is to be female, black, and queer. Freer than ever.   Thursday 11.07 Auditorium Stravinski BUY TICKETS   ANITA BAKER   Her farewell tour will include Montreux! This Detroit singer and key figure of 1980s American soul celebrates a decades-long career that has included four platinum and hits such as "Caught Up in the Rapture" and "Sweet Love". [image4] Her unique voice has the sultry vibe of a jazz singer and has been the cornerstone of a sound that has helped to shape R&B since her solo career began in the early ‘80s. She is looking forward to ‘coming full circle’ at the Montreux Jazz Festival, where she played in 1986 and where she spent time with her mentors Claude Nobs, George Duke, and the Ertegün brothers.   Wednesday 10.07​​​​​​​ Auditorium Stravinski BUY TICKETS

Create your personal program!  Do you prefer guitars or clubbing? New trends or old school music? Discover which concerts are made for you at the Montreux Jazz Festival! Once your program is created, you can generate your personal playlist and share your program with your friends.   CREATE YOUR OWN PROGRAMME  

From 28 June to 13 July 2019, the Montreux Jazz Festival will explore current sounds and celebrate timeless music. The 53rd edition features new trends, striking individuals, and absolute legends from African-American and British music.     AUDITORIUM STRAVINSKI Play. Pause. Forward. The symbols placed at the center of the 2019 posters each reflect the spirit of one of the three main Festival’s venues. PLAY: The Auditorium Stravinskicontinues its focus on the timeless, hosting legends with big personalities. > Your browser does not support the video tag.   MONTREUX JAZZ CLUB PAUSE: At the Montreux Jazz Club, enjoy virtuosity and intimacy in a cozy space where time seems to stand still. > Your browser does not support the video tag.   MONTREUX JAZZ LAB FORWARD: A striking snapshot of current sounds, the Montreux Jazz Lab sketches out the shapes of the music of tomorrow. > Your browser does not support the video tag. [image4] CREATE YOUR OWN PROGRAMME  

  Create your own azulejo!   This year, every festivalgoer will be able to feel like an artist. Like each of your idols who will be in Montreux, you can create your own visual stamped "Montreux Jazz Festival" by using our Azulejos Generator. This 53rd edition will have a resolutely Iberian flavour. Inspired by the poster designed by the Spanish artist Ignasi Monreal, our interactive site will allow you to generate your own personalized azulejo (traditional Iberian faience tile).    AZULEJOS GENERATOR   Enter your first and/or last name, admire it materialize in azulejo and share it on your social networks! From tomorrow, for 6 days until the announcement of the programme on April 9, an artist's azulejo will be published every day on our social networks. Decrypt it and try to win 2 tickets. We have awakened the Champollion inside you? Then see you everyday for a new revelation! > Your browser does not support the video tag.  

  BUY   Elton John wanted his fans to enjoy an extensive stage production and decided to make his mark on the history of the Festival: more than 15,000 festival-goers will now be able to attend his magical show outdoors on 29 June, 2019! This unique event replaces the two concerts planned for the Auditorium Stravinski. [image1] There are some events you just can’t afford to miss, and Elton John’s farewell tour is one of them! That’s why the Montreux Jazz Festival is pulling out all the stops for his unique appearance in Switzerland in 2019. This outsize event is not only an exceptional event: the first visit ever by Elton John to the Festival; but also the first ever open-air concert of this magnitude in a Montreux stadium. The entire Festival team, used to all sorts of artistic challenges and to the singular concerts that have marked its history, set about to make it a reality.   [image2] This unique event replaces the two concerts planned for the Auditorium Stravinski on 29 and 30 June 2019. All tickets purchased for these 2 concerts remain valid for the event at the Saussaz Stadium. All ticket-holders will be informed per email on 19 March at 11am. The message will include additional information for refunds (until April 22, 2019). Doors open: 5PM / Concert: 8PM Transportation: Information on how to access the concert at the Stade de la Saussaz on June, 29th 2019 will be communicated later via our website and newsletter

Ignasi Monreal has designed three posters with urban Iberian flair to represent the 53rd edition of the Montreux Jazz Festival. Created digitally, the posters blend traditional architecture and contemporary symbols. The artist was inspired by the streets of Old Madrid, revisiting the traditional azulejos, square tiles that decorate facades and indicate street names. At the center of each poster is implanted a contemporary, universal symbol that breaks with the traditional imagery. [image1]   [image2]   [image3]   THE ARTIST Ignasi Monreal is a multidisciplinary artist born in Barcelona and currently based in Rome. He works in various media including painting, design, creative direction, and film. Ignasi is a creator of widely celebrated Gucci’s Spring/Summer 2018 campaign, the first of its kind to be fully digitally painted. Within the music scene, he has directed a music video for Spanish flamenco artist Rosalía and collaborated with FKA twigs and Christine & the Queens. Ignasi is also known for his murals, which have been installed in New York, Chicago, London, Paris, Milan, Shanghai and Hong Kong. Monreal's first solo show opens on February 28th at the legendary La Fresh Gallery in Madrid.   [image4]   THE POSTERS OF THE MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL Since 1967, the Festival has entrusted the creation of its official poster to international artists. Keith Haring produced a trio of posters in 1983, then teamed up with Andy Warhol for another in 1986. David Bowie took a turn in 1995, and more recent offerings have come from Yoann Lemoine (Woodkid), Malika Favre, and Christian Marclay. All the posters at a glance here

Envie de participer à l’aventure Montreux Jazz Festival ? Envie d’étoffer ton CV avec une expérience dans l’un des Festivals les plus reconnus au monde ? Pendant 16 jours, viens vibrer avec les 1’600 staffs qui s’engagent chaque année ! Être Staff à Montreux te permettra non seulement de bénéficier de nombreux avantages, mais également de faire le plein de découvertes musicales et de rencontres !  Inscriptions en ligne: staff.montreux-jazz.ch Des questions ? Télécharge le FAQ 2019 ci-contre. 

Le Montreux Jazz Festival soutient le projet Avenir2m2c avec enthousiasme et conviction. Celui-ci permettra de garantir le rayonnement international de la Ville et l’évolution pérenne du Festival. L’audace d’une ville unique au monde L’équipe du Festival a été consultée dès le début des réflexions. La nécessité d’une mise aux normes du bâtiment est incontestable. Sans cela, nous ne pourrions accueillir légalement que 300 personnes dans l’Auditorium Stravinski (moins de 10% de sa capacité). Devrions-nous nous contenter d’une simple mise à niveau ? Nous souhaitons poser la question autrement. L’histoire de cette ville – exceptionnelle, hors-norme, improbable – s’est-elle construite sur une série de demi-mesures ? Nous pensons que non. Si Montreux jouit d’une aura internationale, c’est qu’elle a osé parier sur l’avenir, cru en des projets audacieux et cultivé sa différence dans les domaines du tourisme et de l’événementiel. Poursuivre l’œuvre de nos prédécesseurs Cette nouvelle étape s’inscrit dans une nécessité de rester compétitif dans un monde en constante évolution. En 1990, vous auriez pu opter pour une salle moins onéreuse et moins ambitieuse que l’Auditorium Stravinski. Mais vous avez pris le pari de façonner un petit bijou, une salle unique à la hauteur des ambitions de Montreux. Chers citoyens, chers festivaliers, vous avez aujourd’hui l’opportunité d’accroître encore plus l’attractivité de votre ville. En votant oui, vous poursuivez l’œuvre et la vision de vos prédécesseurs, ces Montreusiennes et Montreusiens qui ont permis à la ville de rayonner dans le monde entier. [image1] Quelques précisions logistiques    Il est nécessaire que nous puissions accueillir nos spectateurs dans des conditions à la hauteur des exigences actuelles de sécurité et de confort. Le projet Avenir 2m2c permet notamment une nette amélioration de la circulation du public.  Les terrasses du bâtiment seront par exemple plus grandes et entièrement couvertes, permettant de profiter du panorama grandiose en toute sérénité. Ces améliorations auront par ailleurs un impact certain sur le temps nécessaire aux montages et démontages du Festival. Enfin, la revalorisation des espaces au niveau des quais rend le bâtiment plus ouvert et accueillant. Ces modifications nous ouvrent de nouveaux horizons pour l’installation de nos points de restauration – à l’abri de la pluie – et permettra d’améliorer le flux du public.

Tempted by a 16-day musical marathon? With the ALL MUSIC PASS, treat yourself to all the concerts at the Auditorium Stravinski and the Montreux Jazz Lab during the upcoming Festival. For the holidays, the Montreux Jazz Festival is giving you the special price of CHF 1299.- instead of CHF 1490.-.   INSIDER SPECIAL OFFER Subscribe to the Montreux Jazz Insider app and get your ALL MUSIC PASS for the exceptional price of only CHF 999.- instead of CHF 1490.-!

The Fédération romande des consommateurs (FRC, the consumer federation for French-speaking Switzerland) receives complaints daily from people who feel they were cheated when they bought tickets online. BE CAREFUL Make sure you are on the site of the authorised ticketing office Warning: unauthorised vendors pay to be at the top of Google and Bing search result lists. Authorised ticketing offices are indicated on the promoter’s website. Verify seat availability and ticket prices Warning: unauthorised vendors often announce that concerts are nearly booked out, drive up prices and use timers and/or other devices to pressure consumers into hasty purchases. Seating availability and the official prices are indicated on the website of the organiser’s partner ticket office. Tickets are often still available. Check the terms and conditions of admission to an event Warning: unauthorised vendors do not always mention the terms and conditions of access on the tickets. (For example: a personal ticket or ID is required for admission to the event.) The terms and conditions are indicated on the promoter’s website.   FURTHER INFORMATION

With a multifaceted voice and songs that are solid gold, Jalen N’Gonda was the face of soul at this summer’s Montreux Jazz Talent Awards. The winner of the Fairmont European Tour Award, the singer is preparing for an atypical tour, from Barcelona to Montreux. [image1] During an intense week from November 24th to December 1st, Jalen N’Gonda will take over the Fairmont hotels in Barcelona, Hamburg, London, and Montreux. On the program: four intimate concerts in exceptional venues, with the grand finale at the Montreux Palace. Get a look behind the scenes of the tour through a video series that will be available on the Fairmont website and Instagram account.   FAIRMONT EUROPEAN TOUR Barcelona - 24 November Hamburg - 26 November London - 30 November Montreux - 1 December

The Montreux Jazz Festival is proud to announce the three winners of the Montreux Jazz Talent Awards: France’s Højde, the Turkish band Islandman, and the American Jalen N’Gonda. Electronic improvisation, hypnotic neo-soul, frenetic funk, and inventive beatbox: the sixteen participants in the Montreux Jazz Talent Awards won over the audience of the House of Jazz this summer, with the house often bursting at the seams. This new format, successor to the Montreux Jazz Competitions, made it possible to open the competition to different musical approaches, especially electronic forms. For months, the Festival's programmers hit their networks and investigated international trends in the search for the jazz of tomorrow in all its forms. The performances by the sixteen participants were evaluated during the Festival by the programmers and a jury comprising three people chosen through the Montreux Jazz Insider app. After the Festival, the concert videos were sent to an Artists Committee composed of Aloe Blacc, Richard Bona, Derrick Hodge, and Bugge Wesseltoft, to take advantage of their expertise and artistic sensibilities.   THREE ARTISTS AWARDED The nationalities of the winners – French, Turkish, and American – and their different musical approaches are the perfect reflection of the diversity of today’s jazz. Improvisation is at the heart of the electro-acoustical projects of Højde and Islandman. The former brilliantly merges piano and machines, while the latter audaciously blends psychedelic sounds and Oriental rhythms. As for Jalen N’Gonda, his musical studies in jazz and his discovery of Liverpool’s pop culture have led him to develop an approach to soul that is rich and effective. HØJDE wins the PARMIGIANI MONTREUX JAZZ SOLO KEYS AWARD Prize of 3000 swiss francs and a watch by Parmigiani [image1]   ISLANDMAN wins the SHURE MONTREUX JAZZ BAND AWARD Prize of 5000 swiss francs and audio equipment by Shure [image2] JALEN N’GONDA wins the FAIRMONT EUROPEAN TOUR AWARD Special prize allowing the artist to embark on a four-date tour in the Fairmont hotels of the AccorHotels group in London, Barcelona, Hamburg, and Montreux [image3]

(1942 – 2018)  The Festival pays homage to the inextinguishable light of soul music. Aretha Franklin’s fervor and voice will continue to inspire future generations, beyond music, as they discover their own passion. People still tell the story of Claude Nobs using a box of chocolates to convince the queen of soul to fly to Switzerland and perform at the casino in Montreux. On 12 June 1971, singing and at the piano, Aretha Franklin made a crucial contribution to the Festival’s vibe, adding to its soul and legend. Respect. [image1]

The 52nd Montreux Jazz Festival drew over 240,000 people. On all the stages, strong personalities and uplifting moments marked this edition where the only obsessions were the music and the warm welcome. The new House of Jazz delivered on its promises, painting a striking picture of the jazz of tomorrow against a breathtaking backdrop. Celebrating history and current music – these two driving forces behind the Montreux Jazz Festival seem to be more in tune than ever. This year, the heart of the Festival included techno at the Strobe Klub and the legends of the Auditorium Stravinski. At the House of Jazz, it was not just a question of honoring our jazz roots but also of showing the face of tomorrow, particularly with the electronic sounds that were omnipresent at the Montreux Jazz Talent Awards and the Montreux Jazz Academy. HOUSE OF JAZZ [image1] Turning the Petit Palais into a house of jazz and then convincing festival-goers to visit it was a major acoustic, logistical and artistic challenge. The Festival team imagined a vibrant, bustling place that would honor jazz and related genres. The public very quickly made this dream reality, coming to the Coupole stage and the terrace in large numbers. Thanks to the intimate setting, the workshops and jam sessions seemed even more intense, inviting exchange and celebration. The Montreux Jazz Talent Awards surprised and excited the public; the three prizes will be awarded in September.   The new flavor of the Montreux Jazz Club, bigger and beautified with a new look, made a real impression on the public and it already bears the mark of jazz heavyweights. With its new set-up, the Club could also house big groups as well as delicate solo performances. AUDITORIUM STRAVINSKI & MONTREUX JAZZ LAB [image2] While the House of Jazz was experiencing an intense first Festival, two other venues were also providing amazing moments. The Auditorium Stravinski showed its rock face more than once, hosting anthology performances. We will also remember the incredibly mastery and maturity of the recently discovered young artists who played the Montreux Jazz Lab. As always, the Lab was home to far-reaching exploration, between metal, electro, hip-hop, folk and pop. FREE STAGES [image3] The Strobe Klub’s move to the 2m2c was a success, with praise for the sound quality, the program and the pleasant terrace. The new venue was often described as being like something you would find in Berlin. As for Lisztomania, the room was packed many times. Attendance of the DJ sets at the end of the evening showed that night-owls have definitely adopted this night-time venue dedicated to adventurous sounds and discoveries. At Music in the Park, the fantastic weather contributed to an excellent year. The popularity of the concerts and silent discos was unwavering.  

