Listen NowCBC Radio Orchestra and conductor Alain Trudel mark the end of 70 years of broadcasts in this farewell performance.
Although little-known in English speaking countries, Léo Ferré is a monument of French chanson. Along with Georges Brassens and Jacques Brel he is considered one of the greatest composers and writers of French song. Now 15 years after his death, Italian vocalist Gianmaria Testa and pianist Roberto Cipelli have put together an evening dedicated to his memory. Tonight's concert from the Festival International de Montreal features jazz interpretations of Ferré's best loved tunes. Accompanying them are Attilio Zanchi on bass; drummer Philippe Garcia; and virtuoso trumpetter Paolo Fresu.
Bassist Michel Donato has been a fixture on the Montreal jazz scene for 50 years. This year, the Festival International de Montreal honoured Donato by presenting him in two concerts. Tonight's performance was entitled ' 50 Years of Double Bass' and brought together a number of outstanding Quebec musicians he's been associated with over the years starting with vocalist Karen Young; and included pianists James Gelfand, François Bourassa; and sax players Yannick Rieu and André Leroux. It was recorded at the acoustically perfect Gésu in downtown Montreal.