Concert surprise au Montreux Jazz Club Célébrez les 85 ans de Quincy Jones, lors d’un concert surprise au Montreux Jazz Club, dans la nuit du 8 au 9 juillet, à partir d’1h du matin. Un line-up exceptionnel participera à un show exclusif en l’honneur de Quincy Jones. Les artistes invités ? Des amis de Quincy Jones programmés au Festival, mais aussi invités spécialement pour l’événement. Stay tuned! L’entrée est gratuite. Aucune réservation possible. Le concert sera retransmis sur QWEST TV en septembre.   Quincy Jones Ami et ambassadeur du Montreux Jazz Festival depuis des décennies, co-producteur du Festival dans les années 1990, Quincy Jones a écrit parmi les plus belles pages de l’histoire du Festival. Le producteur américain a reçu vendredi passé la médaille de la reconnaissance de la Commune de Montreux et a donné son nom au hall principal du Centre des Congrès. LINEUP: Ibrahim Maalouf Nate Smith Kinfolk Jade Elliott Nik West Ezra Collective Richard Bona Jacob Collier Alfredo Rodriguez Talib Kweli Jowee Omicil et bien d'autres...

This concert was of extreme importance for the British singer. Rag'n'Bone Man was eager to return to Montreux, two years after playing at the Festival press conference and at the Montreux Jazz Lab, during the 50th edition. Unfortunately, Rag'n'Bone Man is unable to perform this evening due to medical reasons. The Angus & Julia Stone concert is maintained. The Australian folk duo will exceptionally perform for two hours. ANGUS & JULIA STONE Folk is a Stone family affair. It’s scratched out on a fugitive guitar, carved in an exquisite softness. After their adventure in Los Angeles with prestigious U.S. producer Rick Rubin, these Australians have created a family project written with four hands. Transmitting by turns spleen and euphoria, the duo sings the poetry of Baudelaire and the Hollywood follies of the Château Marmont. Four years after a stunning concert at the Montreux Jazz Lab, the warm harmonies of Angus & Julia Stone will once again resonate in Montreux. INFO & TICKETING If you no longer wish to attend the evening, please refer to the email you will receive regarding the reimbursement procedure or visit our Info Stands for any additional information  If you wish to attend the concert, you can obtain a 50.- gift voucher at the Bracelets Stands DOORS 7.30pm CONCERT 8.30pm

Carla Bley has been forced to cancel her summer tour and is being replaced by Manu Katché. The French drummer and composer will perform on 9 July at the Montreux Jazz Club, after trumpeter Avishai Cohen and pianist Addison Frei, winner of the piano competition in 2017.     The concert by the Carla Bley Trio planned for 9 July 2018 has been canceled. On doctors’ orders, the American pianist cannot currently travel by airplane due to a health problem. The Festival wishes her a speedy recovery. The Festival has invited French drummer and composer Manu Katché to present his project “The Scope”, which will give rise to an album this autumn. With his new quartet, Manu Katché explores soul and pop sounds, reminding us that he has played with the biggest stars of pop music, from Peter Gabriel to Alain Souchon, including Matthieu Chedid, Dire Straits, Joni Mitchell, Tracy Chapman, and Youssou N’Dour. Manu Katché will appear for the sixth time at the Montreux Jazz Festival, after noteworthy performances alongside Sting, Richard Bona, and Stephan Eicher.   

Trombone Shorty de retour au Festival! Le showman de La Nouvelle Orléans jouera avant Jack White, le 10 juillet ! Notes de trombone tenues jusqu’à l’infini, bain de foule, déhanchés dévastateurs, échanges d’instruments avec ses musiciens… Trombone Shorty met le feu à chacun de ses passages au Montreux Jazz Festival ! Son dernier album Parking Lot Symphony mêle une nouvelle fois le funk, la soul et le hip-hop avec panache. Un cocktail qui se révèle explosif sur scène, tant Troy Andrews se montre à l’aise dans la peau du showman, danseur, chef d’orchestre et tromboniste. Son talent n’a d’égal que la virtuosité de ses musiciens, solidement enracinés dans la tradition de la Nouvelle Orléans. [image1] AZEKEL Le Britannique Azekel rejoint Young Fathers et Massive Attack, le 2 juillet, à l’Auditorium Stravinski. Une soirée placée sous le signe des collaborations : Azekel et Young Fathers ont en effet tous deux joué sur le dernier EP de Massive Attack, en 2016 ! La voix envoûtante d’Azekel a aussi pu être entendue sur l’album Humanz de Gorillaz. Après trois EPs aux sonorités futuristes et méditatives, il s’apprête enfin à sortir son premier album. [image2] DEETRON Le DJ Deetron se produira en première partie de Jamiroquai, le 14 juillet, à l’Auditorium Stravinski. Actif sur la scène électronique depuis plus de vingt ans et doté d’une technique époustouflante, le Bernois arrive à Montreux dans le cadre d’une tournée internationale. L’année passée, le DJ a notamment publié un remix intense du single « Automaton », de… Jamiroquai ! 

From 29 June to 14 July 2018, a dizzying array of free programming is on offer at the 52nd Montreux Jazz Festival. More than 250 concerts, DJ sets, workshops, and activities await festival-goers from noon to 5am. New for this edition: the stage at La Coupole, in the heart of the effervescent House of Jazz.   By number of artists, spectators, or venues, the free events represent the most prolific offering of the Montreux Jazz Festival! Beyond the numbers - more than 250 concerts, DJ sets, and workshops on six stages - the free activities of the Festival offer a broad array of experiences: musical discoveries at Lisztomania, blue skies at Music in the Park, house and techno at the Strobe Klub, Latin music at El Mundo, and special events like the Silent Discos and Pool Parties. Starting this year, the sumptuous Petit Palais across from the Fairmont Le Montreux Palace is becoming the House of Jazz! The Montreux Jazz Club is setting up downstairs, and a new free venue is revealed upstairs: La Coupole. Under an Art Nouveau glass dome, workshops, awards, and jam sessions will follow one another at a frenetic pace from afternoon to the wee hours. LISZTOMANIA Electro, hip-hop, pop, and rock: the concerts at Lisztomania show a different facet each evening. Veritable flagship of independent music, the Lisztomania, known for revealing the latest trends, extends its intense evenings with DJ sets until 5am... MUSIC IN THE PARK Music in the Park, an open-air scene that kicks off early each afternoon, offers prolific, eclectic, and festive programming. Each year the Parc Vernex hosts over 70 concerts by Swiss and international artists, including numerous big bands. This is also where the ever-popular Silent Discos events will be held (29 June, 7 and 13 July). In the event of rain, they will move to the Montreux Jazz Lab.  STROBE KLUB With the Montreux Jazz Club now situated downstairs in the House of Jazz, the Strobe Klub is moving to the heart of the 2m2c, where it offers a huge terrace parallel to Lake Geneva. Same capacity, same goal: it remains the Festival’s temple of electronic nights! LA COUPOLE Hyperactive new venue at the heart of the House of Jazz, La Coupole is a site for seething exchanges that groove from the afternoon to the wee hours. Unpredictable by nature, in this space jazz reveals a different audacious and surprising aspect each day. [image1] From 3pm: Workshops Intimate and always surprising, the Festival’s workshops offer privileged access to selected artists, who passionately unveil the secrets of their art. On deck: heavyweights of jazz (Stanley Clarke, Bugge Wesseltoft, Eivind Aarset) and electronic music (Hauschka, Carl Craig, Ólafur Arnalds). From 6pm: Montreux Jazz Talent Awards As early as the first edition in 1967 the Montreux Jazz Festival was organizing jazz competitions. Ever since, we have been adapting them to the realities of the day. This year, the Montreux Jazz Talent Awards are taking over from the Montreux Jazz Competitions. The Montreux Jazz Talent Awards underscore different ways of imagining virtuosity and jazz in all its forms. Demos from 16 artists chosen directly by the Festival’s team of programmers will be evaluated by an Artists Committee, composed of musicians and producers well known at the Festival. The artists will then be judged by a second jury at a public performance on the stage La Coupole. Two prizes will be awarded: - the Parmigiani Montreux Jazz Solo Keys Award for the best on piano or keyboard - the Shure Montreux Jazz Band Award for the best band From 11pm: Jam sessions and Bals de La Coupole After the concerts in the Montreux Jazz Club, located just downstairs, fearless musicians will join artists on the programme of the Festival and the young talents of the Montreux Jazz Academy for memorable jam sessions that last the whole night long! Thrice during the Festival, the jam sessions will be replaced by the Bals de La Coupole (29 June, 7 and 14 July). EXHIBITION: THE RISE OF DAVID BOWIE David Bowie is intimately connected to Montreux: it was here that he discovered guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan, that he made studio recordings with Nile Rodgers, and that he played, as an encore, the entire album Low at the 2002 Festival... Drawn from a book published by Taschen, the exhibition The Rise of David Bowie will be presented at the House of Jazz. His official photographer Mick Rock retraces the famous Ziggy Stardust tour in 1972 and 1973. It was during that period that Bowie took on the flamboyant dimension he is now known for – perfect inspiration for the talented young artists of the Montreux Jazz Talent Awards!  EL MUNDO Each day, concerts, Zumba and salsa classes, and DJ sets will have you dancing just a few mambo steps from Music in the Park. Among others, come and discover Alejandro Reyes, Rodry-Go or Igor Blaska, selected by DJ Rumba Stereo. POOL PARTIES Electro, disco, and Afrobeat will punctuate the sun-drenched afternoons at the Casino’s pool on 7, 8, and 14 July from 12 noon to 8pm. Pool entry CHF 10.- / Reserved for those 18 and older.

From 29 June to 14 July 2018, the 52nd Montreux Jazz Festival invites the public to chart a personal voyage through the offerings of a particularly rich lineup. Steeped in the history of rock, the program also features jazz heavyweights, delicate folk, and new R&B, hip-hop, and electronic sensations.  This morning the Montreux Jazz Festival presented the program for its 52nd edition in the Petit Palais in Montreux, the sumptuous building that will welcome the House of Jazz. A twelve-minute film showcasing the Festival’s venues and programmers provides a plunge into the musical programming and the new features for this edition.  Welcome to the House of Jazz! The Petit Palais is transforming into the House of Jazz! A new headline Festival space, this sumptuous building, the little brother of the Fairmont Le Montreux Palace, will spend sixteen days as a two-level venue with a fizzing groove. Downstairs, the new and improved Montreux Jazz Club. Formerly located in the Convention Center, this venue dedicated to jazz, blues, and soul goes from 300 to 600 seats while preserving the intimacy and the cozy ambiance that have driven its success. Upstairs, the free stage La Coupole sets a frenetic pace, with an array of concerts, workshops, and jam sessions from 2pm to 4am! Unpredictable by nature, in this space jazz reveals a different audacious and surprising aspect each day. Steps away, the terrace of the House of Jazz invites the public and the artists to enjoy one of the most beautiful views over Lake Geneva. New location for the Strobe Klub The Strobe Klub arrives in the heart of the Festival! From now on, it’s the 2m2c that will bring together the planet’s very best electronic music. Same capacity, same goal: the Strobe Klub remains the Festival’s temple of electronic nights! The free programme will be announced on May 31st 2018.  

Meeting Quincy Jones, backstage tour, Chilly Gonzales’ live session at Claude Nobs’ Chalet, and more – a swarm of events allowed the Insiders to experience unique moments at the 2017 Montreux Jazz Festival. Be part of the family too! Montreux Jazz Insider is a mobile application that brings together music lovers and passionate fans of the Festival and gives them exclusive advantages and information during the Festival and year‑round. The app, which was released last June, has almost 1’000 subscribers. The app got a major update this morning, based on user feedback. There’s now an English version, a new design and more flexible subscriptions (3, 6 or 12 months). YOUR ADVANTAGES     ► EARLY BIRD : GET YOUR TICKETS A DAY EARLY! Everyone who has subscribed to the app can buy tickets a day before the general public. ► ALL YEAR ROUND Our programmers’ special favorites Unique concert videos Exclusive news about the next edition Anecdotes from the Festival’s history Surprise events ► DURING THE FESTIVAL Special access privileges (Bar Pro, aftershows…) Fast lanes for free and paying venues Private concerts and parties Artist encounters ​Special ticketing offers

The Montreux Jazz Festival, together with the Festival Images Vevey, entrusted contemporary artist Christian Marclay with creating the poster for the 52nd edition, for which the program will be unveiled on April 17th. The cyanotype process, used for the first time on a Festival poster, illustrates music and the ways it is listened to in a magnetic blue. The poster for the 52nd Montreux Jazz Festival boasts a striking blue color. This work by Swiss artist Christian Marclay communicates principally through contrasts and tensions. While the cassettes evoke a certain return to analog media, their fracture also refers to the evolution in how music is listened to. Reflecting an era of both streaming and vinyl, the pixelated font blurs the line between analog and digital. [image1] “This renewed interest in analog is fascinating. We need to have something in our hands. We miss album covers and exchanging physical mixtapes. Music is above all else a social event. That’s why we go to concerts: to be present and live a unique experience.” Christian Marclay Recognized as one of the pioneers of turntablism, very early on Christian Marclay produced sound performances based on the alteration, or even the destruction, of vinyl records. On the poster, the destruction of cassettes paradoxically generates a festive pop feel. The magnetic tapes seem to erupt like the streamers and confetti at the end of a concert, and unfurl like drips of paint, calling to mind the abstract expressionism of Jackson Pollock.  CYANOTYPE, A PROCESS BACK IN THE LIMELIGHT To produce this work, Christian Marclay employed the cyanotype process, thereby mixing media and eras as well as sound and visual. This vintage technique lets you generate a blue monochrome by placing an object on a photosensitive surface and exposing it to the light of the sun. “It’s photography without a camera”, Marclay explains. The blue inherent to the process also evokes the color of jazz and blues, the roots of the Festival. In a 2016 article on the return of cyanotype, the New York Times pointed out that Christian Marclay was using this process as early as 2008.  THE INFLUENCE OF JEAN TINGUELY  Christian Marclay’s earliest memory of the Montreux Jazz Festival is the 1970 poster by Roberto Carra which hung on the wall of his teenage bedroom. But another poster also has a special meaning for him: the one by Jean Tinguely, which in 1982 gave the Festival its highly recognizable logo. “I have always been a big fan. His kinetic sculpture Eurêka, built for the Swiss National Exhibition in 1964, was a revelation for me. It is certainly no coincidence if the explosive and abstract side of my poster resonates with his”, he explains. In fact, this year Christian Marclay produced a performance at the Museum Tinguely in Basel, using works by the artist as musical instruments.  BIO Christian Marclay is a Swiss artist, performer, and composer (born in 1955 in California, he lives and works in London). He has produced groundbreaking work both on the underground music scene and in contemporary art, exploring a space shared by visual arts and music (Footsteps, Body Mix). He works in a multitude of media including sound, album covers, vinyl records, magnetic tapes, and film excerpts. The Clock, one of his major works (a 24-hour video montage, made up of thousands of film and television sequences), which won the Golden Lion at La Biennale di Venezia in 2013, will be presented starting 14 September 2018 at the Tate Modern in London. A reflection of the long-term partnership that began with the 50th Montreux Jazz Festival, the choice of entrusting the creation of the poster to Christian Marclay came about as he is presiding over the jury of the Grand Prix Images Vevey and the Images Vevey Book Award 2017/2018. The next edition of the Festival Images Vevey, Switzerland’s premier visual arts biennial, will take place September 8th-30th, 2018. Since 1967, the Festival has entrusted the creation of its official poster to Swiss and international artists. Keith Haring produced a trio of posters in 1983, then teamed up with Andy Warhol for another in 1986. David Bowie produced a poster in 1995, and more Yoann Lemoine (aka Woodkid) and Malika Favre have done the same.

Le 4 mars prochain, l’acceptation de l’initiative No Billag mettrait non seulement le paysage médiatique en danger, mais également la diversité culturelle et sportive en Suisse. L’association « Swiss Top Events » s’oppose clairement à cette initiative.  [image1] Le 4 mars prochain, la diversité sportive et culturelle en Suisse, que les « Swiss Top Events » incarnent de façon exemplaire, sera en jeu. Ces huit événements de réputation mondiale, dans les domaines de l’art, du cinéma, de la musique et du sport, représentent l’excellence dans leur catégorie respective, grâce à un souci constant de développement et d’innovation. Les chaînes de radio et de télévision publiques contribuent indéniablement à l’attrait et à la diversité exceptionnelle de la Suisse. Si l’initiative est acceptée, le paysage culturel et sportif suisse perdrait son plus important relais médiatique, garant de la diffusion de ses activités dans toutes les régions linguistiques du pays. Une diversité qui disparaîtrait sans la Société suisse de radiodiffusion et télévision (SRG SSR) et la richesse son offre (RSI, RTR, RTS, SRF et SWI).  Une initiative opaque aux conséquences incertaines Avec l’acceptation de l’initiative No Billag, la SRG SSR disparaîtrait sous sa forme actuelle. Sans le soutien de la Confédération, impossible de prédire à quelle offre culturelle et sportive les citoyens auraient accès. Les chaînes de la SRG SSR sont nécessaires à la survie de la plupart des événements culturels et sportifs de Suisse. Sans elles, toute forme de production audiovisuelle deviendrait beaucoup plus chère et entraînerait une perte quasi totale de visibilité pour certains événements ou du moins une perte financière considérable. En résumé, il est impossible de prévoir l’ensemble des conséquences négatives qu’impliquerait l’acceptation de l’initiative. Pour ces raisons, l’association faîtière « Swiss Top Events » rejette catégoriquement cette initiative aux solutions opaques, voire inexistantes. La SRG SSR soutient la culture et le sport, dans toutes les langues et à tous les niveaux Les chaînes de la SRG SSR, financées grâce à la redevance, offrent une visibilité et une reconnaissance non seulement aux élites mondiales, mais également aux talents émergents. Les chaînes de radios publiques diffusent par exemple nettement plus de musique suisse que les chaînes privées. Elles soutiennent également la relève et retransmettent des concerts, tous genres musicaux confondus. Pour des rendez-vous culturels tels que le Locarno Festival (cinéma), le Lucerne Festival ou le Montreux Jazz Festival (musique), dont l’apport économique aux différents secteurs de leurs régions est important, la couverture médiatique demeure essentielle. Les manifestations sportives, à l’instar des courses internationales de ski alpin du Lauberhorn ou du meeting d’athlétisme Weltklasse Zurich, dépendent directement d’une production TV aux plus hauts standards de qualité et de prestations techniques que seules la SRG SSR est en mesure de fournir. Production télévisuelle et couverture médiatique garantissent une visibilité internationale pour des millions de fans de sport et rassemblent toute une nation lorsque des sportifs suisses montent sur le podium. Sans redevance : moins de culture suisse, moins de sport suisse et moins de talents suisses. Un message clair des « Swiss Top Events » Les « Swiss Top Events », huit événements d’exception, soulèvent chaque année l’enthousiasme de 750’000 visiteurs. Plus de 5’000 journalistes du monde entier les couvrent pour des millions de téléspectateurs et d’auditeurs. Les «Swiss Top Events» génèrent de surcroît des retombées économiques de plus de 200 millions de francs suisses par année. Afin de continuer à proposer des événements culturels et sportifs figurant parmi les meilleurs au monde, les chaînes publiques de radio et de télévision sont indispensables. C’est pourquoi : OUI à la culture et au sport – NON à No Billag !

THE FESTIVAL & CLAUDE NOBS IN THE SPOTLIGHT The Swiss National Museum in Zurich is celebrating 50 years of Montreux Jazz Festival history with a major exhibition from January 19th to May 21st, 2018. The Montreux Jazz Festival is honored to be the subject of a show presented by one of the most visited museums in Switzerland. For four months, the history of the Festival will be unveiled through concert clips, archival documents, and backstage photographs and videos. Items from the personal collection of Claude Nobs will also be on exhibit, including B.B. King’s guitar, Freddie Mercury's kimono, and even Nobs’ trademark harmonicas. As the National Museum puts it: “For once the stars and their music will be within easy reach.” [image1] EXHIBITION 19 January – 21 May, 2018 Swiss National Museum Zurich Museumstrasse 2, 8001 Zurich ROUND TABLE TALK With Mathieu Jaton and Bastian Baker 6 February, 6.30 pm. Auditorium Willy G.S. Hirzel Museumstrasse 2, 8001 Zurich

Today we pay tribute to a major artist and friend of the Festival. It is with emotion that we think back on the four editions brightened by the sunny, magnetic presence of Charles Bradley. The Montreux Jazz Festival fell under the charm of the Screaming Eagle of Soul in 2011. That year, at 58, he released his first album and set the Miles Davis Hall on fire when he opened for B.B. King. Two year later, he created one of the most beautiful moments in the history of the Montreux Jazz Club... In 2014, the “Daptone Super Soul Revue”, a celebration of soul music, unfolded over almost three hours, with Bradley serving as MC alongside Sharon Jones. The showman closed out his final Montreux concert in 2016 with the heartfelt “Why is it so Hard?”. That question will never be answered, but the voice of Charles Bradley will forever have the power to make our lives a little bit easier. Thank you for everything, Charles Bradley.

Become an Insider and fly to Tokyo for the Montreux Jazz Festival Japan from 3 to 5 November 2017! - Flights for 2 people - Festival Accreditation - Housing - Backstage Festival experience with the MJF staff Sign up with the Insider app for the drawing on 2 October 2017 [image1]   MONTREUX JAZZ INSIDER, JOIN THE FAMILY! Discover the Festival from the Inside! Montreux Jazz Insider is a mobile application that brings together die-hard fans of the Montreux Jazz Festival and provides you access to exclusive advantages. • NEWS, VIDEOS & EVENTS ALL YEAR ROUND - Our programmers’ special favorites: Discover the great artists of tomorrow! - News about the next edition before everyone else - Unique concert videos - Anecdotes from the Festival’s history - Suprise events • EARLY BIRD Early bird access: buy your tickets before everyone else! • MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL 2018 - Special access privileges (Bar Pro, aftershows, fast lanes...) - Private concerts and parties - Events at Claude Nobs’ chalet - Artist encounters - Special ticketing offers > Details at www.montreuxjazzinsider.com

Her soulful voice sends captivating words to peoples ears, as the sound waves travel, the music targets the heart. The emotions conveyed through Ishantu’s debut album have become a part of her and continue to reach others. Love and passion is exerted in the music that she is singing, it is what the people are afraid to say. The melodies are a beautiful combination which shine through the intriguing singer and show her heart-felt dedication for what she continues to do best. Writing since childhood, she carefully crafted her skills over the years to create touching songs that build a bridge between the territory of personal experience and the expression of a collective Zeitgeist.

The 51st Montreux Jazz Festival drew around 230,000 people with its rich and varied program. Despite the changeable weather, artists and public alike loved the redesigned stages and amenities.   On 30 March, the Montreux Jazz Festival revealed its jam-packed program. The 51st Festival was full of strong choices, with daring evenings, a completely redesigned free indoor stage, a new concept for intimate stages away from the main site and a new 150-metre-long terrace on the water. These initiatives proved their worth during the Festival, arousing the public’s curiosity and providing more reasons to explore. Ticket sales strengthened over the course of the Festival, with a total of 90,000 tickets sold. Food and Beverages posted excellent figures thanks to the attractive lakefront and terraces, the very welcoming Parc Vernex, the creation of Lisztomania and the quality of the free program. Despite the changeable weather, the budget is almost balanced at the end of this Festival.   MONTREUX, A PLACE TO GET AWAY FROM IT ALL As we know, Montreux, is conducive to meeting up and sparking spontaneous moments. This is demonstrated by exchanges between artists on and off stage. Ms. Lauryn Hill improvised a moving version of “Ne me Quitte Pas”, like Nina Simone. Sampha rushed to join Solange on stage, and Chilly Gonzales decided to play “Rockit”, a tribute to Herbie Hancock. Yello promised to come back to Montreux after their only date in Switzerland. Kery James rapped with Youssoupha, whose son was invited on stage too. The artists’ generosity continued between midnight and 5 a.m., with the jam sessions in the Montreux Jazz Club. Chilly Gonzales springs to mind – he jammed as well as playing a concert, a workshop and a live session. The Club sparkled during spontaneous performances by The Roots, Lemon Twigs, Trilok Gurtu, Cinematic Orchestra and the musicians of Herbie Hancock and Grace Jones. Singer Sam Smith even improvised with a kora player. He Instagrammed “This Festival reminds me why I love music so much”. Like Quincy Jones, Woodkid and Sam Smith, artists use the Festival as a place to really get away from it all, away from the hustle and bustle. Long-term relationships develop and are valued by the organizers: The Roots replaced Emeli Sandé at the drop of a hat. “If they ask you to perform here, it is your duty and an honor to come here”, said Questlove, the group’s legendary drummer.   NEW THIS YEAR Lisztomania, Out of the Box and Insider are all new terms that have been added to the Festival’s vocabulary. There was a new distance as well: 150 meters, the length of the new terrace constructed on the water. The terrace impressed the public and significantly improved the flow of people along the lakefront. With a varied musical program, great looks and a room full to the limit for concerts by Roméo Elvis, Cigarettes After Sex and Polo & Pan, Lisztomania drew the crowds and made a name for itself on the banks of Lake Geneva. It was the same story for the new Out of the Box concept, which the artists loved. The Abbaye de Saint-Maurice was the venue for a moving concert with Preisig & Rusconi. The acoustics of the Salle des Congrès at the Fairmont le Montreux Palace were fantastic.   PRICELESS FREE PROGRAM Music in the Park has a long history of crowd-pleasing open-air concerts. Parc Vernex got a new look last year – it will be closing with a silent disco on Saturday night. The Strobe Klub justified its reputation as July’s temple to electronic beats. The Pool Party did not disappoint, with its floating sofas and inflatable flamingos. The Montreux Jazz Artists Foundation educational projects delighted music lovers and the curious alike. The workshops and competitions were well-attended. The winners of the competitions were American Addison Frei for the Parmigiani Montreux Jazz Piano Solo Competition, Swede Kasper Agnas for the Montreux Jazz Electric Guitar Competition, and his compatriot Alexander Lövmark, for the Shure Montreux Jazz Voice Competition. The UBS Prix de Public was won by Sportelli. All of these victors will participate in the fourth Montreux Jazz Academy from 23 February to 3 March 2018. ARE YOU AN INSIDER? The Montreux Jazz Festival brought together a new community of music lovers and Festival lovers with the mobile application Montreux Jazz Insider. Exclusive news and special events filled the 16 days for the Insiders, with Chilly Gonzales’ live session at the Chalet, a cocktail party with Quincy Jones, Tash Sultana’s soundcheck and more. The application will be updated year-round and its members will be able to buy 2018 tickets two hours earlier than general release. SEE YOU NEXT YEAR! MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL 2018 29 June – 14 July Photo : William Gammuto

The American pianist, Addison Frei, has won the Parmigiani Montreux Jazz Piano Solo Competition. Legendary Chicago jazzman, Ramsey Lewis, presided over the jury which also counted in its number, Jeff Dessibourg, Dominik Deuber, Joji Hattori, Philippe Pellaud & François Carrard, President of the Montreux Jazz Festival Foundation. Despite fierce competition, the mood among the candidates remained remarkably good-natured, so much so that as soon as the prize giving ended, the three laureates graciously improvised a piece for 6 Hands on the competition piano.   1st Prize: Addison Frei This is not the first accolade that has been bestowed upon the New York based pianist, who is originally from Kansas. He has won first prize in several competitions, including the UNISA International Piano Competition that took place in Pretoria in 2016 and the American Jazz Pianist Competition that took place in Florida in 2015. The young prodigy has also toured and recorded with Janis Siegel, founder of the jazz group Manhattan Transfer. Of the 5 albums he has already released, Frei recorded three with AMP Trio with whom he recently toured Japan. 2nd and 3rd place were respectively accorded to the American, Billy Test, and the Russian, Andrey Marukhin. All three laureates will participate in the 4th Montreux Jazz Academy that will take place from 23rd February to 3rd March 2018. 

The Swedish singer Alexander Lövmark wins the Shure Montreux Jazz Voice Competition. Franco-American singer, Cécile McLorin Salvant, presided over the jury, which also counted in its number: Swiss composer, Jérôme Berney; Swiss-Albanian singer, Elina Duni; Le Temps journalist, Stéphane Gobbo; and Radio Fribourg director, Thierry Savary. The three finalists delivered sensational performances, dazzling their already giddy audience who attended the competition in droves. 1st Prize: Alexander Lövmark Vocalist and composer, Alexander Lövmark studied at the Academy of Music and Arts, specialising in improvisation. A trained bass player, the Swedish musician based in Gothenburg, discovered a passion for singing at the age of 20. He recently recorded his first album, Perfect Storm, scheduled for release in autumn of this year. The album also features his collaboration with Chilean saxophonist, Melissa Aldana. 2nd and 3rd place were respectively accorded to the German Sara Decker, and the South African Talie Monin. All three laureates will participate in the 4th Montreux Jazz Academy that will take place from 23rd February to 3rd March 2018. 

Due to circumstances beyond our control, Emeli Sandé’s concert, scheduled for Tuesday, 4th July 2017 has been cancelled. Due to exhaustion, the singer has had to withdraw from her commitments. As a replacement, the Festival programmers have invited the legendary hip-hop group to perform their own show, 100% The Roots, a day before their concert with Usher. From Montreux Jazz Academy to the Stravinski: the young singer and pianist, Imelda Gabs, will open the evening, ready to stun the audience with her velvety voice and her phenomenal stage presence. THE ROOTS One word defines them: groove. For three decades, the group from Philadelphia has refined their unrivalled hip-hop, tinged with soul, jazz and funk. In addition to three Grammy Awards (two in collaboration with John Legend and the third with Erykah Badu) and a dozen critically acclaimed records, the group has bolstered their popularity by performing on Jimmy Fallon’s show. Do we need to be reminded that they started out on bucket drums and free-styling in the street? They are the archetypal, global hip-hop group. IMELDA GABS Watch out, here comes talent! Imelda Gabs could be the great soul artist of the future. Last February, the young singer, pianist and composer caused a sensation at the Montreux Jazz Academy, surrounded by prestigious mentors such as Marcus Miller and Yaron Herman. Born in Belgium, she grew up in Switzerland under the artistic influence of her father, Doctor Gabs, the swing and boogie-woogie pianist.

A bronze statue of Claude Nobs is being unveiled this Sunday 2 July 2017 at 5:00pm. The result of an initiative by the Fondation du Festival de Jazz de Montreux and the Claude Nobs Foundation, this work was produced by Swiss sculptor Andreas Altmann. The statue, donated to the city of Montreux, will be installed in the garden of the Fairmont Le Montreux Palace. Claude Nobs will thus symbolically rejoin his musician friends whose statues already decorate the area. On his feet, grooving to the music, harmonica and microphone in his hands: a very familiar scene for the Montreux public! The intricate work by the sculptors even calls to mind the way Claude moved during his legendary jam sessions with B.B. King, Eric Clapton, and Carlos Santana. Claude Nobs will be represented surrounded by his artist friends in the garden of the Fairmont Le Montreux Palace. His statue will join those of Quincy Jones, Aretha Franklin, and Ray Charles. Statue donated to the city of Montreux The statue of Claude Nobs is a gift to the city of Montreux, of which Claude Nobs was an honorary “bourgeois”, or key citizen, and Claude’s greatest desire was to make Montreux’s image shine all over the world. This is yet another tribute, after the creation in 2013 of the Avenue Claude Nobs, and the 2014 inauguration of Funky Claude’s Bar. Passionate about bronzes, the founder of the Montreux Jazz Festival was the moving force behind numerous sculpture projects, including the Miles Davis statue on the Montreux lakefront. A reminder of Claude’s past role at the Tourist Office, as he was conscious of the symbolic power of such a sculpture, with the most striking example being that of Freddy Mercury. The result of exceptional know-how Andreas Altmann and his team at Gilberg Swiss Noble Forge painstakingly studied a large number of photos of the Festival founder. Andreas Altmann explains: “I went up to the Chalet to soak it in and feel the atmosphere.” The artist first created a 35cm model in wax. This was then scanned to produce the final size at the Art Foundry in St. Gallen: 200cm and 350 kilos. The bronze sculpture, with an impeccable black patina, was finished off by hand by Andreas Altmann, who then graciously donated the work of art. The Fondation du Festival de Jazz de Montreux and the Claude Nobs Foundation would like to thank Andreas Altmann and his team for creating and donating this work of art, and the city of Montreux and the Fairmont Le Montreux Palace for installing the statue and financing the pedestal.

Opening of the 51st edition of the Montreux Jazz Festival this Friday: from 30 June to 15 July, festival- goers will be able to savor 16 evenings sculpted with precision in venues boasting specific personalities. All told, there are more than 380 concerts, including 250 free events. The stages of the Montreux Jazz Festival open tonight in emblematic fashion, highlighting the strong identity of each venue. At the Auditorium Stravinski: the surprising, and landmark, pairing with Max Richter and Nicolas Jaar. In the Montreux Jazz Club, the new generation of jazz is incarnated in Theo Croker, while File Under Zawinul promises a gripping homage. The Montreux Jazz Lab kicks off its intense exploration of electronic and independent music with Jacques and Alt-J. Lisztomania, the latest addition to the Festival, will shine its spotlights on the Swiss artists of Magic & Naked and the pastoral melodies of Whitney. At the Strobe Klub, Bambounou and friends will keep things thumping until 5am. Music in the Park, with its new design on display for the second time, will host Junior Tshaka and Gaby Moreno, who will guarantee good vibrations.  NEW FOR THE 51ST EDITION On July 1st, inaugural evening for the Out of the Box experience: a series of exceptional concerts at emblematic sites in the region (Abbaye de Saint-Maurice, Chillon Castle, Fairmont Le Montreux Palace, Hôtel des Trois Couronnes). The perfect showcases for a handful of artists whose talents defy categorization. Successor to the Rock Cave, Lisztomania (capacity 500) is the Festival’s new not-to-be-missed venue. Electro, hip-hop, and rock: the program is eclectic, oriented towards discoveries and independent musical forms. A new 150-meter-long walkway, built overhanging the lake, will make it easier to circulate on the lakefront between the Montreux Palace and the Eurotel. The total surface area built over the water has grown from 1500 to 2,400m2.  CUTS Following on the success from last year (more than 60,000 videos shared), the Festival is once again partnering with the Kudelski Group. Improved and even easier to use, the app allows users to share concert clips. With a swipe, the festival-goer captures a favorite moment by “cutting” in the stream of images produced by the Festival. This technology will be available for more than 40 concerts this year, including May Richter and Jacques tonight. The list will be updated during the Festival (indicated by an icon on the online programme). 

Rapper Lil Uzi Vert, forced to cancel his Montreux appearance, has been replaced by American hip-hop group Flatbush Zombies. This group will thus join Gucci Mane and Slimka, Di-Meh, Makala & Pink Flamingo. On his doctor’s orders, Lil Uzi Vert must unfortunately cancel his European tour “due to exhaustion”. The Festival’s programmers have booked frenzied Brooklyn rap group Flatbush Zombies, who will join Gucci Mane and Geneva’s Slimka, Di-Meh, Makala & Pink Flamingo for the 100% hip-hop evening on Wednesday 5 July at the Montreux Jazz Lab. FLATBUSH ZOMBIES Hypnotic and frenzied, the rhythmic universe of Flatbush Zombies is truly one-of-a-kind. This Brooklyn collective caused a sensation with their album 3001: A Laced Odyssey. While their attitude and the coherence of their productions bring back good memories from 1990s East Coast (specialists will think of Gravediggaz), their dynamic flow and incisive lyrics display a strong dose of daring. 5 JULY, MONTREUX JAZZ LAB • SLIMKA, DI-MEH, MAKALA & PINK FLAMINGO • FLATBUSH ZOMBIES • GUCCI MANE

From June 30th to July 15th, sensational youths andw breakthrough bands of the moment will punctuate the free stages of the Montreux Jazz Festival. More than 250 concerts, DJ sets, and workshops await festivalgoers at 8 character-filled venues, from noon to 5am.   In Montreux, the free programming represents the largest pool of artists. Marquee names and talented young artists are ferreted out by our programmers and painstakingly assembled into audacious evenings. The free programming also showcases local artists: over 80 Swiss artists are represented. New this year, the Lisztomania takes over from the Rock Cave with an eclectic program steeped in discoveries and indie music. The Festival's free programming also includes the lakeside promenades, with colorful neon lights, bars, and food stands. A new 150-meter-long terrace, built overhanging the lake, will make it easier to circulate on the lakefront as well as offering festivalgoers a place to take a load off. The total surface area built over the water has grown from 1500 to more than 2000m2. NEW : LISZTOMANIA The successor to the Rock Cave, Lisztomania is the Festival’s new not-to-be-missed venue. Electro, hip-hop, and rock: the program is more eclectic, but still oriented towards discoveries and independent musical forms. The stormy rock of Warhaus will thus meet the irreverent flow of Roméo Elvis, the sensual dream-pop of Cigarettes After Sex, and the ethereal layers of Jessy Lanza. Among the revelations of this editions feature the sunny folk-soul of Whitney and the atmospheric indie-funk of young Londoner Cosmo Pyke. French pop and electro are represented by star duos of the moment Polo & Pan and The Pirouettes, but also by Franco-Ecuadorian Nicola Cruz, and even James Darle from Salut C’est Cool. There is no shortage of Swiss talent, with Egopusher, Melissa Kassab, Muthoni Drummer Queen, Nicola Noir, Pandour, Sombre Sabre, and more! The evenings at Lisztomania, with a capacity boosted to 500, will be extended by DJ sets.  THIS IS THE FREE PROGRAMMING OF THE MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL: •    More than 250 concerts, DJ sets and workshops •    8 covered and open-air stages •    84 swiss artists •    More than 2000 m2 of lakefront terraces •    More than 50 food stands and bars •    Events from 12 noon to 5am •    Breathtaking views of the Alps AND THIS YEAR, THERE IS MORE: - Lisztomania, a new venue, oriented towards discoveries - A new 150-meter-long terrace, built overhanging the lake - Electro, disco, and funk Pool Parties - Two nights “Clubbing au Club”

  The New Power Generation and Oxmo Puccino in Montreux!   The New Power Generation, Prince’s musicians for over twenty years, will perform in advance of Ms. Lauryn Hill on July 6th at the Auditorium Stravinski. As for rapper Oxmo Puccino, he joins the list of artists invited by -M- on July 15th.    The New Power Generation – Celebrating Prince The New Power Generation has gone back on tour for a few select dates after their performance in honor of Prince at Paisley Park. The NPG backed up Prince from 1990 to 2013, notably playing on the Love Symbol Album and Diamonds and Pearls. The lineup will feature special guest vocalists and most of the original members of the band, including Morris Hayes, keyboardist and the group’s musical director. Over the years, The NPG welcomed a rich cast of different artists, selected by Prince to accompany his evolving sound. The shows he custom-tailored for Montreux were a testament to the incredible diversity of these musicians. Morris Hayes on the keys in 2007, and the NPG horns in 2013, were unforgettable. Without a doubt, the “Celebrating Prince” concert will remind the Stravinski public of some magical moments!   L'AMOMALI, BY -M-...THE GANG'S ALL HERE! with Toumani Diabaté, Sidiki Diabaté, Fatoumata Diawara & L’Afro Pop Orchestra, Special guest : Oxmo Puccino                     Oxmo Puccino will perform for the first time at the Festival. This Mali-born French rapper will join -M- on stage on July 15th. The irresistible collaborative project from these two artists, “Bal de Bamako”, recently saw its video hit 1 million views on YouTube. The single is from the new album and project of Matthieu Chedid, Lamomali. Conceived as a bridge between Paris, Bamako, and the rest of the world, it celebrates the beauty of Mali and its music. Also on stage alongside -M-: Malian singer Fatoumata Diawara (discovered through the success of the film Timbuktu) and kora stars Toumani Diabaté and his son Sidiki Diabaté. The singer Youssou N’Dour also participated in the album Lamomali. This Senegalese artist will perform at the Stravinski the same night, and is sure to join Matthieu Chedid on stage.    

Artistic convergences, jubilant encounters, and close connections between generations: this 51st edition illustrates all the facets of the Montreux Jazz Festival.  Sculpted with precision, the programming draws upon the foundational strength of jazz, discovers gripping young talents, and heralds the decisive returns of pop sensations and R&B royalty. Particularly rich, the program for this edition reveals subtle alchemies and variegated genres. Care for details, so important in Montreux, gives a profound and intense texture to this lineup. Experience the Montreux Jazz Festival Out of the Box! The Out of the Box experience brings yet another aspect to the programming. Through emblematic sites in the region, the Festival offers a tailor-made showcase for a limited selection of outstanding artists. Out of the Box delivers magnificent combinations, sometimes unexpected, sometimes obvious, between unusual venues and artists who defy classification. Outside the Festival grounds, these historical sites invite you to experience exceptional concerts in a serene, nearly meditative fashion. Ticket office opening: Friday March 31st at 10am.

The Montreux Jazz Festival gave carte blanche to French illustrator Malika Favre to create the poster for the 51st edition. Malika Favre’s “free, strong, and sensual” women certainly convey a captivating beat. Painstakingly traced out, the rhythmic, elegant lines reveal a twofold reading. Six instruments subtly emerge in the negative spaces, matching the curves of the wavy dancers. “I have always loved hiding things in my drawings, the artist explains. With the dancers, I went with that slightly crazy energy that was going every which way! But I also wanted to bring a more traditional jazz touch with the instruments.” [image1] “Less is More” could serve as the motto for Malika Favre, a French illustrator based in London. Her immediately recognizable style – double reading, minimalism – has garnered her covers for Penguin Books and magazines including The New Yorker and Vogue.     

Right up to the end, Al Jarreau maintained an endless desire for sharing and openness. Today we pay homage to a major artist and friend of the Festival.  [image1] His voice was a saxophone, a snare drum or a double bass. His improvisations went well beyond traditional scat: Al Jarreau knew how to imitate every sound, every instrument. The Montreux public got a good idea of his faculty for improvisation at his first visit to the Festival in 1976. Except for his pianist, none of his musicians could be there that day. So Al Jarreau started singing as though he were the entire orchestra. Today, it is with emotion that we think back on the magical moments that punctuated his 16 editions at the Festival. Al Jarreau always managed to build bridges between genres. And all the collaborations he participated in at Montreux! He was equally classy as he lent his voice to feverish blues with Santana or a delicate duet with Randy Crawford. In 1991, he participated in the event “From bebop to hip-hop”, at the crossroads of rap and jazz, orchestrated by Quincy Jones. Immensely generous, Al Jarreau had a deep and abiding love of sharing his passion. His dearest wish was for everyone to find theirs. As a mentor at the Montreux Jazz Academy and as president of the jury for the voice competition, Al Jarreau transmitted his knowledge, his talent, and his open mind to the younger generations. In 2015 he was left speechless by the performance of young South African singer Vuyo Sotashe. When he was asked if he was ready to take on that role again this coming March, Al Jarreau didn’t hesitate an instant. Fate decided otherwise. His final visit to Montreux, last summer, will forever symbolize the strong ties between the singer and the Festival. After an intimate concert at the Club and an emotional workshop, he participated in the 50th anniversary evening organized by Quincy Jones. “I’m sitting in a chair and I dance better today than when I could stand on two feet!”, he confided to the Festival. Passion, all the way. 

The latest video by Ty Dolla $ign, released on Thursday XX November for the song “$”, has already been viewed more than XX million times. Most of the scenes were filmed last July in Montreux, the day after the American artist performed at the Montreux Jazz Lab. Just one more example of the magical attraction the region works on artists, and of the close relationships the Montreux Jazz Festival cultivates with them. SCENES FROM MONTREUX LIFE Last July 4th was the American national holiday and a huge hip-hop evening at the Montreux Jazz Lab, with A$AP Ferg, Ty Dolla $ign, and Young Thug each taking the stage. Blown away by the beauty of the landscapes surrounding Montreux, Ty Dolla $ign and his entourage expressed a desire to film images for an upcoming video. The Festival press service immediately agreed to their wish, and the next day brought together all the elements needed for a shoot: a list of emblematic sites in the region, a film crew, vehicles, a drone... After an intense day of filming and several months of production, the result is here. In the video we see this nonconformist rapper in Montreux landscapes: in Montreux’s old town, near the little stone bridge that Claude Nobs loved; in front of Chillon Castle, on the shores of Lake Geneva; another scene of this audiovisual production and tribute to our beautiful region is in the Festival founder’s chalet in Caux, surrounded by the dogs Kiku and Kuki. [image1] A TRADITION OF HOSPITALITY Ty Dolla $ign  is far from the first artist to illustrate his music inspired by Montreux scenery, as is evidenced by this list of album covers. From Bill Evans in 1968, who showcased Chillon Castle on his album recorded in Montreux, to the video by a heavyweight of US rap, the Festival’s unique surroundings have a transcendent, timeless quality. In the tradition of Festival founder Claude Nobs, Montreux’s inimitable hospitality and quality become a bit more deeply rooted every time an artist’s wish is fulfilled, and with each encounter that brings to life another exciting project. Authenticity and close relationships, along with exacting artistry, are the values that have forged a vibrant tradition and that lay the groundwork for magical moments in the heart of the summer. AN ATYPICAL FIGURE IN US RAP Over the years Ty Dolla $ign has become a confirmed talent who casts a shadow far beyond the hip-hop sphere. He has churned out collaborative projects - on stage and disc - at a frenetic pace. This artist who cites both Bob Marley and Kurt Cobain as influences is a multifaceted talent: author and composer, producer, rapper and singer, multi-instrumentalist... He broke through in 2011 with the hit “Toot It and Boot It”, and followed that up with “Paranoid” and then “Or Nah”, which has garnered more than 280 million views. His first album, 2015’s Free TC, is dedicated to his incarcerated brother and features Wiz Khalifa, Kendrick Lamar, and Kanye West. His album Campaign had a timely release last September, and “$” is its fourth single. 

Kneeling on the stage of the Auditorium Stravinski, he is singing “Hallelujah”. Two nights, two generous three-plus-hour concerts to open the Festival in 2013: the public reverberated with a single voice to Cohen’s deep, majestic mantras. Today we pay tribute to a legendary poet, novelist, composer, and artist who has left us. He serenaded Montreux in 1976, 1985, 2008, and twice in 2013. Deep voice and universal themes, and a darkness not just accepted but embraced: after a half-century of songs, he intones “I’m ready, my Lord” on his final album, You Want It Darker... So long, Leonard. Photo © 2013 FFJM Mehdi Benkler​

The ArtLab building, hosting three spaces dedicated to dialogue between the sciences and the arts, celebrated its grand opening on this Thursday 3 November on the campus of Lausanne’s EPFL. On the north and in the center, two exhibition spaces; at the southern tip, the Montreux Jazz Café at EPFL. With the entirety of the Festival archives now digitalized, this technological flagship makes it possible to valorize the archives via different tools, with a coherent mission combining conservation and anticipation.  [image1] MONTREUX JAZZ CAFE AT EPFL In comfort, the visitor to the Montreux Jazz Café at EPFL can flip through favorite Festival moments on a digital tablet, while taking advantage of one of the SounDDots, private listening zones featuring innovative loudspeaker arrangements. Two booths make it possible to examine recordings in greater detail, and to make contributions to the archive's metadata. This 8th Montreux Jazz Café is operated by Holy Cow!, a Co-Partner of the Festival. It boasts more than 70 seats indoors, as well as a terrace. The menu proposes a cuisine based on local products that is resolutely international, with offerings including burgers, haloumi, hummus, and red lentils. With a wide choice of vegetarian dishes, the menu also features bowls that showcase fresh produce at affordable prices. The Café is open every day from 9am to 9pm.  MONTREUX JAZZ HERITAGE LAB II In a space adjoining the café at the southern tip of the ArtLab building, the Montreux Jazz Heritage Lab II allows 25 people to completely immerse themselves in Montreux concerts. It was developed by the EPFL+ECAL Lab, with an enlarged team of 15, over two years in close collaboration with ALICE (Atelier de la Conception de l’Espace). The first, smaller version of the project won a Swiss Design Award in 2013. Sound is emitted in 3D from 32 loudspeakers in the room, and the installation is capable of reproducing virtually the acoustics of the concert halls in Montreux, and even those of the old Casino de Montreux. The futuristic projection screen also contributes greatly to the immersive effect. The navigation interface was the result of a dedicated research project, and makes it possible to conduct searches through thousands of songs with similar aesthetics to a given musical sample.   

11 of the greatest Festival regulars talk about their most moving moments on stage in this exclusive web series. As a rule, they don’t really like that. Memories, archives, concerts of yesteryear; they get dizzy from those years flashing past. Because they are living artists. They only think about the now, and the best concert is always the one coming up. And yet, with Al Jarreau, with David Sanborn, in the distant gaze of Dianne Reeves, in a certain movement of Carlos Santana’s head, with Quincy Jones and the others, something astonishing – and powerful – happens. For in an instant they understand that they are looking at something quite distinct from the picture album of the world’s greatest festival: it was a segment of the memory of a century’s music that was on display in the recordings we show them. Of course, seeing musicians once again, remembering a magical evening or a detail about a concert that was on a razor’s edge, they laugh, and share. But they are at pains to repeat that what they experienced, and what they hope to experience again, in Montreux, would be possible nowhere else. « Archives: when they tell their Montreux », a web series with Dianne Reeves, Al Jarreau, John McLaughlin, George Benson, Charles Lloyd, Angélique Kidjo, David Sanborn, Quincy Jones, Carlos Santana, Marcus Miler and Gilberto Gil. Text by Christophe Passer

Another event, this time at the heart of Asia’s vastest hub: a new Montreux Jazz Café opens this Friday 7 October in Singapore, a multicultural capital known for incredible food. British soul singer Omar, Swiss export Bastian Baker, and pianist Jerry Léonidewill inaugurate the Café’s stage. With a musical backdrop, borders melt away: by focusing on the quality of the experience offered to its listeners, the Festival continues to cultivate values developed from the very beginning by its founder. [image1] The Pan Pacific Orchard at 10 Claymore Road is a sophisticated 5-star hotel. It is here that the very first Montreux Jazz Café in Asia will now make its jazzy mark. The contemporary cuisine, faithful to the signature dishes of this worldwide brand ambassador, will include some Asian riffs in an echo of the island’s diversity. The interiors are luxurious, directly inspired by the Café at the Fairmont le Montreux Palace: a restaurant, a business-oriented VIP area, a lounge zone, and, of course...there has to be a stage! All this is enhanced by another Montreux Jazz Café specificity: continuous playback from the audiovisual archives of concerts recorded since 1967 and inscribed in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register.   With its highly attractive name, this new Asian outpost aspires to become a veritable observatory of the music scene in South Asia, most notably by discovering talented young musicians to participate in the competitions at the Festival.  

For its second edition in the Japanese capital, from Friday 7 to Sunday 9 October, the Montreux Jazz Festival Japan is taking over two of Tokyo’s night spots: Yebisu The Garden Hall for the first part of the evening and Daikanyama UNIT for the later, more dance-focused part of the night. The artistic programming for these three evenings of concerts was conceived with an obvious attention to detail, and showcases ties between electronic, Brazilian, and jazz music, as well as between continents and generations of musicians. The musical offering and the color of the event will resonate with the spirit and the programming of the Festival in Switzerland last summer. Exceptional event on Sunday 9 October: the return to Japan after 11 years of Caetano Veloso, who incarnates Brazilian music across the planet. His arrival has obviously caused enormous excitement, as the concert is already sold out. The poster for this edition is the work of Yohji Yamamoto, one of the greatest contemporary fashion designers. He has long been passionate about music and painting, and in collaboration with the artist Yuuka Asakura he offers a visual that is both sober and evocative. Important detail: he was one of Claude Nobs’ absolute favorite fashion designers.

More than reaching the age of reason, the Montreux Jazz Festival will have celebrated a maturity comfortably ensconced between its history and the pursuit of its craziest dreams. This 50th edition focused on the future drew approximately 240,000 festivalgoers was carefully programmed and drenched with sun, peppered with nods to the Festival’s roots, and above all featured sound and quality that were quite simply, remarkable. 50 YEARS, THE BALANCE With its fine programming and a slate of special projects, this jubilee communicated not just its modernity but also its musical, technological, and sociological story, that of a little place called Montreux and the obsession of its founding dream: to bring artists from all over the world to a gem of a music box on the shore of Lake Geneva. Today, the Festival has a powerful heritage and continues to evolve. Throughout this anniversary rite of passage, the Montreux Jazz Festival showed that it is well-equipped to continue into the future with its always-original setup: a unique format, a rollicking destiny, artistic ambitions that give it a solid footing in the music festival business, standout acoustics, the capacity for renewal, and attentive hospitality for the artists and the public. This year, summer weather dominated during three-quarters of the Festival, with an estimated 240,000 guests despite five days of sometimes drenching rain. In the busy concert venues, 95,000 tickets were sold over 16 days + the opening evening at the Casino. ARTISTIC MOMENTUM The creative spirit of jazz permeated all of the artistic propositions at Montreux this year, even when that genre was not specifically in the spotlight. It all kicked off with the sumptuous starting tone set by Charles Lloyd and Monty Alexander at the Casino Barrière Montreux. Backstage and on, from the first day we found Festival habitués displaying their verve and generosity: Buddy Guy, ZZ Top, Van Morrison, Simply Red and Santana. Two completely different universal icons both came for the first time: Neil Young struck the heart of his audience with a cavalier concert that lasted three hours, bringing together emotional music-lovers of all ages in a packed hall. Muse served up numerous titles they had not played for ten years, wrapping with a carnival cavalcade that was perfect for the anniversary celebration. Others depicted a world in decay, proposing at the same time ephemeral catharsis: Anohni, as surprising as she was demanding, a consoling Patti Smith whose presence dominated a huge audience and moved them with tributes to all the unknown disappeared. PJ Harvey gave a striking concert-narration that was perfectly controlled from start to finish. Sigur Rós brought out atmospheric layers with talent, and Angélique Kidjo and her guests celebrated a continent and the entire female gender with a creation conceived especially for the occasion. For the first time ever, Lana Del Rey whispered a few notes from her song “Salvatore”, a cappella, at the request of her fans. At the Montreux Jazz Club, effervescent young jazz musicians were on display with Alfredo Rodriguez, Christian Scott, and Cécile McLorin Salvant, but they didn’t steal the spotlight from Miles Davis’ old friends, who were simply staggering: Darryl Jones, Bill Evans, Dennis Chambers, and Dean Brown. Mind-blowing affinities were offered by the duo Barron-Holland and the friendships expressed around Ernest Ranglin. At the Montreux Jazz Lab, with a sound quality that was just as impeccable, Flume, Moderat, Beirut, Feu! Chatterton, M83, and an unbelievably playful Mac Demarco set the audience on fire. As did the discoveries of Max Cooper, Jeanne Added, Mura Masa, Ry X, Vald, Son Lux and Rag’n’Bone Man. NEW THIS YEAR: POOL PARTIES & STROBE KLUB The return to the Casino Barrière was one of the landmark ideas for this 50th edition. The Pool Parties brought the eponymous pool back to life, and it was packed each Saturday with people dancing to DJ sets in swimwear, like back in the day… The Strobe Klub, the new HQ for electronic nights, saw unprecedented success with particularly convincing DJ sets by Nina Kraviz, Rødhåd, and The Black Madonna, as well as live performances by Several Definitions and Maceo Plex. The architectural changes at Music in the Park were a success, even if the new infrastructure still requires a better arrangement for shade, which in the past was provided by the ancient trees which, sick and posing a danger to the public, had to be cut down a few days prior to the Festival. The Silent Disco was so popular that a second will be improvised tonight, Friday 15 July. The aftershows at the enlarged Rock Cave found their public over the course of the Festival. This site now offers an aftershow ambiance in an alternative to electronic music. The Festival will go further in 2017 to design a new space that will fully satisfy the desires of other audiences. In total on these two stages, 109 artists performed in 75 concerts at Music in the Park and 46 at the Rock Cave (including DJs). As for educational projects, the workshops, creations, and competitions garnered record attendance: the winners of the competitions were American Esteban Castro, only 13 years old, for the Parmigiani Montreux Jazz Piano Solo Competition, Finland’s Olli Hirvonen for the Socar Montreux Jazz Electric Guitar Competition, and Lithuanian Arta Jekabsone for the Shure Montreux Jazz Voice Competition. The Prix de Public UBS was won by Zurich’s Philipp Saner, aka Silent Neighbor. All of these victors will participate in the 3rd Montreux Jazz Academy from 18 to 26 November 2016. SEE YOU NEXT YEAR! MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL 2017 30 June – 15 July

He’s the youngest person in the history of the competitions in Montreux! Esteban Castro from America – who is only 13 years old – has won the prestigious competition this year. Yaron Herman was president of the jury. The other jurors were RTS journalist Yvan Ischer, Moods Zurich programmer Carine Zuber, and Julie du Luxembourg, member of the Montreux Jazz Artists Foundation’s board. The standard was very high in this competition based on solidarity and improvisation. Just 15 days before the competition began, Yaron Herman decided to shake up the participants’ program by changing their set pieces without warning, forcing them out of their comfort zones. 1ST PRIZE: ESTEBAN CASTRO Esteban Castro is a pianist and composer from the New York area. He has garnered multiple awards, such as the ASCAP Foundation’s Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award, the DownBeat Student Awards for Best Compositions and Best Soloist, and the Charles Mingus and Essentially Ellington Outstanding Soloist Awards. He has already recorded three award-winning albums that critics have described as “beaming with creative energies,” “surpassing all expectations,” and showing that, “while the pianist still might, in fact, be just a boy, he is already his own man.” He attends the Manhattan School of Music on a scholarship and performs with the Jazz House Big Band. Second and Third Prizes went, respectively, Guy Mintus from Israel and Casimir Liberski from Brussels, Belgium. [image1] THE THREE TOP FINISHERS WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE THIRD MONTREUX JAZZ ACADEMY FROM 18 TO 26 NOVEMBER 2016.

A great African musician, Ablo Gandema, left us on June 27th. He was a percussionist of vast experience who had lived in Switzerland for more than 30 years. He was best known for having brought bendré music to the attention of those of us living outside Burkina Faso, where he was born on 18 May 1962 in Ouagadougou, capital of Mossi-land, in a family of griots. From a very young age, he was initiated in the bendré (in the Mossi language of Mòoré, also called the ‘bara’ in Dyula), a sacred ancestral instrument associated with the royal court. He also became a virtuoso on the djembe and on the Mandinka balafon. In the early 1980s, recently arrived in Switzerland, he accompanied the dance class of Paco Yé (Farafina) and Bemba Camara, among others, and forged an excellent reputation. His musical encounters and adventures and his numerous concerts in Switzerland and beyond encouraged him to create his own compositions. In 1991 he returned to Ouagadougou, where he founded the Bendré Sound Orchestra, quickly recognized as one of the pillars of the Burkinabe musical scene. Invited to the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1994, he was noticed by professionals from the music industry whose advice would have a profound impact on the next stage of his career. From then on he never stopped honing his composing and his distinctly off-beat sound. In 1998 he recorded several successful titles with Daisy et les Sympathiques in Burkina Faso, as well as the music video “Yeene Seogo”, which was broadcast on national TV. His solo album Arzana, arranged by his friend Randolph Hunziker, appeared in 2001, featuring Ablo Gandema accompanied by talented musicians including Matthieu Michel. That recording serves up music with a loving combination of African tradition and jazz that emits nostalgia-inducing beauty and sensuality. Ablo Gandema returned to Montreux in 2002 with Randolph Hunziker, a guitarist, and bassist Patrick Perrier. Most recently, he deeply touched us with his musical performance and his sensitivity in the show “Café du Théâtre”, choreographed by Rémy Sciola in Vevey. This past Sunday, on July 3rd, Ablo was scheduled for a Montreux Jazz performance on the Salsafrica boat with his Bendré Sound Orchestra, a project he was deeply committed to. He will be interred tomorrow, Tuesday 12 July, at 3pm at the Muslim cemetery in Vevey.

1ST PRIZE: ARTA JEKABSONE Young Latvian Arta Jekabsone has won the Shure Montreux Jazz Voice Competition. Angélique Kidjo was president of the jury. The other jurors were French composer and producer Jérôme Badini from Radio France, Joe Farmer, a journalist for Radio France International, Thomas Rees from magazine Jazzwise, Mike Novogratz, vice president of the Jazz Foundation of America and Wendy Oxenhorn, executive director of the Jazz Foundation of America and member of the Montreux Jazz Artists Foundation’s board. There was a very high standard of competition in the semi-finals. It was particularly difficult to choose between the finalists in this voice competition – they really captured the public’s imagination. The final ended with a capella improvisation. Inspired by the quote “Love what you do and do what you love” (Ray Bradbury), Arta Jekabsone, who was born in Latvia, found fulfilment in singing. She also studied violin for nine years. Last year, she graduated from the popular Riga Choir Cathedral School, where she studied jazz. She now has a scholarship at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York, where her mentors include Janet Lawson, Kate Baker, Reggie Workman, La Tanya Hall, Cecil Bridgewater and Richard Boukas. The second prize was won by Germany’s Eric Leuthäuser (left) and the third prize went to Fabio Giacalone (right) from Italy. [image1] THE THREE TOP FINISHERS WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE THIRD MONTREUX JAZZ ACADEMY THIS FALL, FROM 18 TO 26 NOVEMBER 2016.

Matthias Müller, fondateur et président du festival Baloise Session et grand ami du Montreux Jazz Festival, est décédé, après une longue maladie, à l'âge de 51 ans. Au début des années quatre-vingt, âgé de seulement 17 ans, Matthias organisait son premier festival Open Air. À 31 ans, il lançait la Session Basel qui devait ensuite s’appeler "Baloise Session". Les concerts du Festival Boutique sont légendaires pour leur proximité avec les stars internationales que Matthias réussissait à engager pour ses Sessions, par son engagement et sa pugnacité. La cause des organisateurs suisse de concert, shows et spectacle perd en Matthias un de ses grands défenseurs. Jusqu'au début de 2015, Matthias s'était engagé avec passion dans le directoire de la SMPA (Swiss Music Promoters). Nous transmettons à la famille, aux proches de Matthias, ainsi qu’aux équipes de la Baloise Session et de la SMPA nos sincères condoléances et pensées.

Announced before summer, the new album Head Carrier by the Pixies comes out today, to the immense pleasure of their fans.  This new work is a collection of 12 psychedelic, surreal indie rock tracks in the purest Pixies tradition. This group originally out of Boston has now added young bassist Paz Lenchantin, who has become an official member of the band. Come discover live, and in exclusivity, their new creations on Friday 18 November at the Auditorium Stravinski in Montreux, on the occasion of the only Swiss concert for these emblematic American rockers. This exceptional Pixies show in Montreux is the result of close collaboration between the organizers Soldout Productions and Ishtar Music, the Fondation Saison Culturelle de Montreux, and the Montreux Jazz Festival. Doors: 18:30 h Start: 20:30 h End: No information available.  Minimum age: 16 years or 7 years if accompanied by a parent. Wheel chairs: The location is accessible to wheel chairs. Need a normal ticket. Further information:  www.soldoutprod.com

1ST PRIZE : OLLI HIRVONEN Olli Hirvonen, a young Finn based in Brooklyn, New York, has just won the famous Socar Montreux Jazz Electric Guitar Competition. The jury was presided over by John McLaughlin, and was composed of Swiss blues musician Philipp Fankhauser, local journalist Pierre-Philippe Cadert, Claudio Cappellari, the co-Director of Zurich’s prominent music venue Moods, and guitarist and member of the Montreux Jazz Festival Board, Xavier Oberson. Camaraderie abounded as this guitar competition for the 50th edition of the Montreux Jazz Festival unfolded at an extremely high level—to the point that, for the first time in the history of the jazz competitions at Montreux, the finale evolved into a powerful jam session that brought together all the competitors and several members of the jury for a closing musical ensemble. Well-versed in every electric skillset, from jazz to rock to more experimental sounds, he has developed a unique style navigating between these genres. Hirvonen has degrees from the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and the Manhattan School of Music. His young career can already boast of some impressive accolades, including Artist of the Year of the Pori Jazz Festival in 2011 and Performer of the Year 2014-2015 for the Finlandia Foundation. He has featured on numerous recordings and released his first album, Detachment, in April 2014. Second and Third Prizes went, respectively, to 22-year-old English guitarist Rob Luft (center) and Israel’s Tal Yahalom (left), also based in New York. [image1] THE THREE TOP FINISHERS WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE THIRD MONTREUX JAZZ ACADEMY THIS FALL, FROM 18 TO 26 NOVEMBER 2016.

This evening, Charles Lloyd and then Monty Alexander will launch the 50th edition of the Montreux Jazz Festival. A perfect pairing of adventurous jazz, to revisit the roots of the Festival as a preamble to the many more pages of Festival history still to be written! TOWARDS A 50TH SUMMER OF MUSIC… Charles Lloyd, the very first American artist to be invited to the Riviera in 1967, returns tonight with his new quartet, made up of Jason Moran, Reuben Rogers, and Eric Harland. They will perform before Monty Alexander revisits—40 years later—his 1976 live album, the landmark Montreux Alexander. These two emblematic concerts will occur on this 30th of June at 8pm at the Casino Barrière Montreux, which will host the Festival for this very special occasion. On the next day, July 1st, the Festival will officially open its doors and lakefront promenades to the public, revealing numerous innovations: Music in the Park’s brand new look, Pool Parties every Saturday at the Casino Barrière for DJ sets from 12 noon to 6:30pm, the Strobe Klub, combining the Studio and the aftershows at the Lab for an enlarged venue for cover-free electronic nights, and the many other special touches for the 50th edition, including the Montreux Jazz Choir and its ephemeral choral on 2 and 9 July in the Rock Cave. TICKETS INFORMATION Evening box office During the Festival, a box office is open every day from 4 p.m. until the end of the concerts. It is located at the entrance hall of the Music and Convention Center (2M2C), floor B4. You can buy tickets for all paying concert halls. In case of sold out concerts, a limited number of tickets will automatically be available for sale on the day of the show. However, only one ticket per person can be purchased (wristband will be placed directly on the wrist). AND TO DIVE DEEPER INTO THE HISTORY OF MONTREUX 30 June, RTS 1, 10:40pm: broadcast of the documentary Spirit of Music by Béatrice Guelpa and Francesco Cesalli 3 July, Cinéma Hollywood Montreux, 6:30pm: pre-release screening of the documentary More Than Jazz by the Blogothèque and Guillaume Delaperrière (co-produced by ARTE, Montreux Jazz Festival, and RTS), which will then be broadcast on ARTE on 3 July at midnight and on RTS 1 on Thursday 7 July at 11:40pm. The book 50 Summers of Music (Co-published by Textuel/Montreux Jazz Festival), on sale at the Festival shop from 1 to 16 July, and at bookstores. Montreux Jazz Live: the Festival’s multimedia platform + Videos produced by Montreux Jazz TV + interactive video "50 Years Of Live Music"   Photo: Charles Lloyd © 1967 François Jaquenod for GM Press

Festival Images, Switzerland's premier visual arts biennial, will be present throughout the Montreux Jazz Festival with two never-before-seen projects custom-tailored for this 50th edition. These two co-produced projects reflect the long-term friendship between these audacious neighbor institutions, and will be revisited during the Festival Images Vevey from 10 September to 2 October 2016. With support from the Fonds Culturel Riviera. BOOK BOX Main entrance, 2m2c [image1] "Rewrite a page of history!" : proposed by Festival Images Vevey, the Book Box invites festivalgoers to photobomb images from the book published for the jubilee. In this temporary studio situated in the Festival's main hall (B4), the public can use a green screen to strike a pose in a photograph from the book 50 Summers of Music, then leave with their personalized photo, thereby tangibly taking part in the legend of Montreux.   PICOTIN, AN EXHIBITION BY CYRIL HATT Main entry hall of the Auditorium Stravinski In homage of the founder of the Montreux Jazz Festival, French artist Cyril Hatt has recreated the atmosphere of Claude Nobs' legendary chalets through photographs. With snapshots, tape, and staples, French artist Cyril Hatt has photographically recreated the atmosphere of the chalets of Claude Nobs, filled with objects from his immense, whimsical collection. Cyril Hatt, born in 1975 in Rodez, is a French artist who lives and works in the South of France. Since 2003 he has been creating photographic sculptures, envisaging his medium as construction materials: he photographs everyday objects from multiple angles before assembling his pictures using staples in order to recreate full-scale volumes. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Montreux Jazz Festival, and in tribute to its founder, Festival Images invited Cyril Hatt to recreate the atmosphere of Claude Nobs’ legendary chalet, “Le Picotin”, which over the years hosted stars from all over the world. In early 2016 the artist spent two days in Caux, perched above Montreux, in order to steep himself in the essence of this mythical site. He then recreated a series of emblematic objects from the immense collection amassed by Claude Nobs: jukeboxes, hats, souvenir snapshots, works of art, gifts from his illustrious guests, and of course numerous vinyl records from his incredible musical library as well as a panoply of musical instruments. Within the main hall of Auditorium Stravinski, the spectator plunges into the convivial, homey ambiance of the chalet through a photographic installation designed to reflect the engaging personality of the inimitable Claude Nobs. [image2] *These two co-produced projects will be revisited during the Festival Images Vevey from 10 September to 2 October 2016. With support from the Fonds Culturel Riviera.

June 1967: on Lake Geneva, Switzerland, a ball of energy named Claude Nobs embarks on one of the most exciting musical adventures of our time. Fifty years later, the story of the Montreux Jazz Festival is told by those who made it. The voice of Nina Simone, the trumpet of Miles Davis and the guitar of B.B. King echo through these candid recollections by people like Quincy Jones, Carlos Santana and Lenny Kravitz. Sixty stars relive highlights in the history of live music, a history that Montreux is still writing. Their words are echoed in 175 photographs, many previously unpublished, which capture this legendary festival, both backstage and onstage. A half century of emergencies, of unbelievable stories, and of incandescent beauty. A half century of audiovisual recording archives now registered as a World Heritage by UNESCO. This story, which is still being written, is presented through nearly 200 photographs. Mostly never before published, these images bring this legendary festival to life, on stage and behind the scenes. This book does not claim to tell “the beautiful history” of this unique festival. It leaves that to the artists. Available starting today in bookstores and at montreuxjazzshop.com 50 SUMMERS OF MUSIC Texts by d’Arnaud Robert (in collaboration with Salomé Kiner) Preface by Mathieu Jaton Release date: 15 June 2016 CHF 69.- 400 pages, 175 photographs co-published by the Editions Textuel and Montreux Jazz Festival PHOTOGRAPHS BY David Allen, Daniel Balmat, Mehdi Benkler, Alain Bettex, Peter Boettcher, Gérald Bosshard, Georges Braunshweig, Philippe Cibille, Édouard Curchod, Marc Ducrest, Philippe Dutoit, Lionel Flusin, Andy Freeberg, Dany Gignoux,Yann Gross, François Jaquenod, Guy le Querrec, Jean-Pierre Leloir, Giuseppe Pino, Darryl Pitt, Lois Powell, Jacques Straesslé. Above: Cover picture, Dizzy Gillespie © 1975 Giuseppe Pino

Rapper Future, initially programmed for 4 July at the Montreux Jazz Lab, is canceling part of his European tour, unfortunately including his Montreux date. For that reason, two brilliant representatives of today’s hip-hop, Ty Dolla $ign and Young Thug, will join A$AP Ferg for an evening 100% focused on the new generation of US artists. Due to circumstances beyond our control, the Future concert is canceled: the management of the American artist Future has explained that the rapper needs to remain Stateside to rehearse for his tour with Drake, and that he was canceling some of his European shows, including the one in Montreux where he was to share billing with A$AP Ferg. The Festival’s programmers have booked two shining examples of the renewal of US rap for an evening 100% focused on the new generation of American artists and which showcases no longer two, but three artists practically never seen in our region: Ty Dolla $ign California’s Ty Dolla $ign made his mark in 2011 with the catchy and dance-worthy hit “Toot it and Boot it”.  After further success with his mixtape Beach House, he joined Atlantic Records, then signed with Wiz Khalifa’s label Taylor Gang Entertainment in 2013. In 2015 he released his first LP Free TC, dedicated to his incarcerated brother and featuring such major names as Wiz Khalifa, Kendrick Lamar, and Kanye West, as well as other up-and-comers including O.T. Genasis. Like Young Thug, Ty Dolla $ign is fresh and real, in the same vein as Future, with whom he has already collaborated. Young Thug Second of 10 siblings, at 24 Young Thug is a spell-binding standard-bearer for Atlanta hip-hop. Called a “rap weirdo” due to his unhinged flow, his intricate, eccentric, and unfettered vocals are quite distinct from what we typically hear, even in today’s world of auto-tuned trap. In early 2016 he released a new mixtape, Slime Season 3. For all questions regarding this change to the programming or for forther information, please contact the ticketing office of the Montreux Jazz Festival at +41 21 966 45 50 or by email at ticketinfo@mjf.ch.

This is the free programming of the Montreux Jazz Festival: More than 300 concerts on 8 covered and open-air stages 1500 m2 of covered and sun-drenched lakefront terraces More than 50 food stands and bars Events from 12 noon to 5 a.m. Activities for all ages Breathtaking views of the Alps And this year, there is more: The Music in the Park environment has been completely redesigned A new, higher-capacity electronic club, the Strobe Klub, has sprung up The Rock Cave has seen its aftershows lineup significantly increased Each Saturday will now feature a Pool Party just down the way by the pool at the Casino, a legendary party site from the first years of the Festival—many die-hards practically lived there! Multiple special projects & happenings to discover! MAIN FREE STAGES MUSIC IN THE PARK In line with the improvements made to the Festival’s lakeside promenades in 2013, the environment of Parc Vernex has been audaciously overhauled. Its circular shape will welcome one and all in this relaxed outdoor space for non-stop concerts from 2pm. With: Les Innocents, Lola Marsh, the Collins Family: Little Dreams Band + What You Know, Nãçao Zumbi + The Young Gods, DBFC,… THE ROCK CAVE It’s a screaming underground club for those plugged in to rock and roll—but that’s not all. Because in this venue, two electrifying shows per evening are prolonged by aftershows in delicious flavors of rock, soul, and funk in an enlarged space to accommodate up to 400 guests. With: Glen Matlock from the Sex Pistols: “40 years of punk”, Yak, The Crows, The K, The Peacocks, Peter Kernel, The Animen, Fai Baba, The Mondrians,… STROBE KLUB A fusion of the aftershows at the Lab and the Studio in a larger space, the Strobe assembles the absolute best from the world of electronic music in the very space where, as early as 1968, Claude Nobs was organizing legendary events that were famous for their psychedelic light shows. With: Maceo Plex, Nina Kraviz, Architectural, Marcel Dettmann, Rødhåd, Motor City Drum Ensemble, The Black Madonna, Acid Arab, … MONTREUX JAZZ WORKSHOPS Unequaled access to the featured artists who, off the stage, come to talk about pretty much whatever they wish. Take your musical curiosity to the next level with all manner of themes and guests…A dozen artists from the Festival’s main stages will exercise carte blanche for an audience of only one hundred. With: Quincy Jones, Marcus Miller, José González, Charles Lloyd, Eric Harland, Randy Weston, Richard Bona,… MONTREUX JAZZ COMPETITIONS The highly popular Montreux Jazz Competitions are a top-flight launchpad for talented young artists from all over the world, and which reveal the jazz headliners of tomorrow! Members of the Jury: John McLaughlin, Angélique Kidjo, Yaron Herman POOL PARTY The pool at the Casino was a space steeped in the Montreux ambiance starting in 1967. So for this 50th edition we will be getting our groove on from 12 noon to 8pm every Saturday. Non-stop DJ sets and sun-drenched eatables—ideal for making a splash on the dance floor! With: ME&Her, Masaya, African Acid is the Future,… (No charge for the event, but pool access costs CHF 5. Restricted to those 18 years of age or older.) SPECIAL PROJECT & HAPPENINGS MONTREUX JAZZ CHOIR You love to sing at the top of your lungs, but not just in the shower? The Montreux Jazz Choir is for you! The concept: bring together the Festival’s amateur vocalists to create an ephemeral choir for a single hit. Conducted by Patrick Marmy, Vevey music professor and choir master. Saturday 2 July: MUSE "Time is running out" Saturday 9 July: PRINCE "Purple Rain" PARTICIPATORY PAINTING Saturday 2 July, Parc Vernex Once upon a time, Keith Haring used to scribble on the walls all over the Festival…For this jubilee, and as an echo of this edition’s visual offerings, Giovanni Riva, designer of the 2016 poster, and artist Greg Guillemin will offer a workshop where participants will together create a 2.5 by 5 meter canvas, which will later be hung at the 2M2C. PATROUILLE SUISSE Saturday 16 July, lakeshore The Patrouille Suisse is doing the Montreux Jazz Festival the immense honor of presenting its high-impact aerial show to provide a beautiful closing act for the 50th edition. FILM SCREENINGS AND AVANT-PREMIÈRES A number of screenings will be held at the Hollywood cinema in Montreux: More Than Jazz, the official documentary on the Montreux Jazz Festival produced by Guillaume Delaperrière and La Blogothèque in coproduction with ARTE and RTS, will be screened on July 3rd (prior to its premiere broadcast), with the film’s creators present. Then, on July 10th, I Go Back Home – Jimmy Scott, a musical documentary by Yoon-Ha Chang, will be screened, with Quincy Jones in attendance.

Brazilian collaboration between Présence Suisse and the Montreux Jazz Festival From 25 May to 5 June, a collaborative project of Présence Suisse and the 50th Montreux Jazz Festival combines a residency and concerts, with at its heart the reunion of Naçao Zumbi and the Young Gods in Rio and São Paulo…and then in Montreux this summer! The Brazilian culture has been making hearts beat at the Festival for years. In the framework of the two-year Swissando program (2014-2016) for the promotion of the image of Switzerland in Brazil, organized by Presence Switzerland, a unit of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, a collaborative project with the Montreux Jazz Festival seemed obvious given the deep relationship between the Festival and Brazilian music. The concept of these Swiss-Brazilian encounters is not only for a tour to several cities in Brazil, but also to extend these ties in front of the public at the 50th edition of the Montreux Jazz Festival. Therefore, after the concerts by Nação Zumbi and the Young Gods in São Paulo at the Ciné Joia (26 May) and at the Circo Voador in Rio de Janeiro (27 May), the two bands will assemble on July 9th on the free stage of Music in the Park. This will be just one day before the colossal event already programmed for the Auditorium Stravinski on July 10th, and which will bring together the very best of multiple generations of Brazilian music.

The Festival has been a pioneer in all that concerns the spirit of Rio since the get-go, always attaching great importance to Brazilian music. Over the years, all the biggest names in the genre have given memorable concerts late into the night at Montreux. Marco Mazzola has brought together a star-studded set-up of Brasilian artists—certainly the most fabulous line-up offered to the Montreux audience up until now. And don’t forget the Brazil Boat, which will also make you daydream… SUNDAY 10 JULY AN EXCEPTIONNAL BRAZILIAN NIGHT! On the occasion of the 50th edition of the Festival, and in homage to its late founder Claude Nobs, there will be a one-off evening with a multi-generational group of truly exceptional artists. Singer and multi-instrumentalist Ana Carolina will be sharing the stage with the queen of forró Elba Ramalho, the ambassador of choro Hamilton de Holanda with his famous bandolim, and one of the most eminent Brazilian pop musicians, the incredible Ivan Lins who has composed for the biggest names in jazz and recorded almost 40 albums since 1970. The great João Bosco, emblematic singer, figurehead of fusion and composer Elis Regina, will be joining her daughter Maria Rita who has won eight Latin Grammy Awards. The king of samba Martinho da Vila, who has an impressive discography and a career spanning 50 years, and Vanessa da Mata, a Brazilian phenomenon discovered in 2009 thanks to her duo Boa Sorte/Good Luck with Ben Harper, will be completing the line-up, which is100% auriverde. The Stravinksi is getting ready to party like never before to the rhythms of Brazil! SATURDAY 9 JULY BRAZIL BOAT – SAMBA ON LAKE GENEVA Several times during the Festival, crazily animated boats weigh anchor in the afternoon to get the public swaying and dancing on the lake. Live Salsa, Jazz, Blues, or Samba – a unique way to dive even deeper into the idyllic Montreux setting. The Brazil Boat lineup features Diana Miranda, Valeria Eva, Napalma, Josildo Sà, Dj Livia and Batucada Som Brasil. Boarding: 3 pm Departure: 3.30 pm Return: 6.35 pm

For the 50th edition of The Montreux Jazz Festival, UBS and the Montreux Jazz Artists Foundation are teaming up to find the best Singer-Songwriter in Switzerland! Participate to become one of the 3 artists chosen to spend a week at the Montreux Jazz Festival, and maybe even record your album at Balik Studio!The 3 artists who garner the greatest number of online votes from the public will be able to spend a week at the Montreux Jazz Festival, soaking in the music and sharing their own, before performing on Musik in the Park stage on Friday 8 July. At the end of this week of musical exchanges, the public will decide at the close of the Festival who is their favorite singer-songwriter. To the winner goes a unique opportunity: recording his or her compositions at Balik Studio in the gorgeous Toggenburg region.  

On the occasion of the 5th International Jazz Day being celebrated this April 30th, the Centre Culturel Suisse in Paris is offering the Montreux Jazz Festival carte blanche for three days. The marquee presents sublime representatives of the Swiss musical scene Anna Aaron, Peter Kernel, and Pierre Audétat. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, the Claude Nobs Foundation – the entity charged with preserving the monumental audiovisual archives of the Festival – has been invited by UNESCO to the White House for a major concert that is as prestigious as it is exclusive, headlined by artists with intimate ties to the Festival. These stars include Aretha Franklin, Sting, and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock. This sends a particularly strong message in this jubilee year for the Festival, which since 1967 has been an international beacon for the power of jazz to promote freedom and togetherness. Paris, Centre Culturel Suisse: Carte Blanche for Montreux An annual tradition, the Centre Culturel Suisse is giving carte blanche to the Montreux Jazz Artists Foundation (MJAF) – the educational wing of the Montreux Jazz Festival – to program new projects by prominent Swiss artists. This year the MJAF, which specializes in unique artistic creations, is presenting three talented Swiss artists on 28, 29, and 30 April: Anna Aaron, Peter Kernel, and Pierre Audétat. They were invited to work in part around the Festival audiovisual archives, via tools developed by the EPFL in Lausanne. For this 50th edition of the Montreux Jazz Festival it seemed only natural to play with revisiting a memory, reformulating it for the present by a new generation, based on the inestimable treasure of the audiovisual archives which have now been almost entirely digitalized. More infos on ccsparis.com Washington, White House: the Claude Nobs Foundation, Special Guest This anniversary of the Montreux Jazz Festival also marks 50 years in an adventure between the United States and a little corner of paradise by Lake Geneva. 50 years of friendship between music-business movers and shakers on both sides of the Atlantic, and also 50 years of technological prowess. Claude Nobs, whose limitless dreams were always guided by his passion for American music, rooted in both jazz and blues, contributed to promoting his beloved music in Europe and Switzerland starting in 1967. This visionary and inveterate collector also started recording all Festival concerts from the very beginning. Since 2007, his partner Thierry Amsallem, President of the Claude Nobs Foundation, has been working with the EPFL in Lausanne on the digitalization of this audiovisual collection of inestimable value to music history which since 2013 has been included in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register. The primary mission of the Claude Nobs Foundation is to work for the preservation and widest-possible dissemination of this peerless cultural treasure for future generations, in service of education, science, and culture. It is for that reason that Thierry Amsallem will be present at the White House in Washington, the host city for this year’s International Jazz Day, for the All-Star Global Concert bringing together nearly 150 artists at the home of President Obama and his family. Many of these artists have previously performed in Montreux: Aretha Franklin, Sting, Herbie Hancock (who is returning for the 37th time this summer), John McLaughlin, Hugh Masekela, Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea… and many will once again make the pilgrimage for the 50th edition of the Montreux Jazz Festival this summer, from July 1st to July 16th, 2016. This All-Star Global Concert will be broadcast on ABC on 30th April at 8pm ET / 7pm CT, and streamed on the United Nations, UNESCO and White House websites. More infos on jazzday.com

HERBIE HANCOCK, faithful friend of Montreux, is adding his name to the already golden lineup for 3 July at the Stravinski, just after the trio Scofield Mehldau Guiliana and the performance by John McLaughlin & 4th Dimension. At the Lab, SON LUX will kick off the evening of 10 July before Other Lives and Ásgeir. And before the return of Simply Red, the lineup for the heartfelt tribute to Claude Nobs offered by Quincy Jones in Montreux brings together major talents from yesterday and today: PATTI AUSTIN, AL JARREAU, JON BATISTE, GRACE, RASHIDA JONES, SUNNY LEVINE, ALFREDO RODRIGUEZ and JACOB COLLIER. HERBIE HANCOCK 3 JULY AT THE STRAVINSKI HERBIE HANCOCK is the artist who has been invited the most times to the Festival, for which he has become a veritable ambassador. He is one of the most influential pianists in the history of jazz, and at 76 remains one of the most active of all musical legends.The godfather of International Jazz Day, which occurs on 30 April, is returning for the 37th time to Montreux on 3 July, just after the trio Scofield Mehldau Guiliana and the performance by John McLaughlin & 4th Dimension. Holder of 14 Grammy Awards and recognized for his immense talents in improvisation and his unique harmonic approach, Herbie Hancock will be at the 50th edition of the Festival for an amazing evening along with some special musical friends. Plan to share an unforgettable moment of meaningful exchanges! SON LUX 10 JULY AT THE LAB SON LUX is cosmic American artist Ryan Lott. Named Best New Artist by NPR’s prestigious All Songs Considered for his 2008 début album, he has since released four more LPs with an addictive post-rock fingerprint. Son Lux is a prolific artist who regularly works in advertising, composes film soundtracks, and is part of the Sisyphus Project with Serengeti and Sufjan Stevens. He has worked with Lourde, Boots, and My Brightest Diamond, and in 2015 he released the superb Bones, featuring hit singles “Change Is Everything” and “Undone”. This inventive artist promises an exceptional live performance at the Lab with his raging, visceral sound. FULL LINEUP FOR QUINCY JONES’ TRIBUTE CONCERT EVENT ON 8 JULY Who better than the “American brother” Quincy Jones to present and orchestrate a unique soirée celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Festival? The legendary American producer and composer is offering an encounter between some of the most gifted artists of the new generation and major music figures, faithful friends of the Festival for decades. For the occasion, all of these artists will be accompanied the famous Pepe Lienhard Big Band which has notably played for Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr, and Shirley Bassey… Quincy Jones has invited some of the most recognizable voices from the history of the Festival, including PATTI AUSTIN and AL JARREAU, and combined them with a star of the new generation, his protégé, piano and melodica virtuoso JON BATISTE, a scion of the illustrious New Orleans Batiste family. This superb lineup will also feature RASHIDA JONES, Quincy’s daughter, and SUNNY LEVINE, his grandson, who is a popular California producer. Other performers include GRACE, a young pearl of pop from Down Under whose first EP, Memo, is being produced by Jones, and who is someone you need to keep a close eye on. Rounding out the party are prodigious Cuban pianist ALFREDO RODRIGUEZ and talented newcomer JACOB COLLIER.

The programme for this anniversary edition of the Montreux Jazz Festival has been constructed like an echo of the historic depth of this Swiss event. Dense and vibrant, this 50th offering merits being examined in detail. It is marked by an array of projects and lineups imagined especially for the occasion, combining great artistic friendships and the promise of fresh new musical talents. On the marquee among others: Neil Young, PJ Harvey, Sigur Rós, Patti Smith, Lana Del Rey, M83, Muse, Ernest Ranglin, Scofield Mehldau Guiliana, Christian Scott, Jean-Michel Jarre, Woodkid and friends, Beirut, Grimes… SPECIAL PROJECTS & HOT LINEUPS! The Montreux Jazz Festival offers a wide array of special projects, and this year more than ever the programming shines a spotlight on unique collaborations and exceptional creations. On the programme: Charles Lloyd New Quartet for an Opening Night at the Casino Barrière, where we return this year to host the first American jazz musician who came here in 1967. This will be followed by Monty Alexander , who will revisit his landmark 1977 album recorded in Montreux: Montreux Alexander. Quincy Jones’s 50th Anniversary Celebration, featuring the Pepe Lienhard Big Band Woodkid and Friends: a unique show with some of his highest-profile artist friends (mum’s the word for now…) Brazilian Dream, a dizzying lineup in honor of Claude Nobs, featuring among others Maria Rita, João Bosco, Vanessa Da Mata... Angélique Kidjo’s carte blanche: African Women All-Stars 2 tribute Creations: “Bowie: The Swiss Years” and the album Swiss Movement revisited by the musical collective Stade The Montreux Jazz Academy Project, with Yaron Herman and Ziv Ravitz STRAVINSKI HALL (OF FAME) The Stravinski, with its perfect acoustics, generates legends every year. The stage in this temple to musical close encounters has been worn smooth by the passage of monumental artists since 1967. This year, to walk in their footsteps, you will find: PJ Harvey and Patti Smith Neil Young, back after 15 years Lana Del Rey and her protégé Max Jury Air and Anohni, (fka Antony Hegarty, ex-frontman of Antony and the Johnsons) Jean-Michel Jarre for the first time at the Festival Sigur Rós and the Atomic Project by Mogwai An evening in jazz heaven with Scofield, Mehldau and Guiliana, followed by John McLaughlin Blues giants ZZ Top and Buddy Guy Van Morrison and Charles Bradley The triumphant return of Simply Red Lisa Simone followed by Jamie Cullum An explosive finale with Deep Purple and Zappa the younger THE CLUB, ROOTED IN JAZZ Closer to the Festival’s origins than ever, the Club is what brings together the masters of jazz and the new guard of that musical genre that informs all the others. In this venue with its 350 classy, old-school seats and an authentic listening experience, music lovers and purists enjoy a truly singular musical moment. The Club’s cozy shadows offer perfect hospitality for guests and instruments alike. And each night, when the jams kick off, there’s no closing down the Club… Under the spotlight: Long-fingered pianist Randy Weston and his African Rythms Quintet Major projects Steps Ahead and Volcan Miles Davis’ bandmates reunited: Mike Stern, Bill Evans, Darryl Jones and Dennis Chambers Kenny Barron & Dave Holland Ernest Ranglin and Cheikh Lô, Tony Allen, Courtney Pine Biréli Lagrène, Antonio Faraò, Gary Willis & Lenny White The cream of new French jazz with Hugh Coltman, Anne Paceo and Thomas Enhco... Geneva’s own Grégoire Maret The trumpet of Avishai Cohen The next generation of jazz: Cécile McLorin Salvant, Christian Scott, Alfredo Rodriguez Trio and Gogo Penguin Blues, of course, with Robben Ford and rising star Selwyn Birchwood The voice of Keren Ann and the Canadian sensation Basia Bulat THE LAB, ON THE LOOKOUT FOR NEW BLOOD Bearing witness to the effervescence of today’s music, the Lab is all about discovery. With an eye for consistency, the former Miles Davis Hall concocts musical mixtures to be tested on a curious public. Newcomers, rising stars, and audacious artists rub elbows in this venue’s electrifying ambiance. This year is particularly hip hop and electronic, with names that will get your pulse pounding: Big guns: M83, Grimes, Mac DeMarco and Beirut US hip-hop with Future and A$AP Ferg Rap “made in France”: PNL, Nekfeu, MHD, Vald The French triad of Jeanne Added, Lou Doillon and Feu! Chatterton Established voices: Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, Glen Hansard and Kurt Vile (ex-member of The War on Drugs) & The Violators Gods of thrash metal Slayer, with Meshuggah The otherworldly Àsgeir, Other Lives, Ry X, Hælos and Aurora Laurent Garnier, DJ Shadow, Moderat and Four Tet introduce the new guard of electronic music, Gramatik, Flume, Kiasmos and Petit Biscuit The psych-rock of the Allah-Las and England’s colossal Rag'n'Bone Man MUSIC IS EVERYWHERE… To really get the most out of the idyllic setting of the marvelous Montreux region, music can be experienced pretty much everywhere, with thematic live performances on the water – Montreux Jazz Boats – and all the way to the mountain tops – Montreux Jazz Trains. TICKETS GO ON SALE TOMORROW FRIDAY 15 APRIL 2016, AT 10 A.M.

For the 50th Montreux Jazz Festival, Galartis invites you to discover Montreux Music Memorabilia, an exhibition-auction on the theme of music and arts, July 2-8 2016 at Casino Barrière Montreux. Music instruments, golden records, jukebox, pinball, Montreux Jazz Festival collectors, artwork by Keith Haring, Julian Opie, Romero Britto, Ben, Robert Combas, photographs of Charlie Parker, Led Zeppelin, Tina Turner, sculptures of Nina Simone, Miles Davis, autographed guitars by B.B. King, Carlos Santana, the  Rolling Stones, David Bowie... Submit your items and order the catalogue at mmm@galartis.ch By taking part in this unique event, you help support the Claude Nobs Foundation. State-approved foundation dedicated to preserve and develop the Montreux Jazz Festival audio-visual Collection for Educational, Scientific and Cultural purposes. The Montreux Jazz Festival Claude Nobs’ Legacy, is the first audio-visual Collection inscribed on the  UNESCO Memory of the World Register. [image2]

Ticket presales on February 25 / Sold out concert Muse is returning to Montreux on 2 July, 14 years after their epic concert in 2002. Just last week, the British trio of singer and guitarist Matthew Bellamy, bassist Chris Wolsenthome, and drummer Dominic Howard won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album for their seventh album, Drones. Muse, one of the world’s most influential rock bands since the early 2000s, is known for grandiose tour events with huge audiences, and the band turns entire stadiums upside-down with their cavalcades of symphonic rock. The 50th Montreux Jazz Festival program will be released on 14 April 2016. Tickets will go on sale on 15 April.

This year the logo is at the heart of the poster artwork, with a multihued synthesis of all the posters produced up until now symbolizing 50 years of artistic encounters and mixing genres. The artist behind this poster, Giovanni Riva, recomposed the official Festival logo from Jean Tinguely’s 1982 poster. On a midnight blue background grooved like a vinyl record, the logo is made up of fragments of the 49 preceding posters, laid out in chronological order. The 2016 poster thus brings together another incredible story: that of the connection between the Montreux Jazz Festival and the visual arts. The posters, like the audiovisual archives, constitute part of the Festival’s heritage. Since its creation, the Festival has given international artists “carte blanche” to create the posters. With his poster paying tribute to this Montreux tradition, Giovanni Riva wanted this symbolic artwork to be solidly rooted in the bedrock, the terroir, of the Festival, so he crafted a monumental luminous installation with help from local artisans. [image1] Fondation du Festival de Jazz de Montreux © 2016 - Artwork by Giovanni Riva

The Béjart Ballet Lausanne, directed by Gil Roman, wanted to pay tribute to the 50th anniversary and to Claude Nobs’ legacy of the Montreux Jazz Festival by offering to Montreux, its inhabitants, and the Festival the most “rock-n-roll” of their dance spectacles:  Ballet for Life. This poignant homage to youth and hope will be given a special performance, the first time in Montreux. This is a particularly logical collaboration, since The Presbytery shares lots of DNA with the Festival: featuring music by Queen, the ballet provides a telling reminder of Freddie Mercury’s close ties to the Montreux region. This event is part of the Saison Culturelle de Montreux. Two performances on 15 and 16 March 2016 at the Auditorium Stravinski. 2m2c opens at 7:15pm Doors open at 7:45pm Beginning of the show at 20:15 Online Ballet for Life tickets - 15 March SOLD OUT Ballet for Life tickets - 16 March SOLD OUT Callcenter (Ticketcorner) To order tickets by phone, please contact Ticketcorner’s Callcenter by the following numbers: Switzerland: 0900 10 10 12 (CHF 1.19/min) International: + 41 900 800 800 (CHF 1.19/min) Points of sale Tickets for events are available in all official points of sale of our partner Ticket Corner (Manor, Coop City, Post and Railway SBB). On-site sale If the event is not sold out, tickets of the same evening will be available for sale as of 9.15pm at the Box Office, situated at the main entrance of the Music and Convention Center. Groups To order more than 10 tickets, please contact the box office via ticketinfo@mjf.ch. Reduced mobility We have areas for reduced mobility people. For more information or to order tickets please contact the box office via ticketinfo@mjf.ch or 021 966 45 50. [image1]

Envie de participer à l’aventure Montreux Jazz Festival ? Envie d’étoffer ton CV avec une expérience dans l’un des Festivals les plus reconnus au monde ? Pendant 16 jours, viens vibrer avec les 1’600 staffs qui s’engagent chaque année ! Être Staff à Montreux te permettra non seulement de bénéficier de nombreux avantages, mais également de faire le plein de découvertes musicales et de rencontres !